Page 11 of Cruel Russian Monster (Safin Bratva #2)

“This is not how it was supposed to go,” I muttered, knocking back the last of the whiskey in my glass.

The fact that I was on medication didn't faze me. I needed that damn drink. The burn did nothing to dull the growing affection I was starting to feel for Vera.

Vera and I just had dinner together. We laughed and talked, and fuck if I didn't actually enjoy myself.

After dinner, we watched a movie. And as much as I wanted to take her to bed, I also didn't want to until we announced our marriage.

Once the movie was over, she retired to her room, and I to the lounge for a much-needed drink.

I set the glass down on the coffee table beside my armchair, then ran a hand through my hair, frustratedly. With one arm propped on the arm of the chair, I rubbed at my temple.

This wasn’t the plan.

The plan was revenge. Retribution. She was supposed to suffer for what she did to me and to my family. Hell, what her actions were still doing to my family. Marrying her was meant to force a ceasefire with Artyom so we could focus on the other bastards tearing into our territory.

But Vera…was still Vera.

Yes, she’d changed, but not for the worse. And now I was stuck trying to figure out how the hell to silence these feelings of affection before they buried the anger, the hurt, the betrayal I had clung to all these years. Before they made me forget why I brought her here in the first place.

Should I ignore her?

Treat her coldly, break her down, remind her why she should fear me?

Keep her locked away like a damn prisoner?

Before I could settle on a strategy, I heard voices echoing down the hallway. My eyes widened.

Shit.

What the hell were they doing here?

I shot to my feet and left the lounge, heart pounding as I stepped into the hallway, just in time to come face-to-face with my brothers.

I needed to get them out of here.

Now.

I stood straighter as a blank expression fell over my face, the complete opposite of my nerves unravelling under my skin.

“What are you doing here? Unannounced?” I arched a brow.

I’d never cared before when they dropped by. Hell, I welcomed it. I didn't bring random women home, nor did I have a wife who needed the respect of knowing when company would be dropping by.

Until now.

“We came to check up on you,” Avit said with a shrug. “Or is there some new rule that little brothers aren’t allowed to check in on their older brother?”

“And besides,” Pyotr added, breezing past me into the lounge like I didn’t just confront them in the damn hallway.

Marten clapped me on the shoulder on his way by, and Avit followed behind them, smirking.

I rolled my eyes and trailed after them.

Pyotr was already helping himself to a drink. He looked up as I walked in.

“Based on intel from one of the girls,” he said smugly, “we were able to foil Artyom’s latest attempt. I tried calling you, but Tomas said you were away on business.”

He sipped his drink casually, as if he hadn’t just dropped a major win in the war we were barely keeping ahead of.

I wanted to ask for details, I really did, but I needed them out of here. Now.

“And this couldn’t have been a phone call?” I snapped. “You came all the way out here at night to tell me this in person? Who’s at the house with Ninel and Mariya?”

Marten and Avit lived at the family mansion with Ninel and Mariya. However, Pyotr had his own place due to the multiple women he entertained.

I knew I was overreacting. But if it got them out of here, I’d deal with the fallout later.

Marten’s eyes narrowed suspiciously. “The same people who always watch them when we’re working nights at the club or whatever the hell Lev asks us to do.”

Avit cocked his head. “There’s more security over there than Fort Knox. What’s your deal, Jay?”

“Nothing.” I cut him off. “I was heading out before you showed up. So you need to leave. Now.”

Pyotr flopped into a chair, grinning wide. “My executioner…what are you hiding?” He leaned forward, eyes gleaming. “You’ve left us in your house before.”

Then something clicked behind his eyes, and I tensed. He sat up straighter.

“Jay, are you hiding a woman in here?” he asked, voice suddenly sly.

“I’m not hiding anyone,” I said evenly. “This is my house, and I’m asking you to leave.”

I snatched the glass from Pyotr’s hand mid-sip and ignored his protest. I grabbed each of them by the arm and started pushing them toward the front door.

We almost made it.

But Avit stopped to turn around to say something to me and froze.

Then, Pyotr turned and smirked.

And Marten let out a grunt.

Shit.

“So…you were hiding a woman,” Pyotr said, eyes lighting up.

He slipped free of my grip and strolled toward the stairs, where Vera was now standing at the bottom, clearly caught mid-step.

He gave her a brief hug and stepped back with a raised brow. “Kira said you were away. That’s why you missed your last visit with Katya. I'm surprised to see you here…at this hour.”

Vera’s cheeks flushed red.

“Pyotr,” I snapped sharply. “Avit. Marten. Lounge. Now.”

My brothers obeyed without a word.

This wasn’t how I wanted them to find out. Not even close.

Shit.

Just as I stepped past her, her fingers curled around my arm. I halted and looked down at her.

“Don’t send them away yet, please,” she said softly, then let go. “It’s…nice to have company. Would you mind if I talked with them for a bit?”

I exhaled through my nose, debating.

While I was at work for most of the day, Vera was at home for hours on end with no one to talk to. It wasn't something she was accustomed to, yet she never complained about it.

Letting her speak to my brothers wasn't a huge deal since they already knew each other and got along.

Are you seriously going to feed your affection? Weren't you trying to get rid of it before your brothers arrived?

I took a step back and gestured toward the lounge. “Go ahead.”

What I didn’t expect was the quick, featherlight kiss she pressed to my cheek before she lit up with a smile and hurried into the lounge. I followed.

While I nursed a drink, I watched Vera catch up with my brothers. She asked about Katya and the baby, naturally, and checked in on Ninel and Mariya, too. My brothers didn’t hold a grudge against Vera the way I did; who they truly hated was Artyom.

After nearly two hours of easy conversation, laughter, and a few shared memories, she hugged each of them and quietly excused herself for bed.

My brothers turned to me. We sat there quietly, letting the silence settle between us. I sure as hell wasn’t going to be the first to speak.

Avit broke the tension, glancing at Marten and Pyotr. “Either of you notice Vera subtly switch her wedding ring from her left hand to her right?”

“Yup,” they replied in unison, then turned their gazes on me.

“Jaroslav, what the hell is Artyom’s sister doing in your house?” Marten asked flatly. “You got a damn death wish?”

“If you noticed the switch of her wedding band, then you should assume that we're married. And to ensure there's no miscommunication between us, Vera and I are married,” I said in a matter-of-fact tone.

Three sets of eyes widened.

I told them everything about my trip to Vegas, kidnapping Vera, and how Father Gordon had married us almost three weeks ago.

Avit let out a low whistle. “I’m starting to think Dad kidnapped Mom. This can’t be normal. Maybe it’s genetic. Or a curse. First, Lev kidnaps Katya and marries her, now Jay loses his damn mind and does the same to Vera.”

My eyes narrowed. I may not have been the head of the Safin faction, but my brothers sure as hell knew better than to come into my house and disrespect me.

“Avit, have you lost your damn mind?” I shot to my feet. “In case any of you forgot, I’m your older brother, and you will speak to me with the respect I’m owed. You barge into my house, and now you’re questioning a decision I made to protect this damn faction? To protect all of you?”

Avit stood too, squared up and ready. “Decision? Since when did we start making critical, life-altering decisions on our own? Even Lev told us about his decision to marry Vera! And he's the bloody faction leader!”

Avit's nostrils flared. “This shit could backfire, and you know it. Or did you forget we have two sisters? What if Artyom or one of his psychopaths decides to retaliate by kidnapping Ninel or Mariya and forcing them into marriage? And then treat them like shit just to prove a point to us? What then, huh?”

“Do you think I haven’t thought through the consequences? Every fucking last one?” I growled, stepping closer. My voice dropped to a lethal level. One of my brothers have heard over the years when we've faced off with enemies.

Pyotr and Marten stood as well, tense, eyes glued on us.

“Have you forgotten what I do for this family? The role I excel at? Marrying Vera forces Artyom’s hand to halt the war.

And it ties our assets. He might have rejected Katya, but he can’t turn a blind eye to my marriage to Vera.

We may not like the Rykovs or trust them, but everyone in this room knows how powerful they are, and if we align with them, we'll be unstoppable.”

But the anger in Avit’s eyes didn’t fade.

“The keyword here is trust,” he snapped. “We don’t trust them. Or have you forgotten the shit Artyom pulled after we rescued Katya? He could’ve killed Lev if he wanted. He hates Katya, and he wants her back. What the fuck do you think he’ll do when he finds out Vera’s married to you?”

Avit stepped closer, our faces just inches apart.

“If Artyom or his brothers kidnap Ninel or Mariya and force them into marriage, I’ll never forgive you. Lev’s been including our sisters in how the Bratva runs, not to turn them into pawns, but to empower them. And you just shot that to hell.”

Then he shoved past me and stormed out of the lounge.

“I’ll talk to him,” Pyotr muttered, already moving after him.

I sighed. I had never seen Avit that angry before, and it bothered me.

“Lev will be pissed,” Marten concluded.

“Lev will understand.” My tone softened. “If we don’t end this war soon, it’ll cost us the faction, or our damn lives. We can’t keep going like this, and he knows it. Not just for the sake of the faction, but for his wife’s mental health. We’re all burning the candle at both ends. It needs to end.”

Marten stepped toward me, his eyes searching mine.

“I know you, Jay. There’s more to this marriage than just wanting to stop Artyom. When you’re ready to talk about it, I’m here. We won’t tell Lev anything.”

He turned and walked out.

I sank onto one of the sofas, exhaling heavily.

Marten was right.

There was more to this marriage than just politics. After almost losing her to Lev…just the thought of Vera being with another man made me sick to my stomach.

I didn’t just marry Vera to stop Artyom.

I married her to make sure no one else could have her but me. But now that I did have her, I was conflicted.

While I understood Avit’s stance concerning Ninel and Mariya, I needed him to see the full picture.

Katya sent secret letters to Yegor and Zahkar regularly, and they also helped Lev get away from Artyom with Katya, as well as holding him back after he tried to lunge for Lev and Katya after they'd rescued her.

I wasn't worried about Yegor and Zahkar kidnapping Ninel or Mariya. The possibility of that rested on Artyom.

I pushed myself to my feet, poured myself two fingers of scotch, and drank it in one go.

I knew Marten could only stop Avit from telling Lev for so long. I needed to come clean soon.

Walking out of the lounge, I dragged myself to my room.

I’d deal with that tomorrow.

Tonight, I needed to rest.