Page 16 of Bratva King

"I've lasted ten minutes,” she told him.

"Then your luck's about to expire."

She crossed her arms. "You always think you're right."

"I usually am,” he informed her.

She rolled her eyes so dramatically they almost hurt. "I dislike you."

"No, you don’t,” he said with a laugh.

"I really do."

"Liar."

His grin widened. "Come steal pie with me."

Her expression brightened instantly. "...Pie?"

"I knew that would convince you,” he said.

She glanced toward the office one last time. The meeting still droned on, and nothing interesting was going on. With one final sigh, she abandoned her spying mission. Alexei held out a dramatic bow as she approached him.

"My lady,” he said in his stuffiest voice.

She shoved his shoulder as she walked past. "You're ridiculous.”

“So I've been told,” he said.

The two slipped through the enormous house like practiced thieves. They knew exactly which servants looked the other way, and which corridors creaked. More importantly, she knew where the cooks cooled fresh pastries before dinner.

The kitchen smelled heavenly. Natalia’s nose detected butter, fresh bread, cinnamon, and roasted meat. One of the cooks had disappeared into the pantry, which another argued with a delivery boy near the back entrance.

This was their best opportunity. Alexei flashed her a conspiratorial look.

“You ready?” he whispered.

“Not really,” she murmured, having second thoughts.

He darted forward anyway, and Natalia had no choice but to follow. They snatched two steaming meat pies from a cooling rack.

Someone shouted.

“Hey!" Someone shouted, but they were running by then.

Both of them laughed so hard neither could breathe. They didn't stop until they reached one of the estate's gardens overlooking the river. Both collapsed onto the grass.

Alexei tore his pie cleanly in half. Without hesitation, he handed Natalia the larger piece. She frowned at him.

"You gave me the bigger half,” she pointed out.

"I know."

"You'll be hungry. Boys eat more than girls,” she said.

"I'll survive."

She accepted it anyway. "Thank you."