Page 23 of Obsession of the Bratva

She stared at me, and I stared back, the tension stretching between us. Finally, she threw her hands into the air.

“I am convinced that you are doing this on purpose.”

“Doing what on purpose exactly?”

“Existing as loudly as possible just so I can’t think or breathe or sleep or fucking live in this house where you are already keeping me like a prisoner. I don’t have a phone or a laptop, Nico. I can’t watch that much television, and you know I have never been a reader.”

I almost smiled. Almost.

“Maybe you should go to sleep. You seem tired.”

“Ugh,” she sighed loudly. “Let me remind you, you kidnapped me.”

“And yet the music is what finally pushed you over the edge to come and fight with me here. Intriguing.”

“Because the kidnapping happened once.” She pointed toward the ceiling. “The music happens every night. If you cannot sleep, go for a walk or listen to your music with earbuds on or something. Don’t ruin my nights.”

I considered that. “Well, that’s fair.”

She blinked. “Wait, so you agree?”

“No.”

The disbelief on her face nearly made me laugh.

“Then why did you say fair?”

“Because your argument was structured correctly.”

“Nico.”

“Vera.”

“You are impossible.”

“And yet you keep seeking me out.”

Something flickered through her expression. Something I refused to examine too closely. The room went quiet, and for a second neither of us spoke. I returned my attention to the paperwork, indicating an end to the conversation, but Vera clearly did not understand the clue.

Of course, she didn’t.

“You also use the gym at six in the morning.”

I closed my eyes briefly. “Is there a point coming?”

“The point is that normal people do not deadlift four hundred pounds before sunrise.”

“I do, and I am perfectly normal.”

“The entire upper floor shakes because of your weights, Nico.”

“Once again, Vera, I fail to see the issue.”

“The issue is that some of us are trying to sleep.”

“You can nap in the afternoon. In fact, you should start waking up and maybe try going for a run sometimes or workout. I can help you if you like.”

Her mouth fell open, and I almost admired her restraint. Almost. The woman looked one sentence away from committing murder, and I knew the only victim she wished for right now was me.