Jake still slept on Radmir’s lap, although he woke up for a few hours to play some video game, but just before landing, his ears started to hurt, and although I massaged them, it didn't help, and he willed himself to sleep.
“Krasivoglazaya moya, I need to ask something of you.” His tone was serious, almost grim, and my stomach flipped.
“What?” He took my hand into his and raised it to his mouth, kissing lightly.
“We need to play a scene in front of the Bratva now.”
My brows furrowed in confusion. “I don’t understand.”
“Someone is after you, the director, the man who organized all this. I thought it was your father.”
“But it’s not?” I needed to know he had nothing to do with it, because that way someday maybe they’d be able to find common ground.
He nodded. “Yeah, but it means the director is out there ready to strike. That’s why I brought you here. We have leverage.” He shifted Jake on his shoulder as the car stopped. “Act furious with me as if I kidnapped your child. Like we are not together. If he is among my men, he will rise to protect you. He’ll use it as an opportunity to shine and get your gratitude.”
“You think he might be one of the Bratva?”
“I don’t want to think about it… but I can’t exclude it either. Follow my lead. I won’t tell you more, because your reactions should be genuine.” He got out of the car and burst inside the headquarters while I ran after them, and almost stopped, shocked at all the people watching us in surprise.
Kostya still worked as the bartender, giving food and drinks to the rest of the people who sat around the table. Dominic had his hand wrapped around some dark-haired beauty, and I assumed it was his Rose, and the blue-haired sniper girl, Konstanciya, who I’d met once while she was visiting the house.
Vitya and Michael were there too; Radmir showed me their picture so I would be familiar with members.
“How could you do this?” I shouted in a hushed tone, as he didn't give me any pointers. He ignored my words and placed sleeping Jake on the couch.
He faced Dominic and snarled, “Pakhan.” There was nothing but reserved politeness in the growl. He removed his jacket and covered Jake with it, and I was grateful for that, because the air conditioning running at a low temperature made me feel seriously cold.
“Radmir,” I hissed, bringing his attention to me so we could end this charade quickly and properly interact with everyone. I hardly wanted to make a bad impression on all the new people as that hysterical American.
“We have nothing to talk about.”
“You kidnapped my son!”
His face turned lethal, scaring me a bit. I was never on the receiving end of his fury. Even during our lovemaking after separation, his eyes stayed kind. “Our son. And if you thought just for one second I would allow him to stay with you and your husband, you are even dumber than I thought.”
A shot of pain rushed through me and probably reflected in my eyes, because I didn't know how else to react to this verbal attack. But I composed myself, showing nothing but indifference. “No law would give him to you.”
“You are in Russia. Only my law applies here. And if you think of bringing that fucker here demanding his rights just because his name is on the birth certificate—” His jaw ticked, maybe because we never discussed it before. I just assumed he had read all our files and didn't need me to spell it to him that his name was on Jake’s birth certificate. For a second, hurt flashed in his eyes, as if just the thought alone pained him.
Shaking my head, I patted Jake on the back as he stirred from all this shouting, and then replied, “His name is not on it.”
Radmir paused at this information, and then muttered, “Fuck it,” and grabbed me by the neck—as someone gasped—while holding my face close to his. “You want our kid back?” I nodded, and he gave me a sinister smile. “Then you’ll learn to obey.” He addressed Kostya. “Watch my kid.” He scooped me up in his arms, and since I was the helpless victim here, I screamed my lungs out.
“Let me go, you freaking barbarian!” But he just moved in the direction of his wing, barely stifling a laugh at my outburst.
When we finally reached his room, he took us inside and pressed me against the door, kissing me deeply. “You were amazing.”
“Had to play blind.”
He chuckled, and I pushed him aside to swipe my gaze around his wing and noted nothing changed.
Did life stop at the freaking headquarters?
“No design change?”
“Krasivoglazaya, seriously? When would I have time for it?”
Grabbing a bottle of water on the table, I drank it rapidly, but then I didn't miss how there was not even a speck of dust.
