“Yes. Since you have the week off, it’s time to start your part of the deal.”
That’s when it clicked. A second laptop sat on Avit’s desk, a chair placed neatly behind it.
I crossed my arms, annoyed. “So you’re planning to babysit me while I work? Like when you trailed behind me at school?”
“I want results,” he said flatly.
“And you think if I work in my room, you won’t get them?” I snapped. “You really think I’d risk lying when my father’s life depends on it?”
His eyes narrowed. “I’ve seen countless people in your position before, desperate and grasping at straws just for another day to live.” He leaned back slightly, voice turning cold. “Let’s not forget that’s how we ended up married.”
“I'm sorry to disappoint you, but I'm not one of those countless people that you mentioned. I'd prefer to get it done in my room.”
How dare he think I’m incapable of holding up my end of the deal!
Was it because I was a woman? Was he one of those arrogant assholes who thought we were all weak, that brains and grit belonged only to men? And a woman's place was to bear children and stay at home?
He raised a brow. “Mrs. Safin, is there a reason you don't want to work under supervision?”
I rolled my eyes. “There are many reasons, Mr. Avit, but I'm sure you've drawn your own conclusion about the matter.”
“I have. And I believe you're not as good as you claim. You just made the deal with me to gain time to figure out how to save your father, despite your denial of grasping at straws. In your room, you can have someone else do the work and send you the results.”
I laughed dryly. “Right. Because the only thing a woman can do well in the eyes of a man like you is cook, clean, and bear children.” I scoffed. “Just admit it. You want to supervise me because you’re a controlling monster.”
His face went blank, and his eyes turned cold. “I am Bratva, Mrs. Safin. Control gets things done. If you can’t deliver, you’ll see exactly how much of a ‘monster’ I can be.”
Whether it was the extreme calm in his voice or the flash of rage I saw cross his face, this was the first time I had actually been terrified of Avit—not of what he could do, but of the man himself. It was as though what little warmth that had come through the past two weeks had vanished and wasreplaced by Antarctic temperatures. He was right, though. He was Bratva and probably did more unspeakable things than I’d ever imagined. Violence was a constant in his world, and hurting my father and me was just another means to an end.
And then it hit me; every time I thought I was pushing back, testing him, asserting control, it was all an illusion. I wasn’t in control. I had never been in control. Every “choice” I’d made, every step I thought I’d taken for myself, existed only because he allowed it. He could strip it all away in an instant. Avit hadn’t been nice to me because he was a good guy; he was being nice because he needed me. If I didn’t give him the answers he wanted, he could get rid of both my father and me.
I hadn’t worked this hard just to be snuffed out like some damn rat in an alley.
“I’ll get you the results,” I said, matching his tone.
I just wanted to get this over and done with, so that my father's life as well as mine could be out of limbo.
“Good.”
I stalked over to the desk, sank into the chair and got to work.
Over the next few days, I sat next to Avit and began digging into the information that he provided. But it was hard working right beside him.
I couldn’t help but notice his quirks—the precise way he returned anything he used back on the desk, the way his cologne seemed to seep into every corner of the office, the mutterings under his breath while he worked, or the hand that ran through his hair when a file frustrated him.
It was impossible not to notice, and sitting so close was a really bad idea. My brain felt like it was short-circuiting, everysense hijacked by him, and even though I tried to force myself to focus, knowing what was at stake, I just couldn't.
But that wasn't the worst part. The worst part was the times when he actually stood over me, hovering, one hand leaning against the desk.
I hated it. Every moment of it. I wasn't supposed to feel attracted to someone like him. Someone I'd never have a future with…someone who was not only dangerous, but a criminal. There was no way I'd give up my moral compass for someone who was just using me until he got what he wanted and would dump me like trash afterwards.
Today I was sitting behind the desk, and Avit wasn’t there. He’d gotten a call about three hours ago and left abruptly without a word. I finally felt like I could breathe again, until he stalked back into the room.
His hair was tousled, his jacket slung over his arm, and the sleeves of his shirt rolled up. And damn, if I thought he looked good all put together, this more “relaxed” version of him was even hotter. Still, every muscle in his body was tense, and a fresh bruise stood out on his face.
He placed his jacket behind his chair, sat and spun his chair towards me.
“It's been five days, Sienna. And still no luck. Is there something you're not telling me?”
