The conversation moves on, but I watch Matvei carefully. He isn’t just an enforcer, a soldier for the Bratva.
This is a man who grew up in a tangled web of loyalty, family, and control.
And somehow, despite it all, he makes me feel like I belong.
Rafail returns to the room, his gaze sharp on mine. “Matvei. A word.”
Chapter Eighteen
Matvei
I don't like being apartfrom Anissa. But when Rafail tells me to do something, I fucking do it. That's part of the problem, really.
"She's fine," he says, casting a narrow glance at Anissa, who's talking to Zoya.
Should we be worried about that?
"I remember what you told me before I got her," I say, meeting his eyes as we walk side by side to his study, a private place where he sometimes holds meetings, but typically only between those closest to him.
"Is she pregnant yet?" Rafail asks. I want to deck him, but I don’t have a death wish.
I shake my head. It's only been a matter of weeks, but it definitely wouldn't be for lack of trying. "No."
"Has she tried to run?" he asks, half rolling his eyes as he adds, "again?"
Fire burns in my veins. I love Rafail like my goddamn brother, but I do not like where these questions are going.
"No. Why?” I narrow my eyes at him. “Don't you trust me to take care of her and make sure she does what she's supposed to?"
He sits in his chair and looks at me thoughtfully before answering. Leaning back, dressed as he often is in a charcoal-gray bespoke suit, not a hair out of place, he looks older than he really is. It's the weight of responsibility; I know it is. Still, he's loyal and protective, but he does not fuck around.
"She's your wife's sister,” I remind him.
He blows out a breath and sighs. "I know."
I know he knows, but obviously, I felt like he needed a reminder. If he tried to harm her in any way, I wouldn't stand for it. But I don't want him to even entertain the thought, so it seemed advisable to remind him who she is.
"The Irish are asking questions. They may be jealous."
I shrug. Makes sense. Their agreement with her is up, and I swooped right in. I was well within my rights, but it’s their loss. "They’d have done the same."
"Doesn't matter."
I grunt. "What do they wanna fucking know?" I ask, but he doesn't answer right away.
"They're up our ass. Seems she got them in trouble."
Whatever.
"She was a contractor for them. She laid out what they needed to do. It's on them if they got in fucking trouble."
He doesn’t speak for long seconds, as if weighing his words. He tips his head to the side. "You have feelings for her."
I look away, not wanting to admit it out loud. I've had feelings for her since the first time I looked at her. The first time I watched her. I saw how vulnerable she was, alone. And then, when I found out how much we had in common…
I decided long ago, before I knew Anissa, that I'd be alone. After Gleb was gone, after my parents hated me, after I knew what love was capable of doing—Iwantedto be alone. I told myself that she was just a job, but now I know how I feel about her. And I don't even like that. She's in the other room right now.
"Be careful," Rafail says. "Allowing yourself to have feelings for somebody will fuck up your judgment."
