Page 39 of Bratva Brother’s Bride

Her words land like a punch. She’s right, of course. Dmitri was simple in the worst way. He wanted what he wanted and he took it, and my feelings never entered into the equation.

“Roman is different,” Oksana continues. “He asks. He gives you choices.”

“Does he?” I laugh, but it comes out bitter. “It doesn’t feel like I have many choices right now.”

“More than you think.” She reaches over and squeezes my hand briefly. “More than you had with Dmitri.”

I want to believe her. I want to believe that Roman is different, that this marriage proposal is about protection and not possession.

Only, I’ve been down this road before. I’ve trusted men who seemed kind only to discover the monster underneath.

Oksana stands. “I’ll leave you to finish your workout. Dinner will be at seven, if you’d like to eat with Mr. Volkonsky.”

“I don’t know if I can.”

12

ROMAN

Lev arrives at the penthouse at two o’clock sharp.

I hear him before I see him. He always announces himself with three short raps followed by a pause. It’s the same pattern he’s used since we were teenagers running errands for my father. Some things never change.

“Come in.”

The door opens and Lev steps inside. He’s dressed in his usual dark jeans and a leather jacket that’s seen better days. His hair is longer than I’ve ever seen it, and there’s a scar on his forehead that wasn’t there the last time we met.

“You look like shit,” he says by way of greeting.

“Nice to see you too.”

He drops into the chair across from my desk and props his feet on the edge. I consider telling him to move them, then decide it’s not worth the argument.

“Oksana said you had something important to discuss.” Lev pulls a pack of cigarettes from his jacket pocket, then catches my look and puts them away. “She seemed concerned.”

“Oksana is always concerned.”

“She’s known you since you were in short pants. She’s earned the right.” He leans back and studies me. “What’s going on, Roman? Your message said it was urgent.”

I stand and move to the window. The city sprawls below us, a maze of streets and buildings that stretch to the horizon. Somewhere out there, Anton is planning his next move.

“I proposed to Vera.”

Silence. Then, slowly, “You what?”

“You heard me.”

“I heard you. I’m just trying to figure out if you’ve lost your mind.” Lev’s feet hit the floor and he leans forward, elbows on his knees. “Nowhere in that plan did we discuss marriage.”

“The plan changed.”

“Because of Anton?”

“No.” I turn to face him. “She’s mine, you understand? She always was.”

Lev’s expression darkens. “Is that so. What did she say?”

“She wanted time. I gave her three weeks.”