Page 6 of Cruel Russian King
“Fine. I am an overbearing brother,” he admitted. “But I think about how Kira and Vera used to sneak out to see Katya. They had your brothers to cover for them, to protect them. Thefact that you’re out here alone tells me you don’t have that kind of backup. I’d like to be that for you.”
I raised an eyebrow. “And you're okay with me sneaking out from home?”
He glanced at me before focusing on the road. “I’m not okay with it. But if I can be a buffer between you and whatever’s out there, I’m fine being that guy.”
I’d seen Artyom go from a monster to something more human. The change had been gradual. Vera once said he used to be a doting brother to Yegor and Zahkar, until life hardened him under being a Bratva leader. She was happy he was returning to the version she remembered.
At first, after the peace treaty was signed, all of us Safin siblings stayed on alert. But over time, we saw the difference in him. I’ve always believed people deserved second chances. My brothers sure needed theirs with their wives and they've become better men because of it.
“Thank you,” I said, offering a small smile. “It means a lot.”
He pulled his phone from the center console and handed it to me.
“Type in your number. Then call your phone so you’ll have mine.”
I smirked. “You’re not afraid I’ll go through your phone?”
“If you see any messages or calls, it’s Bratva business. Your brothers have been teaching you and Mariya about that for years. I’ve got nothing to hide.” He paused, then flashed me a smile that made my heart flutter. “Although…there is that one picture I took right after stepping out of the shower this morning…”
A completely inappropriate image of Artyom flashed in my mind…water dripping down his muscular arms and chest, a towel slung low on his hips.
My cheeks burned.
Ninel, he's practically your brother-in-law, he's family!
Then something dawned on me. I gave him a suspicious side-eye, doing my best to shove the thought away.
“Did Lev put you up to this? Spying on me? You just happened to be in the same place I was?”
He stopped at a red light and turned to look at me. “Is it so hard to believe I bumped into you? I have meetings all over Philly, and the country.”
Then he lifted a brow. “Does Lev usually spy on you?”
“Well, no…”
He nodded once. “Lev didn’t send me. But I’m glad I ran into you. If something happened to you...your sisters would be crushed, more than anyone.”
I knew he wasn’t lying. Growing up Bratva meant Mariya and I didn’t have many close friendships. That changed when Lev married Katya, who we clicked with instantly. And through Katya came Vera and Kira, Artyom’s sisters. Together, we’d built a tight-knit circle that meant everything to us.
“I know. It’s just…sometimes I need to breathe. To get away from being Bratva,” I said quietly.
“What’s wrong with being Bratva? We take care of our women.”
I scoffed. “Most Bratva men want wives to bear them children and keep quiet. And they mistreat them. Vera andKatya lucked out, they got men who actually love them. I just…I hope I’ll be that lucky too.”
Artyom didn’t respond. Not that I expected him to understand since he was a Bratva man and leader.
I punched in my number into his phone, and called myself so I’d have his saved. When my phone rang, I ended the call and placed his back in the center console.
About forty minutes later, Artyom slowed in front of the Safin family mansion where I lived.
“I guess this is your stop,” he smiled.
“I guess it is. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
I slipped out of the car, and without another word, Artyom pulled away. I stood there for a second, watching his car disappear.
