Page 24 of Bratva Bastard

“Shit!” Andrei shouted. “He tells you he’ll kill me if you shoot, and you shoot him anyway?”

What a pussy. Any man would be willing to risk himself for the good of the team, which he obviously didn’t give a flying fuck about.

“You’re going to scold me after I just saved your life? Fuck you!”

“Fuck you! You could’ve missed and killed me!”

I rolled my head in the most exaggerated motion. “Well, I didn’t, did I? Asshole.”

“Would you both shut the fuck up!” Dimitry shouted. “We have three bodies to bury, one of them being one ofourmen. So get it together and quit bitching.”

Gathering the bodies, we put them in the back of the SUV, and drove inland to bury them deep in the woods where no one would find them.

Dimitry made a small grave for his friend—which was really just a rock he placed over where his friend was buried. Anything more and someone might notice. But it felt wrong to leave without doinganything.

He said a few words about the guy, who I didn’t know but was thankful for, nonetheless. We each took turns saying something to show our respect, though all Andrei said was, “He was a good man.”

Even I tried to say something more than that generic response, but whatever. Maybe I was holding a grudge because I was still pissed at my bodyguard for being a little bitch.

On the ride back, I glanced at my phone, cursing. “Shit. It’s nearly 10 P.M. I have to meet Crissy soon.”

Dimitry chuckled, shaking his head. “It’s nothing, huh? You’re certainly eager to meet with her for her to be nothing to you.”

All I could do in response was cross my arms. But I couldn’t hide the smile that curled on my lips, knowing I’d be seeing her soon.

11

Crissy

After enduring the mostexhaustingmorning, I called into work to explain about last night. When texting Ribeiro last night while Maxim was sleeping, he’d suggested that I tell management I left early for my mother. Though he was understanding and totally fine with it, he thought management might be pissed—and I agreed.

So, I lied.

Not my best moment, but what other choice did I have? I couldn’t risk my job. That’s why I told my boss that my mother was sick, and I had to leave early. Ribeiro, being the awesome coworker that he was, had already told my boss that I left early for my mother, which made it more believable.

After the phone call, I headed home to check on my mother. I didn’t get the chance to before work because I was rushing to get to the studio in time for my first yoga session. But now that I was headed home, I hoped that my lie wouldn’t come back to bite me in the ass, and that my mother was okay.

“Cristiana? Is that you?” she called out, hobbling to the door with her cane. She pulled me in for a hug, holding me at arm’s length when she asked, “Baby girl, how are you doing? It’s not like you to stay out all night, I was worried something happened.Didsomething happen? Were you with Luiz? Oh, did he propose?”

Her eyes lit up as she awaited my answer. But should I tell her the truth? Even I wouldn’t believe it. I couldn’t lie to my own mother, though. Guess I’d have to settle for the middle ground.

“I wasn’t with Luiz, Mama. You remember Zoran, the man Gabby married? Well, his friend is in town visiting with his brother, and he needed help. It’s a long story, but I’m safe, Mama. No need to worry.”

She walked away to grab a cup of tea, asking me more questions in the process.

“So, who is this man? And what would he need help with at night? Crissy, please tell me you weren’t fooling around with him.”

“Mother! Of course not. I’m with Luiz, remember? It was nothing, honestly. Totally innocent. He wasn’t feeling too well, so I stayed there to help him. He’s traveling alone, and I was worried something bad might happen without someone there to watch him.”

“Mhm,” she said, her tone laced with judgment. She wasn’t fully convinced, but she knew I wasn’t the type to sleep around. Hell, even Luiz and I hadn’t consummated the relationship.

I left for my afternoon shift at the bar shortly after, telling her I’d be home late again, and that I wanted to check on Maxim. To her of course he was just Zoran’s friend. With only a few minutes to clock in, I hastily made my way. All morning I’d been rushing to make it on time. Exhaustion was catching up with me now.

All shift, I thought about Maxim. I wondered what he was like as a child. Moving around a lot, it must’ve been hard to make friends, so it really was just him and his mother. I thought about his mother, curious what she was like. Charming like Maxim? Or perhaps, they had the same low chuckle, or the same wrinkle above their eyebrow when their face scrunched up.

No matter how ridiculous the thought, I couldn’t get him out of my head. He was like a disease, consuming me from the inside out. As jarring as it was, I enjoyed it—thrived on it, even. Because Ilikedthinking of Maxim. It made me feel happy and light, like some of the burdens had been lifted. He had such a disarming personality.

And his smile.God,his smile. Hands down, the most alluring smile I’d ever encountered, the way his lips curve up at the corners in an almost naughty manner. But his smile held nothing over his eyes. Deep cerulean pools of water that sucked me in, drowning the Crissy everyone expected me to be, leaving behind only the Crissy that was true.

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