“That’s good.”
All I did was put the rings away, but I feel like I’ve been wrung out and tossed around.
“How long have you been standing there?” I ask, pretending my eyes aren’t burning.
Andrei doesn’t answer as he crosses the room, wrapping his arms around me. I lean into his embrace, smiling as he searches my face. He moves one hand, silently stroking the bare skin of my neck.
“How are you,zolotse?”
With one question, he breaks the dam inside me, and all my feelings rush to the surface. All my lingering hurt, my doubt, my insecurity, my love for Andrei. I hide my tears in his chest, finding strength in his warm embrace.
“I’m okay,” I tell him, proud that my voice doesn’t shake. “Better with you here.”
Chapter 26
Blair
Either Alexei’s face always looks like he stepped in dog shit, or hereallydoesn’t like me.
He’s sneering from the moment I open the front door, trying to shove his way in like he’s welcome in my home without any greeting or acknowledgment. I move a step further in front of him, blocking his entrance. As intimidating as his glare is, it doesn’t provoke me to move.
“Move, Blair.”
“Hello to you, too,” I answer with a cloying sweetness that would typically make me cringe but feels appropriate for his attitude. “Is there a reason why you’re trying to storm into my house?”
He draws his shoulders back, making him look even broader than he is, but I refuse to back down until I know why he’s here.
Andrei doesn’t make a habit of bringing his work home, and he certainly doesn’t invite anyone over. Though if he was going to, I’m willing to bet he’d at least give me a heads up.
So, Alexei showing up without a word of warning is setting off more than a few alarm bells.
“I need to talk to Andrei. So, you need to move your happy ass and let me in.” His hand slams down on the door next to my head, making me flinch.
“Mention my wife’s ass again, and you’ll lose your ability to speak,” Andrei growls from behind me, his tone lethal. He slips a hand around my waist, gently pulling me away so that I’m no longer blocking the doorway.
Alexei’s eyes cut to him as he stalks inside, much to my annoyance.
He needs to get over himself. I’ve never tried to piss him off, I’ve never tried to bother him, and he needs to find a way to deal with his resentment and find a way to cope with my fucking existence. Luckily for him, I don’t like having more of the stupid Bratva in my house at any given time than I need to. One of the few benefits of having everyone who’s important hate my guts is that I never had to learn to deal with unexpected visitors.
And maybe I’m being defensive, but his prickly attitude is grating enough to make me want to lash out. Even though that’s probably stupid.
Maybe more than probably.
Maybe it’s definitely stupid.
I’m safe with Andrei, but I can’t let myself forget that the people he surrounds himself with are still dangerous and can make our lives a living hell if they want to.
“Do you have somewhere we can talk?” Alexei asks, looking at me pointedly, and years of resentment and frustration burn down my spine at the unspoken accusation.
I’ve never said a word to anyone about Bratva business. I mean, hell, the only people I’ve ever spoken to about it are Andrei and Daniil, and that was because I was fuckingforcedto.
Andrei’s grip tightens as he tenses, and it’s enough to tell me that I need to calm down.
“You two talk,” I bite out with a false smile. “I’ll be… literally anywhere else, I guess.”
Pulling free of Andrei’s grasp, I storm around the corner, trying to talk myself into giving them some privacy. I try, but the anger at Alexei’s dismissive attitude won’t let me. Maybe if he hadn’t acted like an asshole and had treated me like any of his other colleagues’ wives, I’d go on my merry way and live in my ignorance.
But he’s a dick that can’t spare an ounce of respect for me, so I have none for him.
