Page 15 of The Pakhan’s Arranged Bride (West Coast Bratva Pakhans #2)

Ulyana and I have been tiptoeing around each other all week.

It’s driving me crazy. I thought she was letting her walls down, but all she’s done is build them higher since we were together that night.

And all I want to do is break them down and be with her again.

My mind is constantly haunted by images of her beautiful body beneath my hands, writhing against me.

I can’t sleep properly, and I can’t focus on work.

My head is distracted and messy and it’s not good for me.

I’m sitting at my desk, staring at my laptop, having read the same line in the same email about ten times now—and I still don’t remember what it says. I slam my laptop closed. This is pointless. I’m not getting anything done today.

I can’t think straight.

Last week, Nestor finalized the temporary alliance between Ardalion and me. That is sorted out, despite the fact that I am not happy to be working with him in any way whatsoever.

I made it very clear that it was strictly for the purpose of taking down this common enemy, nothing more. Once Miron is out of our lives, my alliance with Ardalion is over.

I get the feeling that Nestor hopes things will change while we work together now. But I see Ardalion for who he really is. An arrogant snake. I don’t trust him at all.

Things won’t change between us.

I don’t want Ardalion thinking he can start making deals on my turf and get away with it.

I still despise his cocky face, and honestly, I want nothing to do with him.

But sharing information is simple enough.

I can manage it. It’s not like I have to sit at the same table as that asshole and have dinner.

But even now, when I should be focused on work, on alliances, on solving the trouble Miron is causing—I’m focused on her instead.

It’s just past four in the afternoon, and I’m sitting here thinking about Ulyana. I miss her. Strange to admit it, but she’s become such an integral part of my daily life that having her avoid me over the past few days is affecting me. It’s created an empty space for me.

We eat breakfast together most mornings, and almost every night we have dinner together.

But she’s been staying in bed a bit later or telling me she’s not hungry in the morning and at night at the dinner table, she’s been quiet, not her usual talkative self.

She’s polite and hasn’t outright fought with me—but we haven’t spoken properly in days. Things are tense.

I miss her laugh and that cheeky smile she throws in my direction when I’m annoying her.

She’s at home now, apparently reading in the living room according to my security guys. I’ve seen her get lost in those books for hours.

I can picture her there, curled up on the sofa, her feet tucked beneath her and one of those beautiful leather-bound books resting on her knees. When she reads, she pouts a little. It’s the cutest thing.

Suddenly, more than anything, I want to be home with her.

I don’t have to be stuck in this office. It’s pointless if I’m not even working. I’m leaving early today. I’m over this.

Standing up, I push my office chair backwards and start gathering my things. I slip my laptop into the drawer, shove my phone into my pocket ,and grab my car remote and my jacket. I’m going home to see my wife.

As I’m walking out, Tiara waves me down and runs towards me, looking flustered. “Sir, I have a list of meetings for you for early next week and you need to call—"

I hold my hand up to stop her. “I’ll deal with it all tomorrow. Thank you.”

She stammers, pulling her mouth tight. Mild panic flashes across her face. She’s a very jittery human being. I’m not sure how they thought she was a good fit for me in my line of work.

I chuckle, shaking my head.

“It’ll be okay, Tiara, I assure you. I will go through all of it tomorrow,” I say firmly.

“But Mr. Sal was waiting—"

“Tomorrow, Tiara. Mr. Sal isn’t going anywhere. Neither is anyone else. They can all wait until tomorrow.”

She nods, sulking, her face scrunched with worry. “Yes, sir.”

She worries about everything, though. She panics if the office runs out of milk, or if she gets two phone calls at the same time.

I chuckle as I walk away. Really, they should probably find someone a little hardier to work in my office.

I parked out front today instead of underground.

It’s a gorgeous day in Las Vegas, and it feels good not to be stuck in the office.

I think I’ll take Ulyana out for the evening.

An early dinner somewhere with a view. She can wear one of her beautiful dresses—or she can wear her jeans, damn, I don’t care, she looks incredible in everything.

I just want to connect with her again. I’m tired of this distance between us and I’m determined to close it.

I duck into my car and pull the door closed, pressing the front panel on the dash. The car growls to life, and music begins to play loudly. I forgot to turn it down when I got out.

I laugh at myself for the fright I get.

After flicking past two songs, I find the one I’m in the mood for and click my seatbelt in place before pulling out into the road.

Las Vegas is busy, pulsing with life as I drive through the city towards our home. I love this city. It’s in my blood. It’s mine.

With a smile on my face I’m drumming on the steering wheel, my window rolled all the way down and the wind whipping through the car. It smells of hot desert sun and neon lights.

I can’t wait to see Ulyana. She must be bored at home too. She’ll probably be happy to get out with me tonight. I hope so.

My eyes keep drifting to the rearview mirror.

I could swear that car was behind me on Main Street, and now again as I turn off Plithe Avenue.

I’ve been tailed enough times to be cautious, so I turn left instead of right at the next stop, and sure enough, it follows. A dark sedan with heavily tinted windows.

My alertness becomes hyped up, my focus is entirely on evading whoever it is that’s following me. I turn the music down enough to hear the noises around me and slide my gun from the door holster onto my lap, flicking the safety off.

At the next turn I turn late, needing to use the emergency break to force the car to skid around enough to make it.

That fucking car follows.

I press my foot against the accelerator, determined to outrun them. My heart is racing now. My palms are damp with sweat and my eyes are narrowed as I search every angle for danger.

When the massive black SUV comes flying out from one of the side streets, I’m lucky I spot it. He’s aiming right for me, trying to run me off the road.

Instead of smacking straight into the driver’s side door, he knicks the back of the car and sends me spinning over the double lanes and smashing into a light post.

Luckily, the car is not wrecked, but I have stalled, and I’m frantically trying to restart the engine as men pile out of the SUV and run towards me.

“Fuck,” I scream, slamming my fist against the panel.

The car growls, and I breathe a sigh of relief. Throwing it into reverse, I press the accelerator and drive backwards away from the advancing men.

That’s when I see him.

Miron.

He’s standing on the doorframe of the black SUV, leaning on the top of the open door, using the height advantage to watch the scene unfold. He sneers and ducks back into the car when he sees me making an escape.

Fuck.

Of course, it’s fucking Miron .

I’m far enough away from the men running, but still reversing.

They realize they can’t catch me this way, so three of them stop, lifting their automatic rifles and taking aim.

Bullets smack into the bulletproof glass. If they can’t take me, they want me dead. It’s clear enough.

I lift the break, the car skids and spins to face the other way. I slam it into first gear and wheel spin, kicking gravel and dirt out behind me as I take off.

The car jolts as more bullets smack into it.

I drive like a maniac, weaving through back streets and bad neighborhoods, making sure they lose my scent.

I go all the way through the city, determined to make sure they aren’t still with me before I turn towards home.

The sky is turning orange and pink by the time I turn back onto the main road headed out of the city, my eyes on the rearview, waiting to see if they’re following.

They aren’t. I lost them a while ago.

It’s over.

For now.

But I doubt Miron is going to be happy with that failed attempt. He will be back.

My heart is still beating heavily, and my thoughts are looping over how much I hate that asshole.

It makes me realize something, though.

Working with Ardalion isn’t half as bad as it first seemed. I’m working with the lesser of two evils in order to rid myself of a very serious danger. A danger to me and my family. My mother, sister and my wife.

Working with Ardalion is a small sacrifice to rid myself of Miron and his chaos.

I dial Jadon and update him about what just happened.

He immediately sends a team into the city to patrol the streets and has additional guards waiting for me outside my property, ready to escort me inside and make sure that I wasn’t followed.

I know I wasn’t, I made sure of it. There was no way in hell I was bringing that danger home to my wife.

But it’s good to be safe, to take the extra precautions.

***

The men escort me through the security gates and stand with their weapons ready.

I park the car outside the front entrance and switch the engine off. In the silence, I take several deep breaths. I’ve been on high alert for a number of hours now and my body is exhausted.

The sky is dark hues of red and purple when I climb out of the car and stretch my back.

Jadon walks towards me. “Sir, are you hurt?” he asks immediately.

“No, and I don’t want you to talk to my wife about this. I will tell her myself when the time is right. I don’t want her worrying.”

“Yes, sir. We’ll be around tonight, just call if you need anything.”

Tired, I head inside, looking forward to seeing her. A quiet dinner at home, a little conversation, maybe we can watch a movie together. I definitely won’t be taking her out tonight. It’s not safe.

“Ulyana?” I call into the house, but don’t get a response.

I wander into the living room, and there she is, asleep on the sofa with a book resting on her chest. Her delicate fingers still clinging to the page she was reading.

A warm smile breaks over my face and my heart flickers with affection.

“Come on, beautiful, let’s get you to bed,” I whisper as I lift the book away, setting it on the coffee table, and slip my arms beneath her to cradle her against my chest.

She murmurs and snuggles into my chest.

I hold her close, letting the sweet smell of jasmine wash over me. I’m lucky to be home tonight.

I’m lucky that I get to hold her, to feel her warmth.

Next time, I might not be so lucky.

I have to end things with Miron, sooner than later. He can’t keep getting away with this shit.

In our bedroom, I pull the blankets aside and gently place her on the mattress, tucking it around her body.

She’s murmuring more now, her brow knitting as I brush my hand over her cheek.

I’ve disturbed her, but she hasn’t woken up yet. If I sneak away quietly, she’ll settle down again.

I tiptoe away from the bed, wanting to leave her to rest.

But at the doorway, I hear her and turn to look at her again, and she’s kicking against the blankets. Fighting in her sleep. I rush back to her side.

“Ulyana?” I say gently. “Little fox, it’s just a nightmare.”

She lets out a terrified scream and shouts, “Leave me alone.”

Then she bolts upright in bed, her eyes wide and wild and searching the dim light for monsters.

“Ulyana, it’s me, it’s Ben.”

“Ben?” she whispers my name, relief flooding her as she grabs me and pulls me into a hug.

My heart breaks for her. I have no idea what she was dreaming about, but she looks terrified.

Sitting on the bed, I pull her onto my lap and hold her.

“It’s okay, I’ve got you,” I whisper, stroking my hand down her back, letting my fingers brush through her long, silky hair.

In this quiet moment, it’s strange to realize that her holding me so tightly is comforting me. It’s soothing away the tension of what happened this afternoon. And while I am here, holding her and soothing away her nightmarish fears, she is calming me, too.

I settle more, shifting in the bed, not wanting to end the intimacy.

Slowly, her body relaxes against mine, and I don’t know when it happens, but we both fall asleep again, and it’s peaceful and beautiful.