Seducing the Badman (Russian Bratva #2) (6 page)

H
ALEIGH IS DELIGHTFUL, THOUGH
her grasp on the Russian language is deplorable. Luckily, what I don’t understand of her and what she doesn’t understand of me can be figured out between Alex, Haleigh’s
Byki
, and Ruslan. I hope that I can remember more of my English because I truly enjoy Haleigh. I would like to get to know her much better, especially if her husband, Maxim, and Radimir work closely together. And she is technically my family.

“How did Maxim meet?” I struggle with the words and she just smiles as she places her hand on her rounded belly.

We are sitting at a café, breaking for lunch before we continue shopping for her newest addition. A girl.
A princess, no doubt
.

“My father owed him a large debt. He offered a trade. Debt gone and me his wife. The first day I met him was our wedding day,” say says.

She is speaking slowly for me. Luckily, I can understand her. I gasp at her words. Could it be true? I saw pure love shining in Maxim’s eyes when he looked at her, and in hers when she looked at him.

“But you love him, no?” I ask.

I must know if it is possible. Haleigh smiles brightly and it is breathtaking, her green eyes shining.

“I love him very much, but we had a rough start,” she admits, her voice soft, almost a whisper.

“It is possible, then? To fall in love with man who owns you?” I ask.

I know my words probably sound cruel, but I don’t know enough of the language to make them sound any better. Haleigh nods her head as she takes a sip of her water.

“It is very possible, Emiliya. Radimir is a good man. Do not fear him. He will take care of you, and hopefully one day you can love each other like Maxim and me,” she says softly.

I nod, taking in her words. One day we could love each other.
Is it truly possible?
I can only dream that it is at this point, but now there is a hope building inside of me.

“I have no experiences with men. Not really,” I admit, casting my eyes down. I know Ruslan and Alex are listening, but they are kind enough not to comment.

Haleigh gathers my hands in hers and I look up at her.

“Maxim was my first lover as well. I know it is scary; but Emiliya, it can be so very beautiful, too. If the feelings are there, you must try, or you will never know,” she says with a smile.

I want to believe her.

I chew on my bottom lip and nod. She is the American version of me. Tears prick my eyes as I am so happy to now have a friend, a woman who understands everything I am going through and more.

“I have been with another. Not by choice,” I admit. It feels odd to make this confession aloud. I have never told another person.

“I have too, Emiliya. It does not count if it was by force,” she murmurs as her eyes fill with tears.

I understand her heart. I do not need to fully comprehend her words. She and I are so much alike; it is as if I am looking in the mirror.
Our souls are sisters
. I smile slightly and squeeze her hand before taking a deep breath.

Haleigh and I finish buying all of the decorations and too many cute baby girl things before Ruslan places his hand on my shoulder. He whispers that Radimir will be home in thirty minutes and that I must leave. I hug Haleigh and her sweet baby Maks one last time before telling them goodbye. Haleigh has already invited me to lunch next week, and I am so very happy to have met her.

“Haleigh is right. Radimir is good man,” Ruslan says as we drive towards the apartment. I stiffen. He truly was listening to us.

“He has not had an easy life, Emiliya, but he is a good man. He will show you many good things in this life if you choose to stay with him, to be his lover and his wife,” he says, his voice deep and rumbly.

I chew on my bottom lip again, uncertain of this conversation between us. It doesn’t feel right. Fortunately, I don’t have to respond because we are at the apartment. I sigh in relief and hurry to the elevator. Ruslan is always one step behind me and stays silent all of the way up to our floor.

When I walk inside of the apartment, Radimir is standing at the window, looking out over Moscow. I can see a drink in his hand. His suit jacket is thrown on a chair, and his sleeves are rolled up his forearms, showing off all of his blue tinted tattoos.

Slowly,
tentatively
, I walk toward him.

It is dusk, not quite dark, and he paints a beautiful picture with his strong muscled body against the buildings and lights in the city.

“Did you have a good day,
kotik
?” His voice is soft, but there is an edge to it—an edge I do not understand.

“I did. Haleigh is very nice, but I must work on my English. Her Russian is terrible.” I smile at my own little joke. She knows her Russian is bad and she just laughs and waves it off, not interested in remedying it.

“Tell me, how should I feel that you talk of our intimacies in public?”

I gasp and take a step back. Ruslan must have told him. Radimir turns around and gone are his cool blue eyes. They have been replaced with dark, angry eyes.

“It… it wasn’t like that, Radimir,” I stumble over my high heel, trying to back away from him. He is frightening.

“It wasn’t? Then tell me what exactly was it like? Now, not only does Haleigh know, but Ruslan and Alex, and god knows who else was listening. They all know that you are untouched—in my possession, but not
my possession
. How does that make me look? I tell you. It makes me look
not
like a man, is how it makes me look,” he spits out angrily.

I can’t stop the tears from falling down my cheeks as his angry words hit me, each one feeling like a dagger to my heart.

“That was not how it was meant, Radimir.” My lips are trembling and I am now yelling at him. “I was just telling her that I have no real experience with men, that I was unsure of my ability to make you happy,” I cry out before I fall to my knees. My legs buckle, no longer able to hold me. I feel weak and foolish, but I can’t control myself.

“I heard of
that,
too,” he spits out. I suddenly feel dirty, soiled—
all over again
. It has been years, but the feeling will never disappear, especially with the way he is looking at me right now.

I close my eyes, burying my face in my hands, and wait for the backlash; the hitting, the screaming —
something
.

It never comes.

Radimir picks me up like a child, cradling me to his body. I press my face into his neck as the tears continue to fall down my face. He walks toward the bedrooms, but right past mine and straight into his. He lays me down on his giant fluffy bed. Before I even take a breath, he is lying down behind me, his arms wrapped around me and his face in my neck.

“Sshhh. Sleep, my beautiful girl.” My body is shaking from my sobs, but eventually I fall into exhausted, confused sleep.

When Ruslan called to tell me that Emiliya was discussing our lack of sex life with Haleigh, admitting that she is not a virgin, I was shocked and then I was angry. He confessed that it sounded as though she was forced, and it pissed me off even more.

How could she have been violated?

How did I not know this?

She was given to me to protect.

She is living with me.

I am caring for her financially and otherwise, and yet I don’t fuck her.

I know absolutely nothing about her.

I felt like Klavdia had replaced Emiliya. Like the situation with Klavdia was repeating all over again. A woman I own who won’t fuck me. Who plays games with me. Who will surely fuck somebody else behind my back while denying me what I crave.

I refuse to go through a situation like that again, and immediately Emiliya was replaced by Klavdia’s face and I became enraged. When she walked through the door and came up to my back, I could smell that it wasn’t Klavdia behind me. It was Emiliya, but it didn’t matter. I needed to man up.

I will not be a pussy for Emiliya, not like I was with Klavdia.

When she broke down crying, it nearly tore me apart. I realized that Emiliya is not Klavdia. Emiliya was talking sincerely and was genuinely worried.

Klavdia wouldn’t have cared
. She would have thrown something in my face and tried to turn it around on me, but Emiliya just apologized. She explained the situation, and immediately, I felt like a bastard.

Now, with her wrapped in my arms, everything feels right.
This feels right
.

I watch her until her breathing evens out and I decide to make a call to Ruslan. He should not have told me of such girl talk. It isn’t right. I pull a light blanket up my
kotik
’s sexy as sin body and reluctantly leave the room.

“Ruslan,” I bark into the hall and wait for him to materialize.

Ruslan is handsome, I suppose. He has dark hair and eyes; his body fit, but he is nowhere near as muscular as I am. I trust him to an extent, but I trust Maxim more.

“Radimir,” he greets.

I can tell by the caution in his gaze that he must have heard our argument.

“Was it necessary to inform me that the woman living under my roof, under my protection, and under my care was not pure and was admitting to not being with me? This is something she confessed to her friend. It was not meant for my ears, and it seems you did not tell me everything of that conversation, because she was concerned with
pleasing
me. It was also not said with anything other than normal female curiosity, searching for advice from her companion,” I point out. I then watch as Ruslan swallows, and I see his body grow tight.

“You believe her word over mine? I told you what she said,” he growls. I shake my head. I am not willing to become angry about this. It is pointless.

“I believe Emiliya, yes. She told me the conversation and it aligns with yours. You just didn’t disclose the entire context,” I say, lifting a brow as he shakes his head.

“This woman has you by the balls, Radimir. What happens when she turns into another Klavdia?” he asks.

I push myself from the wall I have been leaning against, slowly and cock my head to the side.

The man is jealous.

“My balls are where they should be, Ruslan, which will always be none of your concern. Why are you so interested in what happens with the women I share my life with?”

“I’m not interested. I am just trying to be a friend.” He takes a step back and shakes his head.

“On your knees,” I growl, pulling my handgun from my back. Ruslan doesn’t go on his knees; he knows that is a death sentence.

“Never. Not for you and not for authority,” he states, his voice now devoid of emotion. I poke out my bottom lip and nod before pulling my phone from my pocket.

“I need Ruslan to be questioned,” I say after Sergei has picked up my call.

Ruslan’s eyes go wide as I end the call and look at him. He knows what is coming. Within five minutes, Sergei is in my living room. I explain to him about Ruslan’s meddling, about his obvious over-concern for my sexual relations. Sergei agrees that it is odd. He pulls Ruslan completely off of his feet, and the floor he had been standing on, by his hair and throws him to one of his men.

“I send you a new man tonight. Tell me, though, how is the girl?” Sergei doesn’t dick anybody around, so I know he is concerned when he asks.

“She will be fine. She just needs a little bit of time,” I admit truthfully.

Sergei looks at me and nods once before walking towards the door.

Then he stops.

“You claimed Klavdia, too, just needed time, my friend. Do not let this creature slip through your fingers. Take it and take her, she is much more than Klavdia ever could be. Claim her and keep her,” he says.

“We are to be married within five days’ time,” I explain. He nods with a hint of a smile on his lips before turning around. He has torturing to get to, and Sergei loves his torturing.

I decide to grab some water and head upstairs, back to my Emiliya. I am going to hold her for the night and hope that tomorrow she will accept me into her life, into her body, and eventually into her heart. She has already begun to worm her way into mine.