Hidden Monsters (Volkov Bratva #4)(15)

As she sped by, she only took her eyes off the road for a split second, the chime of her phone stealing her attention, but in those few precious seconds, she didn’t realize that she’d begun drifting into her left lane, and was only jerked back to attention when she heard the blare of a horn.

Gasping, she jerked the wheel, nearly missing hitting the truck that was now speeding down the street.

Still speeding, she glanced in her rearview mirror, blood pumping through her so fast she could hardly breathe. Laughing at the close call, she was ready to call it a night on the speeding because she had finally accomplished what she’d sought out. The adrenaline was just as heady as anything she had taken.

But as her eyes dropped back to the street and an animal that she could hardly make out darted out in front of her car, she jerked the wheel, slamming her foot down on the brakes. The car spun round and round as she tried to right herself, the guardrail looming ever closer…





7

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Fragile Emotions





“You’ve never taken me out on a date,” Natasha commented thoughtfully, running a brush through the long locks of her wet hair. She’d only just gotten out of the shower when Luka arrived, and she’d seemed embarrassed by his appearance in her room—they normally kept a strict schedule, but she didn’t complain.

Luka had already taken off his boots, collapsing back with a groan, rubbing his tired eyes. It had been a long day of making sure shit went smoothly while the boss was out of town, and while doing it, Luka remembered exactly why he never wanted to move any higher in the Bratva. While he was nothing more than glorified muscle, he preferred it. He would rather stab someone in the hand and demand payment than be forced to ask nicely.

At Natasha’s soft statement, he blinked his eyes open, staring over at her though she couldn’t see this. There were times when she had hinted at wanting something more from him besides their arrangement. Small things at first, asking him to stay for just an hour longer, asking about his life outside of his duties. There was once someone very much like Natasha who he’d cared for, but in the end, those feelings he had entertained had only caused everyone involved more pain.

He wouldn’t—couldn’t—make that mistake again, not just with her, but with Alex, too. He was already prone to irrational urges where Alex was concerned, so it was best if he didn’t pursue anything with her, not with his needs.

And if he were being honest, that girl from so long ago didn’t inspire half of what Alex did.

“Why would I do this?”

She frowned, her brush strokes pausing, but only for a second. “Because you like me and that’s what normal people do.” Natasha turned on the delicate stool, the hem of her nightie riding up, revealing creamy flesh that, because of the conversation they were having, did nothing to entice him. “You’re not ashamed of me, are you?”

A hint of vulnerability was present in her eyes as she asked this. He had never given much thought to how she felt about her occupation, taking her own thoughts on the matter at face value. Nobody forced her to be there. If she had no issue with it, then neither would he, but it was becoming abundantly clear that she was beginning to care what he thought of her, and with that, it was clear she wanted more.

But that question also brought up thoughts of his mother and what she had done to provide for them during the years when he’d had her. If he were not ashamed of her, then he couldn’t be of Natasha. But that didn’t mean he was looking for anything more than what they were doing now. He’d made himself clear on that.

“No, but I don’t see what one has to do with the other.”

“Then why don’t you take me out?”

Scrubbing a hand down his face, he thought about calling it an early night. “I’ve never taken a girl out, and I don’t see myself starting now. I see no reason since I’m only f*cking whoever it is.” The last comment was meant to stop her line of questioning more than it was the truth.

No, he had never dated a girl, but only because his life had never provided him an opportunity.

His remark had the desired effect as she grew quiet and turned back to the mirror. The room was silent for a long while until his phone began ringing. Luka sighed, already contemplating shooting the f*cking thing and it was only day two…until he read the name.

He hadn’t spoken to Alex since the day before the boss left with Lauren, partly because she was avoiding him and partly because he was upset with her. To others, he gave half-truths, or just evaded what he couldn’t talk his way out of, but he never outright lied. With Alex, he was always honest, even when he could shield her from something that would ultimately hurt her. But learning the truth outright was far easier than being served a lie. Unlike Mishca, he didn’t think Alex was weak or needed to be coddled like a child.

Even when she acted like one.

Touching his finger to the screen to connect the call, he put the phone to his ear. “Yo.”

“Luka?”

He sat up at the sound of her voice. With just one word, he could tell she’d been drinking, was probably out partying even though she was banned from Mishca’s clubs. But even if that were the case, that still didn’t explain why she sounded so scared, or the fact that his hand was itching for a knife so that whoever had done this to her would know they’d messed with the wrong girl.