Page 54 of Cruel Russian Monster
The second that ball was in play, Vera turned into a different woman—competitive, and relentless, laughing one minute, growling the next. I hadn't known this side of her. Then again, there was a lot I didn’t know.
Back then, we’d barely spoken about anything that might reveal too much. We stayed on the surface. And now I realized why she hadn’t fought me when we agreed to keep our relationship under wraps. She had been keeping her own secrets. Like her being a Bratva princess. She probably thought if I found out where she came from, I’d walk. Just like I thought she would if she found out about me.
By the end of the match, the guys lost by two points.
One of the guys decided drinks were in order and offered to buy a round at the beach bar. I held Vera's hand as we walked with the group, and at the bar, the conversation flipped from sports to cars to the Kardashians. It felt nice to have a normal conversation and not have to be worried that the next thing to be said had to do with planning a strategy.
***
The next few days flew by like the first, with parasailing, a scavenger hunt, and even a bonfire night with live music. Webounced from one activity to the next, and if Vera saw someone doing something she hadn’t tried before, she was already signing us up.
I loved seeing this side of her. Happy. Laughing. Carefree. She was a people person, effortlessly charming everyone around her.
Even you?
Vera just made things…easier? Better? Lighter?
And it wasn’t just the way she looked in her sundresses or how her laughter sounded over the waves; it was the way she made me forget. For the first time in years, I wasn’t thinking about who might be sneaking up behind us, or which man I’d need to interrogate next. I didn't have to worry about looking out for Lev or my sisters.
I hadn’t realized how tightly wound I’d been since our parents died. Being underboss demanded all of me, my focus, my ruthlessness, and my control. Every breath I took was calculated to protect my siblings and our faction.
But with Vera, here and now? None of that existed.
At night, we’d sit by the beach, talking until she fell asleep with her head on my shoulder, and I’d carry her inside.
Other nights, we’d curl up watching some movie she picked, and she’d fall asleep tucked against me.
And I didn’t mind. Because I loved having Vera in my arms.
On our final day, we’d just gotten back from the resort’s souvenir shop. Vera disappeared into her room while I grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge.
She reappeared a minute later, holding a long black dress and a pair of red heels.
“What’s this?” she asked.
I took a sip. “Looks like a dress. And heels.”
She gave me a flat stare. “Okay, let me rephrase. What are these doing on my bed?”
“We’re going to dinner tonight,” I said calmly. “And I’d like my wife to wear what her very generous husband picked out.”
She held the dress up, narrowed her eyes. “I wish he’d been generous with the fabric, too. There’s no way I’m leaving this villa in this. It's way too revealing.”
I crossed the space between us and gently took her chin between my fingers.
“You have a gorgeous body,” I said, smoothly. “I bought the dress because I know you’d look beautiful in it. And because you’d be safe wearing it…with me.”
Her breath hitched, just a little.
“You will wear the dress, Vera,” I added. “Everything else has already been packed and sent to the jet. We’ll have dinner. Then we’ll leave. Be ready in an hour.”
I kissed her lightly and walked away without waiting for her reply.
An hour later, Vera and I were sitting in a limo on our way to a small restaurant I’d rented out for the evening. It had just opened about a month ago. I’d had some of their food delivered nights ago while Vera slept. After sampling it, I paid double their asking price and told them to keep everything private. All Iwanted was to give my wife a nice romantic evening, with great food and service.
I just wanted to do something nice for her. She’d pulled me into her infectious, fun-filled world this past week, and I’d let myself enjoy it.
I was fixing my cufflink when I heard her bedroom door opening, and I looked up.
