Page 33 of Caught By the Bratva Boss

Anya’s smile never faded. “Is Daniil keeping you extra busy?”

The light blush turned into a torrent of blood rushing into my face and turning it scarlet. “I, uh, well it’s a—” shit why couldn’t I think of what to say. If she knew the details of my arrangement with Daniil, and she clearly did, I didn’t want to make the situation worse. Anya might have seemed sweet, but I didnt want to cross her.

“You shouldn’t work so hard, Lily. Although,” her eyes crinkled, “I think you look glowing, so you clearly enjoy it. Both of you,” she teased.

“Enough, Anya.” Daniil snapped.

She held up her hands in mock surrender. “I’m just saying. My dear,” she added sweetly. “That you seem to work well together, and Timothy likes her. So this is a win-win situation.”

Daniil glowered, his dark eyebrows shooting down over his suddenly hooded eyes. He remained silent for the space of a minute. And then he sighed. “Yes, it’s a good situation.” Suddenly, he lifted his eyes to me. “So you do want children in the future?”

Again, I nodded. “Yes, I don’t have much experience, but I think I would make a good mother.”

“Perfect.” For a second, his eyes softened. “I think you will be a great mother as well. We will soon see.”

I blinked in confusion.“What?”

“Having Timothy here will be the perfect time for you to gain some hands-on experience.”

Confused, I stared at him, blinking rapidly. “I’m sorry, I don’t understand.”

“He will, of course, have school and a nanny for when we are at work, but I think having a caring maternal figure is important. You know, for bedtime stories and such.” He went back to eating.

“But Anya?”

The blonde gave a tinkering laugh. “Oh, sweetie, I don’t live here. This place is all stairs. It is not suitable for my needs.”

I didn’t know what she meant by that, but I had too many other questions to ask. “I’m really confused right now.”

“It’s pretty simple, Lily. I want you to take care of my son when we’re home.”

My mouth flapped open and stayed that way as I stared at him. “Are you serious?”

His dark eyes fixed on mine, and I could tell he was. “Deadly. I don’t joke about the welfare of my son. Just think of it as a practice for when you have your own family.”

“But I’m not a child minder, Daniil. I have absolutely no experience. Don’t you think you would be better—”

Again, he cut me off. “It’s a great way to get experience. And Aya is right. He likes you.”

“But—” I tried again.

“There’s no point around him,” Anya said in her singing voice. “When Daniil gets an idea, he doesn’t stray from it. Might as well give in to it now. Daniil Popov always gets what he wants.”

I was beginning to see that. But none of it made sense. Why was she ok with all of this? First, sleeping with her husband, and now, me raising her child? What in the messed-up world was going on here?

Clearly sensing my discomfort, Anya smiled again, only this time it seemed really forced. “I know it’s a lot to take, and Daniil, as always, is being a brute, but it really would be good for everyone.”

Everyone but me, but they didn’t seem to want to listen to that. It was like my thoughts and feelings didn’t matter at all. Well, they mattered to me. “Looking after your son,” I hissed, “was not part of the deal.”

I said it so quietly that I was sure that no one had heard me, but at the last second, Daniil snapped his head towards me and glared. “It is now.”

“Mr, Popov, Daniil,” I tried again, forcing myself to keep my voice even. “You can’t ask me to do this.”

“I am not asking,” he snapped. “I am telling you. It’s just a little time and patience.” His eyes flickered to his son who was eating his food completely oblivious to what was being said. Or at least that’s how it looked. I had a sneaky suspicion that he was listening to every word.

How much could a child his age understand?

“But—” I placed my knife and fork on the plate. My appetite was gone.