Page 111 of Bratva Menace

“In life,” he clarified. “What do you want in life?”

That was easy. “The same thing you want. To be loved and appreciated for who I am, flaws and all. I dream of a connection so strong that nothing can break it. To be wholeheartedly myself without judgment or worrying I’m being too much. I don’t want to have to hide myself from the people I love.”

He stared deep into my eyes, a different kind of tension vibrating between us. It wasn’t one fueled by sex or lust, but empathy. Something only someone who experienced the same thing could possibly understand.

He leaned forward and kissed me. It was a gentle kiss. Filled with such raw emotion it took my breath away. His tongue brushed against mine in the softest caress, sending shivers racing down my spine. It was like a moment from a fairy tale, where everything finally came together and felt right. Perfect.

He pulled back to rest his forehead against mine. Blue eyes filled with warmth locked on me. “I would still love you if you were a worm.”

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX

DIMITRI VOLKOV

“Ineed to see my father.”

The soldier standing guard in front of Sergei’s office shook his head. “He’s not taking any visitors right now.” He was dressed in the attire all the soldiers wore—military clothing, vest, machine gun strapped across his body, like he was ready to go off to war at any moment.

Neither the gun nor his large stature intimidated me.

I punched him in the throat.

He choked, eyes widening as he curled over. I rammed my knee up quickly, smashing it into his face. He stumbled back hard into the door behind him, causing it to rip open and tumble into my father’s office. He landed harshly on his back with a painful groan. I strolled right on in, skirting around his body.

Sergei sat behind his big, imposing desk, elbows planted firmly on the surface, a piece of paper in his hands. Thick glasses sat on his face. He didn’t wear them often. My father considered it a weakness to need them, so he only wore them when he was in the safety of his office.

Vernon stood at his side, holding a stack of more papers.

“Did you forget how to knock?” Sergei asked, taking off his glasses and tucking them away. He handed the document in his hands over to Vernon, who placed it on top of the others.

“It’s time we have a talk.”

“Is it?”

“Yes.”

Sergei leaned back in his chair. “Where’s your pretty new girlfriend? Are you sure it’s a smart idea to leave her all alone?”

“Autumn can handle herself. If anything, I’m concerned for anyone who gets in her way.”

“She is a formidable woman. Far better than your previous love.”

I wasn’t going to rise to the bait. A comment like that six months before would have sent me into a frenzy, but I’d dealt with all my demons from the past. They could no longer hurt me anymore.

“Why don’t we cut the bullshit, Sergei?” I took a seat in one of the chairs in front of his desk, my body relaxed and composed despite the tension coursing through me. I wasn’t scared of my father. Not anymore. Hadn’t been for a long time. But I’d be a fool not to be weary of him and what he was capable of. “You tried to have me killed.”

His eyebrow hiked up ever so slightly. Since arriving at his estate, neither one of us had acknowledged the giant elephant in the room. Sergei clearly didn’t want to talk about the subject, or he would have brought it up himself. If I was going to have any chance of killing him, I needed to rattle him.

“That will be all, Vernon,” he commanded.

The man who had been glued to my father’s side since the moment I got there frowned. “But⁠—”

“That will be all, Vernon,” he repeated sternly.

Vernon hesitated for only a second longer before nodding, however reluctantly, and left the room, dragging the unconscious soldier on the floor behind him.

Sergei got to his feet and approached the drink cart in the corner of the room. “Drink?”

“Vodka on the rocks.”