Page 51 of Married to the Don (Kornilov Bratva Duet 1)

He adds, “Friends with benefits, I hope?” He quirks a brow.

The panic I’ve been pushing down for the last ten minutes rises again, and I look around the kitchen for an escape. An excuse.

Fedor leans down and if his lips connect with mine, I think I’ll throw up.

His eyes flutter closed, and I note as he leans down towards me that he has the same long lashes as Theo.

Then, just before our lips can meet, I hear a key in the front door.

Fedor freezes and then pulls back and looks directly into my eyes. If there was a time he’d recognize me, this would be it. But he doesn’t.

He sighs, disappointed. “Another time, I suppose.”

He turns away from me but doesn’t break contact. Fedor wraps his arm around my lower back, pressing me to his side, and I just stare straight ahead at the hallway.

Viktor rounds the corner, and I know immediately he had no idea this would happen.

His face is red and blotchy, and he’s out of breath like he ran all the way here. As soon as he walks in, his eyes are wild and searching. When they land on me and Fedor, his brow wrinkles. What a sight we must be.

“Hello, brother,” Fedor says, raising a hand. “Surprise.”

Viktor rests back on his heels and gives his brother the barest of glances before he looks at me again. Then at Fedor’s arm around my waist.

“Sorry,” I say suddenly, jumping away from Fedor and grabbing the towel and half-filled coffee mug from the counter. “I should be working, but your brother arrived and distracted me.”

I wave a hand at Fedor like I’m a Southern belle and he’s some charming rascal, and he smiles smugly in return.

“Your staff has become much more friendly since the last time I was here,” he says.

Finally, I see realization click into place for Viktor.

“Leave my maid alone,” Viktor says playfully, crossing the room and pulling his brother into a hug.

“Have you laid claim to her?”

Laid claim. Like I’m some plot of land for him to stick his flag in. The analogy turns my stomach, and I realize that’s what most women are to Fedor.

Viktor looks at me over his brother’s shoulder, gesturing with his eyes for me to scram. “I lay claim to all of my employees. They’re off-limits.”

Fedor spins out of his brother’s grasp and moves around the back of the island, approaching me from behind. My back tingles, my instincts warning me to flee. He tries to lay a hand on my waist, but I slip away before he can, moving closer to Viktor.

“Don’t tempt me. You know I don’t like being told no.”

No shit, I think.

Viktor moves next to me and curls his arm protectively around my back, his fingers digging into my side. “You better get used to it if you plan to hang out around my house.”

The brothers volley back and forth. Their tones are light, but their expressions are edged in something sharp.

I wonder if Viktor has had this trouble before. If Fedor has made it a habit to harass the women his brother employs.

Fedor takes in our position, the way Viktor has a hold on me, and the way I’m leaning into him—though he has no idea it’s out of fear to him rather than a love for Viktor—and nods. “I see. You really have laid your claim.”

Viktor pulls me closer. “Several times.”

I feel my entire body blush. I want to slap him for talking about me like that to Fedor, and I want to do much worse to Fedor for many more reasons. But I also don’t want to draw attention to myself. Fedor doesn’t know who I am. He knows nothing about Theo. And Viktor seems like he wants to keep my secret. I shouldn’t do anything to tip this very precarious boat I’ve found myself in.

Fedor whistles and runs his eyes down the length of my body. “Lucky man.”

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