Page 39 of The Bratva Betrayal

The words land heavily in the room.

Misha relaxes, which tells me everything I need to know about his judgment.

“Yeah.” He nods like this is the perfect solution. “That makes sense.”

I stare at Artem. “Absolutely not.”

His expression doesn’t change. “You don’t have much choice.”

“I have plenty.”

“No good ones.”

The arrogance in him should make me furious.

Instead, it makes me nervous.

Because underneath all that control is something sharper tonight, something deliberate.

He’s watching me too closely, speaking too carefully.

And suddenly, I understand something that makes my stomach twist.

This is where he wanted to end up.

Close to me.

Inside my space.

Watching.

Misha claps his hands together once, like the problem is solved. “Good. Done. Artem stays here a couple of nights until we figure out who sent the warning.”

Warning.

Not attack.

My warning.

“I didn’t agree to that,” I say coldly.

Artem looks at me again, his hazel eyes steady enough to feel invasive. He steps closer, lowering his voice.

“You don’t have to agree, Lisichka.” His voice is quiet enough that Misha can’t hear. “You just have to understand that I’m not asking. And I can’t wait to see all the little things you do when you’re alone. Because I’m not letting you out of my damn sight until I get what I want.”

9

Artem

Cold water hits me square in the chest, and I’m awake before it even fully registers.

My hand closes around the gun under my pillow. By the time my eyes open, the barrel is already aimed directly at Cady Gallagher.

She doesn’t scream or flinch.

She doesn’t look a bit surprised.

Morning light spills across her penthouse in pale gold through the massive windows behind her, catching in the red curls hanging loose over her shoulders while she stands there holding an empty glass like she hasn’t just woken a bratva enforcer by throwing water on him.