Page 12 of Bratva Bastard

Seeing my reaction to luxury, he chuckled some more, the sound growing on me—deep and soothing like velvet. “Enjoy first class,” he said, heading to economy. I stretched my legs out on the couch-like seat, dozing off after only a few minutes.

“Excuse me,” a voice said, a hand tapping on my shoulder. “I forgot to get something.”

I peeled my eyes open, seeing the man’s face come into focus. My eyes shifted to the window, and it hit me.We were flying.My breathing quickened, and I bolted upright, nearly headbutting the poor guy who’d given me his seat.

And he seemed so kind, too. Just a nice man looking out for a stranger. Or should I say, a nice-looking man.

“Calm down,” he said soothingly. He didn’t demand I calm down, but coaxed me out of my anxiety’s clutch. “Breathe in and out. In,” he said, waiting for me to follow his instructions. So I took a deep breath. “And out,” he said, doing the motions with me.

Once my breathing stabilized, he reached over me to grab something he’d forgotten. And when he did so, he cocked his head to the side, squinting as he watched me.

“You were at the wedding,” he said, a clever grin curled on his lips. “Zoran’s wedding. You were a bridesmaid.”

“How did you…?” I trailed off, realizing that I, too, recognized his face. “The best man,” I said, answering my own question. “I didn’t recognize you without the blonde on your arm.” My cheeks heated, the warmth spreading through my face.

He continued, “That’s me, and wasn’t the wedding lovely?” He then turned his attention to the man sitting next to me. “Andrei, take a hike in economy; I’m going to have a pleasant discussion with this lovely young lady.”

The guy muttered angrily. “No, Maxim, I don’t believe that’s a good idea. It’s not safe.”

“I said take a fucking hike, now!” The man who went by the name Andrei stood up from his seat and sent a glare in Maxim’s direction as he walked by, and Maxim walked over and took his spot next to me.

“Is that your friend?” I asked

“Let’s just say that we work together, and he’s a pain in my ass, but let’s not talk about Andrei.” he stated.

“Oh, okay...sure.” I responded. The conversation he just had with his co-worker was odd to say the least, but whatever.

“So, where were we? Oh yes, are you and Gabby close?” he asked. Ignoring any relation to the blonde being the reason it was a nice wedding, I nodded, thinking of how much effort went into the design and decorations. The flowers alone were arranged so beautifully, tied in with the chairs and displayed on the silk tablecloth. It really was a lovely wedding. Just how Gabby had always imagined.

“Definitely,” I answered, already at ease about the plane ride. “Gabby is my best friend, and has been since we were children.”

“Considering you’ve known her for years, and you’re on a plane to Brazil, am I to assume that’s where you live?”

Normally, I wouldn’t talk about where I live with a random stranger, but he wasn’t so random. We met at the wedding, so we were already acquaintances, right? “You assume correctly. We grew up together in Trancoso.”

“Funny, that’s where I’m heading.” He looked out the window, as if he could see Trancoso, but all that surrounded us was blue—blue skies, blue water. His gaze shifted back to me, a charming smirk on his lips. “Maybe we could meet up sometime, have a drink?”

I wanted to say yes.God,did I want to say yes, but guilt had consumed me for even considering it.What about Luiz?Getting drinks with another man wasn’t exactly good girlfriend material.

Then again, it didn’t need to be anything sleazy. This guy was a friend of Zoran’s, so we had the same friends and knew the same people. And there was nothing wrong with getting a drink with a friend—though that was stretching it. I couldn’t even remember his name. Maxus, maybe?

But I was attracted to him, and that was what made it wrong. Despite my ability to keep any conversation completely casual, my subconscious had other intentions.

“We barely know each other,” I answered, looking away from the way his shirt pulled tight against his muscular arms. “No offense, but I don’t even remember your name.”

He shrugged, unphased. “I’m Maxim. It’s a long flight. Maybe by the end, we’ll be best friends, and you’ll change your mind about that drink. Gabby will be so jealous of your new BFF,” he teased, bumping my shoulder.

I let out a giggle, picturing Gabby’s face if she knew we were having this conversation. Steering the subject away from the possibility of getting a drink together, I asked him, “What are you doing in Trancoso?”

He let out a half-laugh, though it was forced. His deep blue eyes that shone only moments before were now tainted by dissatisfaction, leaving an uncomfortable tension in the air. He sighed. “I’m staying with my brother and his wife for a bit. I was injured in Russia, and wanted to get away for a while, heal up in a location a bit more relaxing than Moscow.”

My eyes drifted to his shoulder, gauze and bandages sticking out of his shirt. “Oh, God, you’re wounded! And I took your seat?” I stood up, grabbing my purse to head back to economy, but he grabbed my hand with his injured arm, wincing at the pain.

“Please, don’t. This is the first decent conversation I’ve had in ages. Besides, I can’t have a decent conversation with Andrei, he’s a fucking boring prick and doesn’t talk much.”

I giggled again, I really wanted to stay, but I felt terrible taking his seat. The last thing he needed was to console me for the length of the flight; he needed comfort and relaxation, which he said was his reason for visiting Brazil. But the pleading look in his eyes as he asked me to stay… he was like an adorable puppy, with soft and sappy eyes that held me captive.

“I can’t,” I said, my voice not as assertive as I’d intended. “I feel bad that Andrei went to economy in one of those cramped, uncomfortable seats. Not while I’m sitting here in luxury.”

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