Page 47 of The Bratva Betrayal

I haven’t sat down in more than an hour.

Not because there aren’t chairs scattered around, but because I’m not giving Cady the satisfaction of seeing me get comfortable.

And every time I think they’re done, she disappears into another dressing room.

The fitting room curtain slides open, and Cady steps out wearing another dress that probably costs more than most people’s rent.

Dark green this time, silk, and backless.

The material hugs her body in a way that begs for attention. She turns toward the mirror, studying the dress from every angle.

Her friend, Anna—or Ava, I don’t remember—gasps dramatically from one of the velvet chairs near the mirrors for the hundredth time today. “Oh, my God. That’s the one.”

“You said that about the last one,” I mutter.

Cady’s eyes meet mine in the mirror. “No one asked you.”

Anna-Ava laughs a little too hard at that, crossing her legs and openly staring at me again.

She’s spent the past several hours flirting in the rich-girl way that’s supposed to feel subtle but isn’t.

Blonde. Pretty. Probably mid-twenties.

Forgettable.

I don’t think she realizes I stopped listening the moment she introduced herself.

“I’ll think about it.” Cady disappears behind the curtain again.

Silence settles for all of three seconds before Anna-Ava leans forward in her chair, lowering her voice conspiratorially.

“So…” she starts.

I already hate this conversation.

“So?” I repeat flatly.

Her smile widens. “Are you always this intense?”

“Yes.”

That should end it.

It doesn’t.

Women like her mistake emotional unavailability for mystery.

“You know,” she says, tilting her head. “Cady said you’re Misha’s brother, but you don’t really seem like brothers.”

“We’re not the same person.”

“Obviously.” Her eyes drift slowly over me again. “You’re a lot bigger… and scarier.”

Finally.

Someone is paying attention.

Before I can answer, my phone vibrates in my pocket. Benedikt’s name flashes across the screen. There’s only one reason he’d be calling me in the middle of the afternoon.