Page 18 of Cruel Russian Monster (Safin Bratva #2)
“Sir. I purchased everything you asked for. The dining table is already set.”
“Thank you, Tomas.”
Tomas nodded in my direction and smiled before walking away.
I rose to my feet. “Now that that’s over, let's eat, because I'm starved.”
I led the way to the dining room, with Jaroslav bringing up the rear. When we entered, the table was beautifully set, an inviting spread of croissants, crepes, and toasted bagels laid out alongside a variety of fillings: smoked salmon, avocado, cottage cheese, assorted jams, eggs, and crisp bacon.
A tray in the center held a selection of drinks: coffee, orange juice, and a few bottled smoothies.
Once everyone was seated, with Jaroslav at the head of the table, I took the seat to his right, while my brothers settled on the left, leaving an empty chair between them and Jaroslav. We plated our meals and began to eat.
“So, how is Kira?” I asked.
“Wait?” Zahkar said. “You haven't told Kira?”
I shook my head. “But I guess that since both of you know I can call her later today and fill her in.”
“Don't tell her everything in detail. Just let her know that you're married. She's in the middle of exams, and she needs to focus,” Yegor cautioned.
“I will. So besides Kira doing exams, how are the two of you?”
“Good.”
“Peachy.”
I rolled my eyes.
“Really?” I asked them.
“Vera, do you expect us to sit here and spill our guts in front of him ?”
I flinched.
“All I wanted to do was to catch up with my brothers.” My shoulders slouched.
“And we have caught up,” Zahkar insisted. “You asked us how we were, and we responded accordingly.”
I sighed. I pushed the pancakes around my plate. Maybe inviting them to stay was a bad idea. An awkward silence filled the room until Yegor broke it.
“So, Jaroslav. As one man to another. Bratva to Bratva. I don't play with my sisters. I'm not the type of Bratva man that doesn't give a shit as to how her husband treats her…”
“Yegor,” I tried to interrupt, but Jaroslav placed his hand on mine and squeezed gently.
“Vera, it's fine. Let him speak.”
I nodded.
Yegor continued. “If you hurt Vera, one, Artyom wouldn't be the brother you'd have to worry about, and two, your family will never find your body.”
“Yegor!” I shot to my feet.
Jaroslav rose too and turned me to him. He cupped my face, and I held on to his wrists, blinking back tears at the thought of Yegor harming Jaroslav.
“Vera, he's doing what any older brother should do.
For that, I respect him. It shows how much he loves you.
I'm saying this in front of you and your brothers.
We, just like many other Bratva couples, didn't marry for love, but that doesn't mean I'll ever hurt you.
You are my wife. It is my duty to protect you and provide for you.
To ensure that you're happy and safe under my roof. Vera, you're safe with me.”
Then he leaned in and kissed me. And it wasn't a light kiss. Jaroslav didn't give a shit that my brothers were sitting there as he kissed the hell out of me.
My heart raced, and my knees were on the verge of buckling under this man who had captured my lips and was holding them ransom.
“Woooohoooo! I didn't know I was coming for breakfast and a movie.”
Startled and dazed, I turned to see Katya standing by the door.
Zahkar and Yegor both shot up from their chairs and hugged her.
She walked up to Jaroslav and hugged him, then pulled me into her arms and whispered cheekily, “Welcome to the ‘I have a fabulous husband’ club.
I heard his speech, you've got a keeper.”
I chuckled as she pulled away.
Everyone sat down, and between Katya and me, we were able to lighten the conversation.
I told them about the trip we just came back from, which Katya rightfully pointed out was a honeymoon.
But was it, though? Because you didn't get any damn honey.
Katya said she'd love to go on a trip with Lev, but with everything happening with the war, it would be impossible. And then she said she didn't know if she'd be able to spend more than a day away from Alexi. She'd be way too worried about him while she and Lev were away.
I was noticing the subtle changes in Zahkar and Yegor as Katya spoke.
Yegor might have given Jaroslav that speech, but based on the way they jumped out of their chair to greet her, they were protective of Katya as well.
They may not be able to protect her how they’d want to, but they'd protect her any way they could.
I had no doubt that Katya knew exactly what she'd said to drive home the fact that everyone wanted the war to end. And to top it off, she whipped out her phone and showed us tons of pictures and shared cute stories about Alexi.
Over the next hour and a half, everyone was laughing and chatting with each other, and I was finally able to breathe a sigh of relief.
When my brothers left, they hugged me and Katya before shaking hands with Jaroslav. When it was Katya's time to leave, I hugged her, then Jaroslav walked her out to meet the driver.
Five minutes later, I was still waiting by the door when Jaroslav walked back in.
He wrapped his arms around me, then held my hand and took me back to the lounge. He sat on the sofa and pulled me to straddle him. He gripped my hips, and I held on to his shoulders.
“Vera, why did you defend my decision to your brothers?” His eyes searched mine.
“Would you have preferred me to tell them that you kidnapped me and forced me to marry you?”
“I'm not saying that,” he said, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. “I'm just wondering what would make you want to defend me after everything I’ve done to you.”
“I told my brothers what they needed to hear. With them on our side, and I'm sure Kira will be, too, we'll only have to worry about Lev and Artyom.”
“And that's the only reason?” he asked softly.
No.
“Yes.”
Girl, tell this man how you really feel.
But I couldn't. If we kept things casual, which he agreed to readily, when this lust phase passed, I wouldn't be upset when he went and found someone he really wanted to be with.
Even as he gently pulled me in to kiss me, I knew I could never tell Jaroslav how I felt about him. Losing him the first time wrecked me. Losing him the second time? That would be instant death.