Page 23 of Prey of the Bratva

His eyes flicked briefly to the device in my hand.

“Who were you calling, Misha?”

“That’s none of your concern.”

“It becomes my concern if it affects what happens next. You are on my property.”

“It won’t affect you in any way.”

He stepped into the room slowly. “You’re planning something.”

“I’m always planning something.”

“But this isn’t something minor.”

“No,” I agreed. “It isn’t.”

“Do you want to leave now? Return home, perhaps? I know you have not been asking, but your brothers are losing their minds looking for you,” he asked, and I tilted my head slightly as if mulling over the question.

“Not yet,” I replied.

Something in his expression shifted. It was subtle, but it was there.

“You’ve decided that,” he said.

“Yes.”

“Why?”

I held his gaze.

“Because right now,” I said evenly, “this is the most strategic place for me to be.”

A beat.

“And me?” he asked quietly. “Where do I fit into that strategy?”

“You don’t,” I said. “Not yet.”

That time, he didn’t look away.

And neither did I.

Because whatever this was, it wasn’t simple.

And it wasn’t over.

Not even close.

Chapter 6 - Kliment

“Are you seriously going to pretend all of this is normal?” Nico’s voice thundered behind me, but I ignored him.

I didn’t stop packing. The zipper of the duffel bag slid shut with a quiet, final sound as I adjusted the contents inside, making sure everything was exactly where I wanted it. It had nothing but my pistol, a few documents, and clean clothes. Nothing unnecessary or traceable. Behind me, the air in the room had already shifted.

Jarek was pacing from left to right. I could hear it in the uneven rhythm of his steps that were sharp against the marble floor. Nico, on the other hand, was still. He always was when he was thinking too much.

“This is normal. Why wouldn’t it be?” I finally replied, my tone as casual as I could possibly keep it.