Page 2 of The Bratva Enforcer and His Virgin Bride

I straighten immediately, excited. “The first letter matters,” I say proudly.

“And?”

“The page number.”

“And?”

I grin now because I know this one. “The repetition.”

His eyes soften slightly. “Very good.”

I feel warm with pride.

He reaches over and brushes my hair back from my forehead. There’s tiredness around his eyes tonight. I noticed it earlier when he came home.

Papa thinks I don’t notice things, but I do.

I notice that he checks the locks twice.

I notice when he stands by the window too long.

I notice the silence after unknown phone calls.

I notice everything.

“Papa… are you all right?” I ask because tonight the lines beside his eyes look deeper than usual.

For a second, his face shifts and crumbles.

Then it’s gone.

A smile replaces it so quickly it almost feels like I imagined the first expression.

“Let’s play a little game, my princess.”

My chest lifts immediately. “Okay.”

He sits back down beside me like nothing’s wrong. Like the air didn’t change a moment ago. Like the world is still only books and warmth and quiet evenings.

He reaches for another book in front of me and opens it, smoothing the page flat with his palm.

“Tonight,” he says, voice lighter now, “we don’t just read.”

I lean closer.

“We find things,” he continues.

My eyes brighten. “Like treasures?”

His smile widens. “Exactly like treasures.” He takes a pencil from the table and places it in my hand. “Circle every time a word repeats.”

I nod, serious now. I like rules. Rules make things feel safe.

“Good,” he murmurs. “And when you notice a pattern, tell me.”

I press the pencil to the page and begin.

At first it’s simple.