Page 55 of Bratva Menace
He bent at the waist and pressed his lips softly to the top of my hand.
I almost fainted.
“You have yourself a good day, gorgeous.” He winked, then dropped my hand and walked away without looking back.
My heart kickstarted, returning to normal tempo. I sucked in a harsh breath. What the fuck was that?
Licking my dry lips, I looked down at my hand and ran my fingers lightly over the spot where his lips had touched. I was an avid believer in soulmates. That there was one person in the world who was your absolute perfect match. Someone who would be there for you, love you, and protect you from anything. Someone so perfect for you, the universe orchestrated your lives, putting you in exactly the right place at exactly the right time so you could meet.
I had no idea who that man was, but I knew he was mine.
The memory faded quickly, but the feelings from that day still blazed just as strong.
Lukyan Volkov—the son of the man I’d been tasked to watch.
Never in a million years would I have ever envisioned he would be the one for me. My soulmate. My meant-to-be. But he was. There was no doubt in my mind.
The first few weeks I’d been following Dimitri, I never saw him out with his children. They were always off doing their own thing, and any time there was anything even remotely business-related, it had been too hard to follow him without blowing my cover. That day had been the first time I’d ever laid eyes on Lukyan, and it changed my life forever.
In front of me, Lukyan was strapped down at the head of the table, both arms tied to the arms of the chair, same as his legs. His head hung forward, still knocked out from the drug I had given him.
For months, I agonized over every single detail, dozens of contingencies in place in case something didn’t go according to plan. It was the most stressed I’d ever been in my life. Everything rode on this, and if one thing failed, it would all have been for nothing.
I went through my plan one more time in my head.
Step one: Stalk and find out everything I can about Lukyan Volkov.
Step two: Trick him into marrying me.
Step three: Cut out his tracker.
Step Four: Make him fall in love with me.
That last step would prove to be the hardest. I wasn’t the easiest person to love. I was crazy, neurotic, jealous, and had a slight anger problem. It would be difficult, but I was determined to win him over, no matter what.
With one last glance at Lukyan, I turned back around. Okay. Food, check. Drinks, check. Cutlery, check. Candles, check—
“Miss?” To my left, Cedric walked in from the kitchen. A phone was in his hands. “It’s your brother. Again.”
My lips pursed in distaste. Damn it. I was really hoping to avoid talking to him, at least while I had Lukyan to deal with. He was sure to be a little shocked and disoriented at his circumstances. I needed to give him my full, undivided attention to help with the transition. But Lev had already called three times in the past twenty-four hours. If I didn’t take his call, shit would well and truly hit the fan.
“Argh, fine.” I wiped my hands down the front of my apron and approached, grabbing the phone. “Yes?”
“I’m going to ask you this one time, and one time only, Lyla. Where the fuck are you?”
Always so quick to freak the fuck out. “I’m doing what you asked me to do.”
“Are you? Because the last time you said that, you were spying on that good-for-nothing Volkov kid again.”
My eyes swept to the man in question. He was still knocked out. “You know it pisses me off when you talk about him like that.”
“And you know it worries me when you defend him,” he snapped back. “Do I need to remind you again of our goal?”
“No. You’ve reminded me every day since I was thirteen.” The resentment that had been brewing in my soul for the past ten years came bubbling up to the surface, and I was unable to hide it in my voice.
Lev must have sensed it because the background noise suddenly disappeared as if he’d moved into another room. “Lyla. Don’t forget why we’re doing this. What that bastard took away from us.”
From you, I almost said out loud.
