In the Beginning (Volkov Bratva #1)(61)

“You would have to take it up with father, yea I know, but you had to be sure, right?” She asked glancing back at him. “To bring her here, you had to know that this was the next step. I mean, what did you expect? Eventually, she’s going to wonder what you do besides sitting behind a desk.”

“She doesn’t need to know.”

She tossed her cigarette, swinging her legs around so she could come over to sit next to him. “What the f*ck is going on with you? A few months ago, you wouldn’t have been this concerned one way or the other, but now you’re…oh my God.”

Mishca looked to her, not liking the way her smile was growing. He could practically see the conclusion she had reached. “Don’t.”

“You love her.” She said it so softly like the concept of him loving someone was so ludicrous that it couldn’t be possible made him rub the back of his neck, but he couldn’t deny it.

“Alex—”

“You don’t have to deny it, not to me at least. I like her. It’s obviously how she feels about you.”

“I don’t doubt that, but it’s never that simple, and there’s more at risk if I go into this blind. You know that.”

Extending her foot until it rested on his arm, an action she knew he hated, Alex sighed deeply. “I’m going to give you the best advice you’ve ever heard and best of all? I’m giving it to you for free. Are you ready?”

He looked at her, nodding, ready to hear something that had eluded him for some time.

“Just tell her how you feel, dipshit. If she reciprocates, talk to father, get his blessing, and ease her into the truth. Either way,” she said, going for another cigarette, returning to her spot on the windowsill. “You’re going to need to tell her the truth eventually.”

She was right and he acknowledged that, but for once he had no idea how this was going to turn out.

Deciding not to over think it, he went over to Alex and kissed her forehead. “Thank you.”

“It’s what you pay me for.”

Before exiting her bedroom, he plucked the cigarette from her mouth, tossing it out the window, laughing when she slapped the back of his head on the way out.

***

Morning came far too soon, but waking up next to Mishca was worth it. Today was her last day and she couldn’t help but feel sad about that fact. It was only a week before she was back, but she would miss him more than she thought she would.

In honor of her time here, Mikhail had put together a special breakfast. Since her first day, he had warmed to her considerably, at least as much as it seemed he could. He didn’t seem to be an affectionate man by nature, but he made a point of speaking to Lauren whenever she was near him.

Anya was just as cold as always and Viktor paid her no mind like she was beneath him.

Climbing out of bed, Lauren went in the bathroom to wash her face and brush her teeth. When she came back out, Mishca was gone.

It was rather quiet throughout the manor though she could hear people walking around on the lower level preparing for breakfast.

“Did you not recognize her?”

Lauren could just hear Anya talking with someone and as she peered over the railing, she saw Anya and Viktor in a shadowed corner glaring at one another. She didn’t mean to eavesdrop—not really anyway—but she couldn’t help wonder who they were talking about. Who was he supposed to recognize?

“It was been more than a decade, Anya,” Viktor hissed back. “We should not be having this conversation here.”

“If she knows—”

Lauren nearly jumped out of her skin when she felt Mishca’s arms come around her waist, drawing her back into his warm embrace.

“What are you doing?” He asked in her ear.

Pushing the odd conversation Anya and Viktor were having to the back of her mind, Lauren gave Mishca her full attention. “I was looking for you.” That was partially true.

His hand slipped beneath her shirt, skimming his fingers over her stomach. “Come on, I have something for you.”

Maybe it was his voice that was still rough and husky from sleep that made Lauren blush, or what his words promised.

“That wasn’t what I had in mind,” he said grinning at her reaction.

He led her into his bedroom. This one was vastly different from the one he had in the city. While the latter seemed to be a reflection of him, the one was more of a reflection of wealth than a room meant to be lived in.

“Close your eyes.”

She did as he asked, feeling him slip past her. He was back in a second.

“Alright.”

She opened her eyes.

He held a slender powder blue box, a glittery white ribbon wrapped around it and tied in an elegant bow. She recognized the signature color from hundreds of advertisements and though she knew it was undoubtedly expensive, she wasn’t thinking about not accepting.

“I thought we said no gifts,” she whispered as he placed it in her hands.

He smirked. “You said no gifts, I never agreed to that. Since you’re going to be in Michigan for Christmas, I thought I’d give it to you now.”

She pulled on the ribbons, lifting the lid. Resting on a gauzy, white cotton pad was a gold charm bracelet and hanging from the end of it was a tiny egg wrapped like a present. The egg itself was no bigger than a baby’s thumb and had clear gems encrusted around it.