Page 96 of Cruel Romeo

“Well, they had scary branding. Ran intimidation campaigns. Occasionally pillaged their neighbors. They had it all, really.”

“Is that your expert opinion?”

“That is indeed my expert opinion,” I say smugly before remembering I’m not supposed to be an expert on Bratva matters at all. “As the wife of apakhan,I mean.”

“Naturally.”

“You should totally get one of those horned hats, by the way. Wear it to your next sit-down. I’m sure the guys would love it.”

Petyr’s mouth twitches. Then—miracle of miracles—he actually lets out a short laugh. Not even a scary supervillain cackle, just… laughter. Pure, simple. A deep, warm laugh from the heart.

It sounds so good on him, I can’t help my insides from going all gooey.

I nudge his arm. “You’re kind of a nerd, you know.”

“I am?”

“Yep. All this ink, all these glowers, but underneath, you’re just History Channel After Dark.”

He shakes his head, smirk still lingering. “You say that like it’s a bad thing.”

“It’s not,” I promise. “I like nerds.” My brain finally kicks in, panics, and I add, “Not in like atake-off-my-horned-rimmed-glasses-and-smooch-me-breathlesskind of way, just—like—” I wave vaguely at him. “It’s interesting, seeing you like this.”

His brow lifts. “Like what?”

“Like a person,” I say before I can stop myself. “I mean—likeyou.The real you. Not just the terrifying mob boss who makes men sweat through their Armani suits.”

The smirk fades. But it’s not troubling. Instead, Petyr studies me. His eyes are heavy, intense, like he’s seeing right through me. My cheeks burn, but I refuse to flinch. I meet his gaze like I’m not two seconds away from spontaneously combusting in a room full of priceless relics.

“We should see the rest of the exhibit,” I say when the tension gets to be too much, tugging him onwards. “Before more people come in.”

For once, Petyr doesn’t call me out on my bullshit. He just lets me lead the way, his gaze burning a hole through me the whole time.

It’s a nice kind of burn, though. Warm, not scalding.

For a series of slow, delusional heartbeats, it feels like we’re just another couple. A normal couple, spending a lazy day at the museum. Cute date. No criminal empire attached, no breeding deals anywhere in sight.

A dangerous thought sneaks in. That maybe, the Petyr I’ve always feared from afar and the Petyr I’m seeing right nowaren’ttwo different people. Maybe they’re just two sides of the same coin. The cold, ruthless kingpin who forced me down the aisle and the history nerd who lights up over rusty swords.

And instead of running screaming for the exit, I’m just drawn in deeper. Because nobody else gets to see this side of him. Just me.

Which is a stupid thing to get excited about when my continued survival depends on my campaign of lies to continue.

But it still makes me feel special.

Then I spot his bodyguards trailing behind us. Human shadows in black coats, guns bulging out of their pants.

Just like that, the bubble bursts.

That’s who he is.I force myself to take a good look, to remind me of the stakes.That’s who I’m tangled with. Someone dangerous. Someone who will stop at nothing to get his way.

A Viking, ready to burn everything in his path.

I need to stop acting like I don’t know any better.

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SIMA