Page 16 of Secret Bratva Baby (Dubrov Bratva #16)

When I go to work with Luka one morning, I’m wearing jeans and a tight-fitted black long-sleeve top. I still look professional and neat, but Luka insisted I dress more comfortably this time because he’s taking me to one of his warehouses.

I’m excited and watching eagerly out of the car window as we pull into the parking area outside the warehouse.

He laughs at me, amused by my enthusiasm.

“I’ve never seen someone so happy to see a warehouse,” he teases me.

“It’s more than just a warehouse, though,” I say, defensive. “I get to learn more about how things work and see different sides of it.”

I narrow my eyes at him, and he nods. “I know. But you’re cute.” He grins.

“We’ve already spoken about this,” I warn him, lifting my chin, throwing him a threatening glare.

“Yes, yes—cute and dangerous,” he nods, lifting his hands in defense.

“Exactly,” I mutter, climbing out of the car, grinning.

We’re getting on so well lately. It’s been amazing.

I keep telling myself to be careful of what my heart thinks is happening.

It’s not so easy, though. No matter how many times I warn myself that he probably doesn’t feel the same way I do—that he’s only doing all of this to keep Lily and me safe, as a duty of sorts—I can’t help but have hope that it’s something more.

Luka gestures for me to follow him.

I walk at his side towards the wide corrugated doors. Today isn’t about emotions, Rose. It’s about finding a way to make a living. So that when this is over, you can take care of your little girl.

Stepping into the warehouse is intimidating, and I have to pause for a second to take it all in.

Men shout orders and confirmations to each other across the wide space. Forklifts carry crates, and trucks beep as they reverse into loading areas. Somewhere in the back of the warehouse, someone is welding, and sparks are flying from the metal.

“You okay?” Luka asks, sensing my hesitation.

“Of course.” I smile, pushing my shoulders back. “It’s loud in here,” I remark.

He nods. “And this is actually a calm day. You should see it when we have shipments to get out in a hurry. It’s organized chaos. Gets way louder,” he shouts over the sound of a reversing forklift.

We wait until the guy has moved away before we walk further in. Luka’s employees greet him happily, waving and shouting hello. Luka smiles and waves back.

A man with a wild grey beard comes over and hands Luka a clipboard. “Morning, sir. Here’s the latest.”

“Thanks, George. This is Rose. She’s going to be doing some of our paperwork for us.”

“Hi, Rose,” George says with a wide, friendly smile. He holds his hand out towards me. It’s coated in grease.

I take it anyway, and he shakes enthusiastically. Then he lets go and looks in horror at my hand.

“Oh my word. I’m sorry about that.” He tugs a cloth from his back pocket and grabs my hand, wiping the cloth across my fingers. I laugh at his comfortable forwardness and eagerness to help.

He looks about sixty, old enough to be retired, but still fit and healthy.

When he’s walking away, Luka remarks, “George is a great guy. He’s too old to manage the heavy lifting anymore, but he’s a brilliant manager. He’s good with everyone. Even the difficult guys.”

“Why do you hire people if they’re difficult?” I ask, curious.

“Everyone comes from somewhere. Everyone has a past. We followed in the footsteps of some of our allies, the Dubrovs, and we hired people who have nowhere else to go. Sometimes ex-cons or ex junkies. People who want to turn their lives around but can’t catch a break.

We give them good pay, good medical and other benefits, and they’re slowly able to get on their feet and take care of their families.

Most of them only went down the wrong path because they were desperate,” he says, surprising me with this information.

He’s a really good man. He has a good heart.

I saw this in him years ago—and now again.

“What happens if you hire a junkie and he relapses? There was a girl I worked with at a restaurant once, a waitress. She would sneak off and get high in between serving tables. Then she would steal and damage things and freak out. It was terrible to watch. Really sad.”

Luka nods. “We’ve experienced similar things.

We’ll try to get the person help if they want it.

But we won’t enable them. They have to choose it.

If they aren’t interested in turning their life around, then we have no choice but to kick them out.

The thing is that every person here has a role to play on this team.

When one link isn’t working, it impacts everyone.

If one junkie is acting out, it can throw other people off their goals. ”

I nod. “That’s good. It’s amazing to help people, but not to let yourself be used.”

He chuckles. “People here know better than to try and take advantage of us.”

Luka lifts the clipboard George handed him and holds it out for me.

“Take a look at this. It’s our upcoming shipment schedule.

See this column? That’s the product—we use codes for each one.

Then this column is the truck number, the tracking number, the driver, and here is the date it needs to be delivered. ”

I glance over the spreadsheet. “But it’s all in code.”

“Correct. I’ll give you the cypher. You’ll need it if you’re going to help organize the schedule.”

“Me?” I say excitedly. “That’s a big task.”

“And you’re perfectly capable of doing it. Don’t worry, I’ll teach you everything you need to know first. I won’t throw you in the deep end.”

He slips his arm around my back and guides me further into the warehouse.

We walk around. Luka lets me take my time, meeting the people who work there, listening to some of their stories, and getting updates on their families.

They are all just normal people trying to make their way through life.

Some of them are covered in tattoos, their faces hidden behind ink; others are missing teeth, some are dressed smartly, and others in overalls.

Every single person I meet is amazing, though.

They are all welcoming and enthusiastic about what they add to the team.

I can see the sense of purpose in them, perhaps a sense of purpose that wasn’t always there, that Luka and his brothers gave back to them.

These are people who live in the gray areas of life that I was telling Luka about.

The black and white structures don’t fit them. They aren’t welcome in the normal systems of society because of their past, but they can’t improve their lives without work—they have to choose the gray areas. It’s not even a choice.

What Luka and his brothers have put together here is a workplace that is like a family. Non-judgmental of one’s past, but also not allowing people to use it as an excuse not to become a better version of themselves.

I glance towards Luka, in conversation with a tall, thin man with blonde hair. They are talking about an issue with one of the trucks.

While he’s busy, my eyes trace over him. His dark features can sometimes be imposing and ominous, but right now, all I see is a strong, honorable man with an amazing heart. A kind man who wants to give back to the world. A man who is patient and caring.

He finishes his conversation and turns back to me. “Well, did you have any questions about any of this?” he gestures around the place.

“Not yet. I’m sure I will eventually, though.”

“You look deep in thought,” he says softly as he gently brushes a stray blonde curl away from my eyes.

“I’m just taking it all in,” I smile, staring into his eyes. My heart spins a little when he smiles at me, that handsome smile that takes my breath away.

“Shall we get some lunch and then come back so I can start showing how I organize my office?”

“We peeked into your office during the tour—I wouldn’t be so bold as to call that organized.”

He looks offended, his mouth dropping open.

“I’ll have you know that I can track down any piece of information in a matter of seconds. I know where everything is in that place.”

I nod, narrowing my eyes, teasing him with my disbelief.

“Mm. You’ll see. My system is brilliant,” he muses, catching on to my smile.

At the little restaurant down the road from the warehouse, they apparently serve the best fish and chips in the city.

Luka is sitting with his chair right up against mine, his thigh pressing against my leg beneath the table.

He pulled my seat into this position to show me something on his phone, but then he didn’t move me away again, and we’re sitting comfortably close to each other.

Luka is stealing my admiration, piece by piece, day by day.

During the day, he teaches me, always patient, always taking the time to explain things as many times as I need him to.

He teaches me about the business from every angle he can think of and lets me choose which aspects I’m comfortable being involved in. He helps me with the paperwork until I have a strong grasp of what needs to be done, then he leaves me to do it, only helping me when I need him to check my work.

“You’re doing really well, Rose,” he says, scanning down the schedule I made for the following week.

He grins, catching a mistake.

“This driver…” he points to a booked slot.

“Mm?”

“He can’t be in two places at once, you see.”

I grab the paper back from him. “Don’t tell me. I’ll figure it out. I learn better if I can figure it out myself.” I smile, walking back to my desk.

Luka watches me walk away. I note the sense of desire in his gaze.

It immediately spikes my desire, and my cheeks glow pink.

I hurry to sit down, lowering my face to focus on the document.

But Luka is still watching me.

“I can’t work with you staring at me like that,” I giggle.

He leans back in his chair, folding his thick arms across his chest. “I was wondering…” he says, a smirk drifting onto his face.

“What were you wondering?” I sigh, dropping my pen and raising my brows at him. He’s got something on his mind, and he’s not going to leave me in peace until he gets it out.

“What are you doing tomorrow night?” he asks.

“Um. Nothing?” I knot my brows.

“Would you go to a party with me?”

“Are you asking me out on a date, Luka Andreev?” I tease him, then regret calling it a date and press my lips together, embarrassed. I don’t want him to think I’m being pushy or desperate or needy.

“I am.” He nods, his eyes tightening on me. “Are you saying yes?”

I nod. “I would love to go to a party with you, but I don’t have anything to wear.”

“That’s easy to sort out. After you’ve found your mistake, we’ll leave early and stop at the mall on the way home.”

I grin and turn my attention back to the document in front of me. My heart is dancing in my chest.

***

At the mall, Luka is a lot more involved in choosing my dress than I expected him to be.

He’s making me model different options and commenting on whether or not they bring out my eyes or are worthy of my curves.

I have no doubt that this man is attracted to me.

I wish I knew if it was anything more than that.

“Oh fuck,” he mutters, his jaw dropping as I step out in a dark turquoise glittering, short, body-hugging dress with a cheekily high slit that reaches up to my hip.

“Um.” He shifts in his seat, adjusting his cock.

I grin triumphantly. “Do you like it?” I spin slowly, pausing with my ass facing him as I arch my back.

“Mm.” He huffs, clenching his jaw. “I don’t know if that’s appropriate for—"

“A party?” I tease him. “Of course it is. It’s perfect.”

“Rose,” he mutters.

“Yes?” I say innocently. “Is there something wrong?”

I can see exactly what’s wrong. His cock has gone rock-hard and is pressing uncomfortably against his pants. He reaches over and grabs my purse, which is on the chair next to his and sets it on his lap.

“Nothing,” he mutters. “It’s good. Get that one.”

“Will you help me unzip the back?” I ask, wiggling my butt at him.

“Sure, come here,” he says.

“Why don’t you come here?” I ask, grinning.

“Rose.” His voice is dark with warning, his eye making my heart race.

I don’t really need help with the zipper, but I slink slowly towards him anyway, then, standing between his legs, I turn my back to him.

He reaches up, and his fingers brush against my skin as he pulls the zipper down.

I have to focus on keeping my breathing steady.

“I won’t be long,” I murmur, stepping away from him.

“Take your time,” he says, awkwardly glancing at his crotch.

Alone in the changing room, I can’t stop smiling.

He has the ability to make me feel like I’m the most gorgeous girl in the world. The dress is beautiful, obviously, but it’s his gaze that gives me all the confidence I need to wear something like this. It’s the way he looks at me that sets my soul on fire.

I sigh softly, a whisper of sadness sneaking into my thoughts.

Be careful, Rose. Don ’ t go hurting yourself with stupid ideas.

When I step out of the dressing room with the dress over my arm, Luka has chosen a pair of high heels in the same gorgeous color to match. He’s also found me a little gold clutch and an elegant gold chain.

“Do you like them?”

“I didn’t know you were such a fashionista,” I tease.

“I just like the idea of dressing you up—and down.” He winks at me.

We walk out of the store with a handful of bags and a smile on my face.

I’m not the type of girl who often gets to dress up.

I don’t party or spend ridiculous amounts on clothing.

My daughter has been my priority for the last three years, and I almost gagged at the total when Luka so casually swiped his black card.

He didn’t even flinch.

And I’m excited to go out looking like a princess.