Page 58 of Innocent Prey of the Bratva

“Arina,” I admit. “They gave it to me in secret. Said it was risky but better than nothing. They just wanted to help me, Kaz.”

Still, Kaz doesn’t react the way I expect. He just stares at the phone, unmoving, the air around him turning still and heavy.

I brace myself for him to take it. To smash it. To lock me back in my room or accuse me of lying.

But he doesn’t.

He steps closer and…slips the phone back into my hand.

“You can keep it,” he murmurs.

I stare up at him, surprised. “Why?”

He shrugs, though his expression remains thoughtful. “Because I trust that you won’t do anything stupid with it.”

Something tightens in my chest.

I nod, slowly.

Then his expression softens. His thumb brushes along my cheek. His eyes study me as if he’s memorizing the shape of my soul.

“Are you hungry?” he asks, voice lower now.

I blink at the shift. “What?”

He leans down and kisses me—just once. A soft, unhurried press of his lips against mine that knocks the breath right out of me. Gentle. Intimate. Like I didn’t just get caught with a burner phone seconds ago.

He rests his forehead against mine.

“Are you hungry,solnyshko?”

I nod without thinking. Because yes, I am. But more than food, I just want this strange peace to last a little longer.

And I want him.

There’s a knock on the door. Kaz sighs and rolls his eyes like a petulant child interrupted during play. “Come in,” he calls.

The door creaks open, and Milo steps in, his expression unreadable as always. “Maxim and Arina are back,” he announces.

Kaz’s jaw tightens slightly. “Good.”

He turns to Milo, slipping his hand around my waist like he’s staking a claim. “Tell them to wait in my study. I’ll come to them after lunch with Violet.”

Milo gives a short bow. “Understood.” He glances at me briefly, then exits without another word, closing the door behind him.

It’s terrifying how easily he flips between that dangerous man I once feared—and the one now holding me like this is somequiet little world that belongs only to us. He’s said that in his world, I come first. And that’s the part I’m still trying to figure out.

Chapter 14 – Kaz

After lunch, I leave Violet with a kiss on the forehead and a reminder to rest. She doesn’t ask where I’m going, but her eyes linger too long on mine—like she wants me to stay. I wish I could, but I’ve been counting the days until Maxim and Arina’s return because I am finally ready to double down on security and find Violet’s attackers.

I shut the study door behind me and face Maxim and Arina, both already standing, waiting. They know the air in the room is different now. I’m a ticking bomb, and they can feel the tremors.

“Sit,” I order.

They do.

“Talk,” I say, voice like steel.