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Well, here goes another night of no sleep.I slip quietly out of bed and hold my breath, listening for movement. But still,nothing.
Based off the vibes I’m getting from this place, there’s probably someone outside of my door as we speak. I’m betting a guard is positioned at every entrance, meanwhile a team patrols the grounds...
But there was onlyoneguard at the door when I arrived, I quickly remind myself. Though still, that doesn’t mean there aren’t others around. After all, why would the leader of the Bratva have so few people nearby to protect him?
Does this mean my uncle is one of hisprotectors?
Mom never really told me what Uncle David did. Only that he was in a dangerous crew of men and that she had witnessed him taking part in cruel acts she couldn’t repeat herself. Even when I grew older and she grew sicker, she wouldn’t tell me what exactly she had seen—just that it was enough to want to keep her distance.
And if I could’ve avoided it, I would’ve never called…but I felt I had no other choice.I’m out of options.
I open the bedroom door and hold my breath, praying no one is around. But the hallway looks to be empty, no guards in sight.
Quickly and silently, I pad my way over to the staircase. The stairs curve down elegantly—not exactly Beauty and the Beast style, but not exactly your modern-day version, either. I can’t help my hand from running over the smooth polished railing as I head down the steps, eyes darting to every corner and shadow around.
But…there’s no one here. No one I can see, anyway.
I reach the main floor and hurry towards the kitchen. It’s through a set of sliding doors that are heavy, making it hard to move them on my own. But I do it, managing to wiggle my way through. I step inside the kitchen and find it to still be adream. Like something right out of a magazine, I swear.
Earlier, when that giant man brought me down here, I met a woman who was peeling vegetables at the time. She had a serious look to her; a straight set mouth, thin lips, and a pair of eyes that didn’t look so shocked to see me there.
Tomas repeated his boss’s request to the woman, and quickly, she put together a meal for me. Pork chops, along with roasted potatoes and some sort of sautéed mixed greens.
But with two strangers sitting there and watching my every move, I wasn’t able to eat. Only ended up picking at a few potatoes, feeling my stomach turn over from all the nerves.
And now, hours later…I’m absolutely starving.
I head straight for the refrigerator, pulling the door open and scanning the selection over. A bright light fills the space, and I find the shelves are fully stocked with necessities, along with a few higher-end items…expensive cheeses, a bottle of champagne…caviar, I think?
I run the options over, ending on pulling out a round of brie and a bowl of mixed fruit. Strawberries, raspberries and nectarines. My stomach growls in anticipation.
I really am starving.
I shut the fridge and turn around, only to find a dog to come barreling through the open doors.Oh, crap.
He’s massive, easily taller than my hips while also built like a hell-hound; pointed ears pinned to his head. He scrambles a bit on the tile, and I squeal, half-climbing onto the kitchen island in hopes of gaining some distance.
But I slow as soon as the dog starts to run his cold nose over my bare shin, and right before turning to my bowl of fruit in hand.
I watch as he chomps down a few berries, causing a slice of nectarine to splatter on the floor. The hungry guy goes on to snap it up before I can even say a word.Geez.
I hear a clatter of nails on the tile, and before I can even prepare, two more dogs trot into the room, eyeing me curiously before joining their friend in on a late-night snack.
“Not too much,” a baritone voice instructs.
I jump, barely catching myself on the edge of the stool. From the shadows, out steps the man my uncle spoke to earlier. The one in the room who watched me closely, almost as if he was trying to dig out a flaw or secret of mine…
He strides into the kitchen and circles the island, and now, we’re standing across from one another. I tilt my head up just to meet his eyes, though still barely able to see him in the light.
“Too much fruit will make them sick,” he grouses, pointing his chin towards the dogs, not breaking eye contact. I flinch, quickly setting the bowl of fruit on the island.I feel like a kid in trouble here.
The dogs circle around, as one starts sniffing the hem of my shirt as if it might find hidden food there. “They’re harmless,” the man says. “Guard dogs, but—” he shakes his head, “they get too much attention, as you can tell.”
I’m not sure what to say, so I focus back on breathing as my gaze lingers to his chest. He has on this simple black v-neck that stretches across his broad muscles, and slowly, he leans against the island, trying his best not to startle me it seems.
But it’s too late for that.
“David didn’t introduce us earlier,” he says, yet no introduction needs to be made.
