Page 16 of Taken by the Bratva (Bychkov Bratva #1)

Daniil

Looking down at Aria sleeping soundly, I move the braid that’s draped over her neck and see the faint bruises forming there. They’re nothing like what my dad used to leave on my mom, but it’s still there. It’s still evidence that I’m capable of taking it too far, even when I don’t mean to.

She was too fucking nice about it, too. I saw how something her sister said on the phone made her touch her neck and then she quickly dropped it when she saw me looking. I don’t want to know what prompted that, but I’m going to fix it.

I step back into my pants and head down to my office to make a few calls. I start with Maksim.

“Yes,”

he says, answering the phone in a clipped tone, still pissed at me.

“I need the number for your best jeweler at the store.”

“Why?”

“Does it matter?”

I can practically hear the string of curse words and shit he wants to say, but bites his tongue.

“I guess not if you don’t want to tell me.”

“I don’t.”

He rattles off a name and phone number, and I quickly end the call.

I dial the jeweler’s number, and after a few rings, a tired voice answers. “Hello?”

“Fyodor?” I ask.

He clears his throat.

“Yes, and this is?”

“Daniil Bychkov. I need you to make a few pieces for me, quickly and quietly, and Maksim said you are the best he has.”

“Yes, sir. Of course. It would be my honor to create whatever you need.”

I give him the rundown of the pieces I want made.

“Now, how fast can you have these done? Have whoever you trust help you, but I need them fast. One day? Two?”

“I’ll go into the shop now, sir, and start on them. I have a few pieces there that I can convert into what you want which will save time. If I get two guys to work with me, I can have it all done within two days. Would you like it all at once, or should I send what I finish as I go?”

“I want the necklace first. Tomorrow. Then the others at the same time when you finish.”

“Yes, okay, of course.”

I hear him scribbling down something.

“And, Fyodor, you do not need to show Maksim what you’re working on. Understand?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Good. And if you have questions or run into problems, call this number.”

“Yes, sir. Very well. Have a good night.”

Hanging up, I toss the phone on the desk and lean back in my chair. I hope Aria will like her gifts, because I’m going to really like seeing them on her.