Page 96 of Bratva Bidder
“And Alexei?”
“My father keeps him out of his business for now. But he’s young, so I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s already taken him under his wing. He’s the spare after all,” I say.
“Somehow I can’t imagine Alexei doing what you guys do,” Nadya says. “He’s just a kid.”
“He’s my dad’s kid,” I correct her. “There’s a difference.”
“He was kind. Actually seemed polite, which was…unexpected.”
I go still. Why the fuck is she defending him?
Lev’s head snaps up, sensing it.
“You’ve met him once,” I say flatly.
She tilts her head. “And?”
“You don’t know him.”
“I know he didn’t leer at me like half the guests at our wedding.”
“I’m saying you don’t know what’s real and what’s curated.”
Her lips part slightly, and for a second, I expect another sharp remark. Instead, she just rolls her eyes and walks to the far side of the desk, flipping through another sheet like she’s bored.
But I know she caught it.
The bite in my voice. The jealousy I didn’t bother hiding.
“Jealousy’s not a good look on you, Konstantin,” she says lightly.
“I’m not jealous,” I say too quickly.
She shoots me a look that saysplease, then leans over the photo again. “Focus on the brother trying to kill you, not the one who smiled at your wife.”
Lev lets out a short laugh. And I think—for a moment—I might actually murder someone just to end this conversation.
Lev gets a call. “Boss, gotta take it.”
“We’re done here anyway,” I say, rubbing my jaw.
As if my father wasn’t a threat enough, now Roman?
Lev shuts the door behind him, the quiet click resonating in the sudden silence. The air thickens immediately, leaving Nadya and me alone, tension swirling between us like an impending storm.
She shifts closer, leaning her hip casually against my desk, her fingers lightly tracing over the photographs scattered there. I watch the slow movement of her hand, each gentle stroke tightening my gut. Her presence fills the room, suffocating me in the best possible way.
“So,” she says, her voice low, teasing. “Jealousy, Konstantin? Really?”
I glare, irritation rising at how easily she gets under my skin. “I’m not jealous.”
She raises a brow, her lips curving softly, the barest hint of a smile playing on them. “Your scowl says otherwise.”
I take a slow step toward her, my voice dropping to a warning growl. “Careful, Nadya.”
But her smile only grows, eyes dancing with challenge. “Why? Afraid you’ll lose control?”
I step even closer, so close now that my body almost brushes hers. I hold her gaze fiercely, my voice dipping to a rough whisper. “Around you? Always.”
