Page 8 of Tangled Souls (Bratva Souls Duet #2)

OAKLYNN

I’m sitting in the conference room of Heart and Home, which has been working diligently to get people into the houses they need.

Housing costs are steep in Seattle, but people still need places to live.

Heart and Home is all about making the process easier to navigate and supplementing monetarily when needed.

It’s a charity that has done a lot of great work. Since they contacted me a few days ago, I’ve done my homework on them. The worst part about being involved now is that I wish I had found this charity sooner.

My men don’t know it, but I have plans to get the realty arm of Volkov Enterprises involved. I think managing a property built with this charity in mind would really help some people who need it. I want that.

Even though there were a lot of things I wish would have been different while growing up, I’m more than aware of how much I was given and the privilege I was afforded. While I wasn’t without worry, having a roof over my head was never a concern. Neither was food.

The simplest of things can be taken for granted when you’ve never had them plague your mind and weigh on your heart.

The meeting has been going on for a while now and it’s been fun to be able to bring the contacts I’ve made in the past into the mix when looking toward the gala being put together.

It’s going to be a fancy night, but that’s what these kinds of events are all about.

You spend some money while other goods and services are donated for the night, and you get a lot in return.

As long as Heart and Home gets the money they need to help people, I’ll feel like I accomplished something.

Being able to add to this meeting and strengthening the upcoming event has pride warming me from the inside out. I’ve missed this over the last few months.

Having a purpose is invaluable and it feels like I’m getting back to that. But I also know there is a lot more for me to do, a lot more that I can do. This is a great first step to finding out what comes next.

This meeting would be perfect if the man next to me, who barely slid into his seat as the meeting began, would stop giving me a side eye. Either he’s interested in me or he’s creepy as fuck. I’m not sure which one and I really don’t care to find out.

He leans closer to me without warning, “I didn’t get the chance to meet you earlier. I’m Adam Peterson.”

“Oaklynn,” I tell him quietly.

I don’t blow sunshine up his ass and tell him it’s nice to meet him. I don’t think it is.

“Thank you for coming in. I’ll have an email sent out that goes over what was discussed and all the final decisions along with tasks people will be taking care of.

We’ll have one more meeting before the gala.

I’m looking forward to seeing this come to fruition to keep Heart and Home helping the people who need us. ”

I give the Director of Development, Angela, a small smile, and a nod.

We were able to chat before the meeting started.

I came early because I wanted to meet her and learn about the charity from someone who is passionate about it.

The moment I met Angela, I knew how much what they do here means to her.

The way she spoke about Heart and Home made me feel inspired and I sat down looking forward to finding out how I could help.

I’ve had some thoughts about how Kirill’s business can get involved, but I’m not going to bring it up before I speak to the guys. What I did offer up was the contacts I’ve made and the experience I’ve built in putting events like this together. And it’s not Angela’s first rodeo either.

My plan was to talk to Angela after the meeting, but that was before this Adam twit sat down next to me. Now all I want to do is get home. I’m sure my men are pacing the living room like caged lions just waiting to pounce the moment I walk through the door.

How I got out of the house for the meeting without one of them with me is a mystery. I thought for sure one of them would insist, if not all four of them. But they let me leave and Maxim told me he’d have dinner ready for me when I get home.

I have no doubt the bodyguard in the room with me, who isn’t the only man guarding me on my little adventure, has already let my men know things are wrapping up here.

“I’m not the kind of man to let an opportunity go,” Adam leans even closer to me.

If he’s trying to intimidate me, it’s not going to work. Even though I want to, I don’t lean away from him. It sure as fuck is not an invitation, but my gut is screaming at me that this guy is trouble.

“And what opportunity is that?” My voice is too nice, but he doesn’t catch on if the smile on his face is anything to go by.

I tilt my head to the side slightly and widen my eyes while reaching up and brushing my hair off my shoulder.

And do I use the hand with my giant rock on it?

You better fucking believe it. “The opportunity to help a lot of people with the event?”

Adam blinks once and then his eyebrows pull together in a fake as fuck look of concern. “Of course that is the goal. Everyone should have a roof over their head.”

The man has the opportunity to end it right there, but why would he? He thinks he has one of those panty dropping smiles which gets him whatever woman he wants. The poor, delusional idiot.

“But that’s not the opportunity I was talking about,” he winks. “I was talking about making the acquaintance of a beautiful woman. I’m going to take you to get a drink.”

My eyebrow shoots up and I grin from ear to ear. I can’t help it. Sometimes men are too easy.

“I’m sorry, I believe you’re working under an incorrect assumption. Or maybe you’re being willfully obtuse.” I narrow my eyes as if I’m studying the specimen in front of me with real interest. I hold my hand up and wiggle my ring finger. “I’m very happily married.”

“Even happily married women need to grab a drink,” his words practically ooze out of his mouth.

I scrunch my nose up. “I didn’t use my full name earlier because it wasn’t necessary and you were being so rude to try and hold this little tête-à-tête. I’m Oaklynn Volkov.”

Not one single emotion flickers across his face. It sets me instantly on edge. If Adam belongs in this kind of meeting, one which relies on people who know people who will donate and attend to make this gala worth the time for the charity, then he would recognize my last name.

It might be a new development, but I’m still a Volkov.

I was long before we got married. I became a Volkov the moment my men saw me even though I didn’t know it at the time. My men knew it. Then I walked myself right into Kirill’s office and ensured it became my reality.

“Honey,” Adam leans into me, “it doesn’t matter what your last name is. Not to me.”

Before Adam knows what is happening, I’ve slipped a knife from my purse and have the tip touching his balls. The entire time I have a huge smile on my face, one that he’s starting to see isn’t as sweet as he was hoping it would be.

“I don’t know what your game is, Adam,” I spit is name like it’s disgusting, “but I don’t really care.”

“Maybe you should care,” his voice is a rasp, his words complete bluster. “You’re the one who has no idea the danger you’re in.” He scoffs, “You’re the one with the target on your back. I’m not.”

“Because you think you have some big bad man protecting you?” My question is a taunt; one I know he can feel to his bones with the way his eyes widen just enough.

“I don’t care who you think you have at your back.

I know who is at mine, but the difference between you and I is that I don’t need someone bigger to support me.

I’m dangerous, all,” I increase the pressure of the tip of my knife and his eyes dart down, “on my own.”

The attitude is gone, and I can practically smell the fear coming from him now. I fucking love it.

I turn the knife slightly and pat his crotch with the flat side of it. Seeing the beads of sweat form on his brow has me feeling bubbly.

“I’m sure I’ll be seeing you soon, Adam Peterson.”

Before he gets the chance to say anything, I remove the knife, stand up, and step away from the table in one fluid movement. He sits there, stunned.

When I look at the man who was stationed against the wall behind me, I give a nod and head tilt toward the man. I don’t need to call Kirill to know he’s going to want to talk to this guy.

Not only was there something off about him, but he clearly knew who I was and still tried to chat me up. There’s no way he has enough power to not care about the Volkov name. I want to find out why that is, and so will our men.

As I stride out of the room, my back straight and my chin held high, I don’t need to look back. I know my bodyguard has fallen into step behind me. When I slide into the back seat of the car, my bodyguard hops in behind the wheel.

Kirill answers on the first ring, “Is there something wrong, Solnishko ?”

The worry in his voice makes me wish I could tell him everything is fine. But I’m not going to lie to him.

“A guy sat next to me at the meeting. He tried to chat me up,” I inform him.

Kirill growls, “He was hitting on you?”

I roll my eyes and try not to be annoyed.

“He wasn’t really interested.” He scoffs like my words are ridiculous, but I ignore it.

“I think he got close to me on purpose. I didn’t use my last name when I first told him my name, but when I did, to try and back him off, he wasn’t surprised at all.

There was just something about the interaction. My instincts were screaming at me.”

“What’s this fuckers name?”

I giggle, the possessiveness in Kirill’s question making a shiver roll down my spine. I need to get home. Sooner rather than later.

“I signaled for him to be picked up,” I assure Kirill. “I’ll be home soon. I just didn’t want you to hear about our new guest before I had a chance to say something.”

“If that happened, I would be spanking your ass until it’s red and difficult for you to sit down for a few days,” Kirill rasps.

My heart starts to pound harder and it’s difficult to concentrate for a moment. A shake of my head helps a little, but not nearly enough. If it were up to my men, they’d have me bent over most flat surfaces. If not to give me a spanking, then to shove their hard cock inside of me.

I’d be good either way.

“I’ll be home soon, husband,” I purr. “I love you.”

The rest of the ride is quiet, and I replay my interactions with Adam the entire time. Something was off with him. Something big.

I’m sure my men will find out who he is, what his agenda is and if there’s a connection to Mikhail.

As much as I don’t want to see danger around every corner, I’m not going to be na?ve about the reality I find myself in either.

Ignoring my instincts could get someone killed and I’ll be damned if it happens to one of my men.

Not while I have the power to change it.

Far too often men underestimate women. I have used it to my advantage most of my life, but no more. There is no reason for me to pretend to be less than I am now that I’m a Volkov.

The moment we pull up in front of the house, the front door slams open and Huck is out the door, yanking my door open, and hauling me against his chest before I even realize it.

He’s practically vibrating with anger, and I melt into him.

It’s not just anger I can feel coming from him though; the rage is only a cover.

For his fear.

“I’m okay,” I assure Huck. I chuckle softly and murmur, “The idiot is lucky he still has his balls.”

Huck pulls back from me and stares at me with wide eyes. When I look beyond his shoulders, not quite as broad as the rest of my men but no less strong, I find Baker, Maxim, and Kirill watching me with expectant eyes and a fuck ton of relief.

“After I told him my full name, he said my name didn’t matter to him.

” My men suck in a sharp breath and their gazes turn feral.

I bat my eyelashes at them innocently, my words belying the way I’m looking at them.

“In response I slipped a knife from my purse and pressed the tip against his balls. That got his attention even though he tried to act tough.”

Maxim throws his head back and laughs. Then he’s pulling me from Huck’s arms, his laughter surrounding us as he lifts me into his arms bridal style and heads back into the house.

“Life is never dull with you, Zolotse ,” amusement fills his words, “and I am grateful as fuck for it.”

Kirill slides his phone from his pocket, looks at a message and then tucks it away again as Maxim sits down with me on his lap. He gives me a nod, and I know they have Adam in the new warehouse basement torture room.

If Mikhail thought a bomb was going to slow my men down, then he really didn’t understand who he was going up against. That warehouse was only the one they used most often. But my men are nothing if they aren’t prepared.

For anything.

“Now,” Kirill’s voice has an edge to it as he sits down opposite us, needing to see me as I speak, “tell us everything and don’t leave out even the most insignificant detail.

We’ll need to know before we go and have our own,” he pauses as if I don’t know they’re going to spill his blood, “conversation with him.”

I snort while trying to keep my laughter at bay. But that doesn’t stop me from telling them everything. They deserve to know and I’m not going to hide a damn thing.

Not when lives are at stake.

Not when they will do anything to protect our family.

Not when I’ll stand shoulder to shoulder with them and do the same.