Page 2 of Bratva's Secret Girl
“But you’ll have to commute. It’ll take half the day on the bus to get there.” She isn’t saying the thing that hovers between us: that we’ve already lost one sister, Taylor, leaving London without a word, and we can’t lose another.
“It won’t be long on the underground, and I can afford to with the increase in salary.” For the chance of seeing my new boss, I’d walk ten miles barefoot every day.
Payton hesitates. “Look, Hay, I know you want out of your current job?—”
“Yup.” I’ve already handed in my notice.
“But just wait and find something else that’s closer. Safer. We don’t need you to work more. We can sell this.” She pulls a delicate diamond necklace on a gold chain from her pocket.
I gape. “Where did you get that?”
She presses her lips together and clutches it in her hand. “It was a present.”
“From whom?”
“My boyfriend.”
“Your boyfriend?” She doesn’t have a boyfriend? Does she?
Oh god, my baby sister is going to lose her V-card before I do. Jealousy twists inside me, even as I tell myself it’s only concern for her. I don’t want anything bad to happen to her, and older sisters have to do stuff first, right? That’s the natural order of things.
This was so much easier when we were younger, and it was smaller problems, and I could be the perfect big sister, taking responsibility. Not working every day, all day, because that’s the best way to provide for my youngest sister.
Love by surname, Love by nature, that’s us. I just never thought it would be me working and my sister falling in love.
“Yeah. I met someone at uni.” Payton shrugs. “Or rather, he’s been hounding me, and I gave in.”
“What?!” I drag her into our tiny lounge and sit her down on the sofa.
She gives me an unimpressed look.
Am I in one of those historical dramas where the older sister is a lonely old spinster and the younger gets married?
I’m not that. I’m really not. It’s just I’ve been super focused on work and looking after Payton. Plus, I just haven’t met anyone who appealed.
The image of my boss, Maxim, pops into my head. Okay, I hadn’t, until today. And I still haven’t found a man I wouldhave a chance with, because while he was sweet and thoughtful, Maxim only asked me about my work.
“Tell me everything.”
She sips her tea with a calmness I do not feel. “He has classes in the building next to mine, and they finish at the same time, so we’ve seen each other around.”
“And he’s given you diamond necklaces? How did you get between, ‘I noticed you in a crowd’ to ‘take this expensive object as a sign of my affection?”
“Look, don’t judge me!”
Right, right. I sigh.
“Just be careful, okay, sis? He might expect something for his gifts.”
She rolls her eyes. “He can try. I think he already does, but I’m not giving himthat.”
“That being acat?” I tease.
“That being a bag of peanuts.” Brushing an invisible bit of fluff from her shoulder, she smiles naughtily.
“That being a peach?” I shoot back playfully. She’s my sister, only sister now, and I can’t stay mad at her for long. Even if I am concerned.
“That being three pairs of fluffy socks, two fantasy romance special editions, and a bag of pasta. I’m not giving him anything.” She tosses her head. “If he wants to give me things, well, that’s up to him.”