Broken Bride (Belaya Bratva 2)

My leg started to go numb, and I winced as I tried to pull back, but Naomi didn’t loosen her grip on my waist. “Please,” she begged, her eyes wide. “Please don’t leave me, not yet.”

I wanted to stay. I wanted to give her what she wanted, but all fairy tales had to come to an end eventually, and I had already dragged this out long enough.

Even if a small piece of me wanted to stay buried inside her forever. “I can’t.”

Her eyes closed briefly, but she finally loosened her grip on me and I slid out of her. Climbing off the bed, I strode to the bathroom and cleaned myself up, taking a moment to splash water on my face and neck. I felt like I could sleep for days after that fucking amazing romp, but I couldn’t. Just like I had told her that I couldn’t stay, I couldn’t sleep.

There were a thousand things that needed my attention as Pakhan, plus I needed to get Naomi out of here while I still could.

When I walked back into the bedroom, Naomi had wrapped the sheet around her naked form. “I need for you to get dressed,” I told her as I located my clothing on the floor. “Quickly.” It was my top priority to get her to Anatoly and off to somewhere safe so that I could concentrate on this fucking war.

Her eyes widened. “What’s going on, Gavril?”

There was real fear in her voice, and as much as I wanted to comfort her, I couldn’t. Hell, I didn’t know what was coming myself, but it wasn’t going to be good. “Just get dressed and come downstairs.”

Naomi opened her mouth to speak, but seeing the look on my face, she closed it. “Of course,” she answered, her expression resigned to whatever I was going to do with her. I tried not to think about what was going through her mind as I shrugged on my shirt, methodically buttoning it as quickly as I could. Why did it hurt so fucking much to think about walking her to the car and out of my life?

Why did I want to keep her close so badly? “Five minutes,” I barked out, walking to the door. “Or I will come get you in whatever state of dress you are in.”

I didn’t wait for a response, walking out of the room so I could draw a tortured breath. I couldn’t give her what she wanted, and she wasn’t safe in my presence right now. As much as I would like to say I could protect her, I didn’t know what I was truly up against.

Plus, there was a child to consider. An innocent child that I might never see.

My chest tightened, and for a moment I couldn’t fucking breathe. I was going to see my child. I wouldn’t give up until there was nothing left for me to fight with.

Anatoly was waiting by the door as I walked down the stairs, arching a brow when he saw me alone. “Is she refusing to come?”

“I haven’t told her,” I admitted, shoving my hands in my pockets. “She will be down in a minute.”

“You haven’t told her?” he asked, letting out a low whistle. “Maybe I should get some popcorn because this is going to be an epic fight scene.”

“She will understand,” I growled. She couldn’t stay here, not with this war looming.

Anatoly stepped closer. “You do plan to send for her when it’s all over, right?”

I eyed him. “Why would you ask that?” In reality, before the earth-shattering sex between us, I hadn’t planned on doing that. I had planned on washing her from my life, but now, I didn’t know if I could let her go completely.

He blew out a breath, shaking his head. “Sometimes I wonder who’s smarter between us.” Anatoly glanced at the stairs. “She’s good for you, Gavril. I hate to admit that she brings something out in you that I’ve never seen before.”

“Like the bulging vein in my forehead?” I asked lightly, trying to ease the pain in my chest.

Anatoly chuckled, clapping me on the back. “I wouldn’t necessarily say that, but it’s good to see you move on with someone. She can make you happy if you let her. I mean, fuck, man, you’re having a child. That should be enough.”

He was right, but I would never admit it. It should be enough that Naomi was carrying my heir. “You know it’s not enough in my world,” I said instead.

He shrugged. “It depends on what you allow it to be, Pakhan.”

I shot Anatoly a look, but we were silenced by the sound of Naomi coming down the stairs, her gaze narrowing when she saw him. “You.”

“Mrs. Kirilenko,” he said respectfully, dipping his head. I imagined she was still remembering that it was Anatoly that had put her in my path to begin with, and if he hadn’t fucked it up, then we would never have met.

She gave him an even darker stare, and I took in her jeans and oversized shirt, complete with a pair of sneakers on her feet. At least she had dressed the part.

Now I had to let her go.