Page 64 of Bratva Menace

I wanted to argue, but I didn’t have a leg to stand on, and I certainly didn’t want to draw unwanted attention to myself. Nodding once, I handed her the pitcher and left, making my way toward the kitchen.

I was ticked that I wouldn’t hear the rest of the conversation. Then again, I’d heard enough. My plan worked, and Lukyan’s loved ones would come away relatively unscathed from the whole debacle.

It was almost perfect.

God, I’m good.

My phone vibrated in my pocket. I took it out and glanced at the screen.

Lev: Well? Can it be done? Can you get to him?

Me: Yep. Won’t be easy though. I’ll need an escape route.

Lev: Leave it to me. Good work, sis. I’ll be there soon.

My body collided with another, making me drop my phone.

“Oof. Fuck, I’m sorry.”

I looked up and stiffened. Shit.

Autumn DeValos stood in front of me. The Crimson Death. Badass personified.

The first time I met her, I’d fangirled. Hard. I’d barely been able to contain my excitement. I’d been leaving the Volkov estate after sneaking in to see my Lukyan. She was looking to get in, and I was all about girl power, so I helped her out, telling her exactly what she needed to do. I, of course, knew who she was. Even before The ’Til Death Games, I knew. Everybody did.

She had a reputation. A scary-as-fuck reputation with a kill list a mile long. She was goddamn legendary, and the last thing I had expected was to run into her as I was trying to leave.

I’d maintained my cool. Didn’t ask for her autograph or to take a picture, even though I was dying to. Just helped her sneak in and went on my way.

Now, here she was.

I should have anticipated it. I knew she had come with Lukyan and Papa D on the flight over. I was just hoping to avoid her. She was the only person so far to have met me in person. I couldn’t run the risk of her recognizing me.

Autumn bent down and picked up my phone. “I am so sorry. I wasn’t even watching where I was going.” Her hand outstretched, she offered it back to me. “Here you go.”

I took it, trying to hide my unease under a friendly smile. “Thank you.” I pitched my words a little higher to conceal the true sound of my voice. Just in case she remembered.

“How is it in there?” she asked, inclining her head toward the dining room I’d just vacated.

“Tense.”

She chuckled. “Yeah, I bet. I knew it would be. Hence why I’m not in there. No way I wanna deal with that shit.”

I smiled again. “I better get going,” I said, pointing toward the kitchen.

“You know what? I’ll come with you. Not quite ready to brave the lion’s den yet.” She fell into step behind me, and I suppressed my groan. The longer Autumn was with me, the better chance she might recognize me, and that would just fuck with everything. I had to minimize my interaction with her as much as possible.

When I stepped into the kitchen, there were mountains of dishes on the bench and in the sink. It was perfect. The perfect excuse I needed to keep myself busy.

“So, how long have you been working here?” She took a seat on one of the barstools around the island bench, crossing her legs.

I kept my back to her as I began to clean up. The wig on my head itched like a motherfucker, but I refrained from adjusting it. It was dark brown, hiding my light locks perfectly. I’d taken a few precautions to hide my true identity, using makeup to obscure my facial features, and had dark, almost black contacts in. “Not long.”

“Do you like it?”

“It’s okay.”

“I can’t imagine Sergei Big-Bastard Volkov is a pleasant man to work for.”