Page 29 of Brutal Reign (Bratva Kings #3)

I’m still trying to make sense of his world as Pavel leads us upstairs.

The whole dynamic is completely different from what I expected. At Simon’s—hell, even at my father’s—house, the staff were careful not to draw any attention to themselves. They served, spoke when spoken to, kept their heads down, and did their jobs. It was a matter of respect.

Here, Pavel seems genuinely comfortable with his people, less like a boss and more like the patriarch of some bizarre extended family.

Curiosity gets the best of me. “How did your boxing instructor end up running your household?”

Pavel’s shoulders lift in a casual shrug.

“When his boxing studio went under about ten years ago, he barely had any savings. Probably because he trained many of the neighborhood kids for free, me included. I wanted to return the favor—he supported me when I had nothing—so I brought him here. Doesn’t matter to me if he actually works or not, but running this place gives him purpose. ”

“What do you mean you ‘had nothing’?” The words slip out before I can stop them.

“I lost my parents when I was young. I had to fend for myself for a long time.” Something shutters in his expression, and I know that’s the end of our conversation.

Pavel stops in front of a door halfway down the hall. “This is Kin’s room.”

He pushes it open, and I freeze. The room is enormous, easily three times the size of Kin’s bedroom in Hong Kong, and it’s.

.. Well, the only way to put it is “a dinosaur-lover’s dream”.

A life-sized T-Rex decal dominates one wall while paintings of prehistoric landscapes adorn the others.

The bed is shaped like a triceratops, complete with horned headboard.

A rock climbing wall covers the far corner, leading up to a lofted play area with what looks like a hammock and telescope. There’s a bookshelf already filled with encyclopedias and picture books, and a desk with model fossils displayed in glass cases.

Kin’s mouth drops open. He lets go of my hand and sprints toward the climbing wall, squealing with delight.

“This is my room?” he asks, spinning around, eyes wider than I’ve ever seen them.

“All yours,” Pavel confirms.

I’m not sure how to feel. On one hand, this is pretty amazing and Kin is clearly thrilled. But on the other hand… What’s Pavel’s angle? Simon was only ever kind to Kin when he wanted something from me.

While Kin explores the room in rapt fascination, I turn around, hands on my hips, and glare up at Pavel. “This is too much. You can’t just buy his affection.”

Pavel crosses his impressive arms and leans against the doorframe. “That’s not what I was doing. I want Kin to be comfortable here. He’s four, and he’s been through a lot. Even if you don’t like it, I don’t think Kin feels the same,” he says, nodding toward Kin, who looks like he’s in wonderland.

“Oh, I’m sure he loves it, but I know what you’re doing.”

He lifts his chin. “And what is that?”

“Trying to make us forget we’re prisoners by dressing up the cage.”

For all the luxury surrounding us, it’s still a beautiful prison with a terrifying and sexy warden who happens to be Kin’s biological father.

Fuck my life.

Pavel steps closer, cupping my neck as he bends to meet my eyes. It’s a reminder of how much taller he is. How much bigger.

My mind flashes back to the way he manhandled me when I was naked. I swear, I’m going to need shock therapy to stop flashing back to the night we spent together.

“I can and will buy you and Kin whatever I want.”

“Excuse me, but is that a threat?”

“No, that’s a promise. When I want something, I’m very good at getting it.” He leans closer, his breath warm against my ear. “People don’t generally say no to me. Don’t forget that, angel moy.”

The possessive growl in his voice makes my traitorous body tighten in response, and a curl of desire licks up my spine.

It’s only because I haven’t had sex in five years, I remind myself. And he was my last and, let’s face it, the best sex I’ve ever had.

Sure, my experience was limited, but even so, I know our chemistry was off-the-freakin’-charts hot. Maybe it’s my body responding to his pheromones or something.

His eyes darken as I tilt my head up like I might kiss him, and the air between us crackles. His breath catches, giving away the crack in his composure.

Two can play this game. I can affect him just as much as he affects me.

I trail one finger down the center of his chest, slow and deliberate, before letting my hand fall away.

“You should get used to hearing ‘no’ from me,” I murmur. “Because you’re going to hear it a lot.”

He chuckles, not at all fazed. “We’ll see about that. Would you like to see our room?”

Our room? The words hit me like ice water.

“Case in point. There is no ‘our’ room. I’ll be sleeping here with my son.”

His jaw tightens. “You can stay with Kin this week while he adjusts. After that, you sleep with me, your husband.”

Jesus, he must be delusional. It’s not a request, not even a demand, but a simple statement of fact.

I parrot his words from earlier. “We’ll see about that.”

Without saying more, I turn and walk into the room to join Kin, who’s busy examining replica dinosaur fossils in glass cases. Jesus. Pavel really didn’t hold back.

“Look, Mama! Dinosaur bones!” Kin points excitedly at a mini archaeological set. How did Pavel manage to pull this off in twelve hours?

I crouch beside Kin, aware of Pavel’s intense stare boring into my back. His presence throws me off balance, like a compass needle spinning wildly near a magnet.

“I have to take care of some business,” Pavel says. “Lunch will be served soon. If you need anything, find Yarik. He’s always around.”

When the door shuts behind him, I release a breath I didn’t realize I was holding and sink onto the edge of the bed, watching my son happily play.

A burst of laughter from outside pulls me from my thoughts.

I move to the window, drawn by the sound of children’s voices.

Below, in a sprawling pool surrounded by lush gardens, several kids splash and play.

A boy about Kin’s age, with blond curls and a loud voice, performs a perfect cannonball off the side while Dinara claps her approval.

They look so normal and happy.

Kin would love it out there .

The thought comes unbidden, followed by a wave of guilt. These people—these families—are part of the organization that hunted me and forced me into hiding.

Yet when I think back over the last twenty-four hours, Pavel Fedorov is the only reason I’m still breathing. Simon was prepared to put a bullet in my head, all because I refused to leave an island under attack without my child.

I swallow hard and stare at the closed door. I don’t know how to reconcile any of it and what it means that my survival came from the man I once feared most.