Page 27 of The Bratva's Auctioned Bride
Diomid drives me to my family home and insists on walking in with me. “Imagine something happened to you between the car and the door,” he laughs.
“Nothing is going to happen to me,” I huff, rolling my eyes at his dramatics.
“Still, it’s polite of me to walk you in and say hi to your brother.”
I nod, letting him lead the way toward the front door.
Jaroslav opens it before we have a chance to knock, and I jump at him, wrapping my arms around his neck. He laughs as he lifts me off my feet and hugs me. “Welcome home, kiddo. It’s good to have you back.”
He ushers us both inside.
Everyone is there, ready to welcome me back.
Stefania literally bowls into me, almost knocking me off my feet with her excitement. “Angelika, don’t you ever do that again. You have no idea how much I missed you!” she complains.
I go around the room, hugging everyone. Zakhar is his usual stoic self, smiling and whispering, “I’m glad you’re ok, A,” as he hugs me. Evengil and Georgy are a lot louder in their greetings, teasing me a little, laughing.
The house is happy and welcoming, and my heart is full and relaxed.
I turn to Diomid to say goodbye to him, my chest suddenly feeling heavy and tight with the thought of not seeing him again, but Jaroslav interrupts me.
“Hey Dio, can you recommend a good personal bodyguard service?” he asks.
My eyes flare as I spin toward Jaroslav. “For who?” I snap.
“For you, Angelika. Who else? You are home now, so we’re assigning you a 24/7 bodyguard.”
“No, that’s far too extreme. I don’t need a guard 24/7. Maybe I could take just one of the security guards with mewhen I go out. Seriously, Jaroslav, this is too much!” I’m shouting, angry, already feeling suffocated before I even get the guy assigned to me. It’s the idea of being followed everywhere. Watched like a hawk, never having a moment to myself. I can’t bear it.
Jaroslav glares at me. “This wasn’t up for negotiation, Angelika. You were kidnapped and almost auctioned off. You can’t be so naive that you’re still blind to the dangers you’re in when you go out alone?” he snarls.
“But Jaro…”
“I’ll do it.”
My heart sinks to the pit of my stomach. No. He didnotjust say that.
I turn to face Diomid, glaring at him, demanding that he take the offer back with the heat of my eyes.
“You’ll do it?” Jaroslav asks.
“Yes, I can be her guard,” he shrugs.
“Seriously, I mean it makes perfect sense. You’ve proven yourself more than capable. And it would make me feel a lot better to have you watching her instead of a stranger. But are you sure?”
I stand in disbelief, watching the two men discuss my life and my freedom as though Diomid and I didn’t just have this whole conversation last night. How dare he do this to me? I told him my struggles, my challenges, how I hate losing my freedom—and now he’s literally volunteering to take it away from me.
“You have sisters too, so you get it,” Jaroslav says.
Diomid nods. “Exactly. Besides, if you wanted to hire a new guy now, he would have to be so vetted that it would be alengthy, painful process. We can’t trust that Bardil doesn’t have people everywhere. It’s better if I do it.”
My brother and Diomid finish making plans while I listen, numb inside, horrified.
When their conversation ends, Diomid turns to me and smiles. “I’ll see you in the morning,” he says.
I huff, refusing to answer him.
He chuckles and leaves my brother’s home.
