Page 26 of Bratva's Secret Girl

She gnaws on her lip. “He won’t be upset, will he?”

I blink and have to restrain my irritated scowl at her concern about another man. “I don’t imagine he’s happy that two women have gone missing from his territory.”

“As long as he lets me stay in our house…” She toys with the last of her cake.

“What? You’re not going back there.” Whoever has Payton, we can be pretty certain they know where she lives. And if anything happened to Hayley, I’d have to tear the world apart to find her.

Which would be a waste. It’s generally quite a nice world.

She makes an injured sound. “I haven’t got anywhere else to go, and I know it’s a long commute to work, but?—”

“You’re not working there.” She was nearly killed in that café. I’d rather burn it to the ground than have her step into it again.

“You’re sacking me?” she says, her brows drawing together in concern.

“I was thinking you could remain here.” I avoid her question.

“Um.” She catches her plush bottom lip between her teeth. “I guess I could clean. Maybe cook, though I’m not a great cook but?—”

“Absolutely not. I already have people who do that. You should just stay. With me. Safe.”

“But I could keep your house instead,” she says eagerly. “I’m good at it?—”

“You’re trying to get people sacked? That’s a bit unfair, isn’t it?” This conversation is a runaway train. I don’t know how to stop it. It’s crazy.

She jerks and seems affronted. “But I have to work.”

“Why? You don’t have to.” I can do enough for both of us. I’m a billionaire mafia boss. She can live a life of luxury.

“Because!” She waves her hands. “I work. That’s what I do. I look after my sister—very badly, since she went missing?—”

“No, that wasn’t your fault,” I interrupt her.

“Look.” She takes a deep breath, my shirt rising. “I have this role. I’m the eldest sister. I care for my sisters, and I’ve done a crappy job?—”

“No.” I’m not accepting that.

“—And the other thing I do is provide for them. I got that qualification in Hospitality Management because I could earn while getting an education. They don’t need me to coddle them and sing lullabies, and yeah, that was the best bit. And I didn’t protect them from harm, but I’mresponsible. I make money. I work. I might not like it all that much, but leave it for me. It’s the only thing I have left.” Her chest heaves from telling me this, and I think there are tears shimmering in her eyes.

“You’re good at looking after children?” I ask.

She shakes her head and looks at me as though I haven’t been listening. But I have. I really have.

“Yes, but?—”

“Care for my children, and I’ll take on everything else.” I’m gambling recklessly.

“I don’t understand.” But there’s a spark of hope in her expression, wary and fearful as a wild she-cat sniffing food and shelter left for her.

“What I most need is a woman to bear me children.” This is causing more adrenaline and fear than any of the bullets or knives that have ripped into me.

“Like…” She trails off, unsure.

“Like a wife.”

Her brow furrows. “You don’t mean that.”

That’s not a no.