Sasha: Chapter 21

My little kotyonok grew up.

Despite the pain in my groin, I couldn’t help but be proud. I had to leave Alessio’s manor or risk getting caught. The surveillance was already wiped out, so the only one who’d know I was there was Branka.

My savage little woman.

If she thought that little performance would dissuade me from pursuing her, she had another thing coming. If anything else, I wanted her even more. She’d marry me, not some wimpy little ass.

Blyad! Fuck!

I had to get my hand on that name so I could eliminate the guy.

Back at the hotel, I studied the nick on my neck from Branka’s blade. I still couldn’t believe my little savage. My lips curved up into a smile despite the ache in my balls. It was probably payback for laughing my head off when I heard how Sailor kicked Raphael in the balls. It was the highlight of his wedding.

The door of my hotel room swung open and Vasili strode in like a goddamn giant.

“By all means, come on in,” I grumbled. “See me naked. It’s a glorious sight.”

“I doubt it,” he retorted dryly.

His pale eyes darted my way. Lucky for him, I wasn’t naked. But still, he should learn some privacy rules. Don’t enter a hotel room uninvited. I could have had Branka here in my bed with me. If Vasili were to see her naked, I’d have to kill him.

“We are having dinner with Alessio, Luciano, and a few other men tomorrow. Alessio’s bringing in his future brother-in-law.”

What. The. Fuck!

“Moving fast, isn’t he?” I retorted coldly. There would be a wedding over my dead body. “Who’s the lucky groom?”

Fuck, it just about killed me to say the word.

Vasili shrugged. “Don’t know.”

My goddamn brother only cared about his own wedding.

“Okay, when is the wedding?”

He shrugged again and an angry red mist coated my vision. Was everyone adamant about keeping shit from me?

“You don’t know or don’t want to tell me?” I ground my teeth so hard, I thought I’d break my jaw.

Vasili watched me silently, shoving his hands into his pockets.

“I don’t know,” he finally answered. “Although I have to wonder why you care?”

I returned my attention to the mirror and disinfected the cut.

“Sasha.” Vasili’s voice held a note of warning.

“No reason,” I told him. “Text me the time and place for dinner tomorrow.”

Because I had a potential groom to kill.

This fucking dinner was a bore.

And Branka and her fucking man had yet to show up. I swear to God, if they didn’t show up soon, I’d burn this city to the ground.

Something about the way Autumn glared at me told me Branka might have shared some information with her. I grinned. That was a good sign, it meant she was just as obsessed with me as I was with her.

Autumn kept rambling on about the war in the Middle East, gun distribution and saving the fucking world. Right now, all I cared about was getting my hands on Branka, nothing else. I tried to tune her out, I really did, but she kept yapping and yapping.

“Jesus, this girl is worse than the tree huggers,” I muttered. “She’s going to save the world.”

Why couldn’t she just give me information on Branka? Goddamn it.

“Sasha–” Vasili and Alessio warned. But it would seem Branka’s best friend was way too mad to keep her fury at bay. Whatever! Bring it on, Alessio’s woman.

She took a threatening step towards me and I watched her amused. No wonder Branka liked her.

“One day, Sasha Nikolaev,” she hissed, shoving her little hand against my chest, “ – someone’s going to stab that black heart of yours. And I’m going to have a front row seat to it. And fucking popcorn.”

Jesus! This week had to be the time for savages.

“Are we still talking about gun distributions or something else?” Luciano grumbled. “I feel like something else is cooking.”

I couldn’t let them get wind of what was going on. Not until I got my hands on my woman.

“Well, we know Isabella’s not cooking,” I drawled, blowing a kiss to my sister-in-law who promptly just flipped me the bird.

“I really like the girl, Alessio,” Alexei deadpanned. Of course my brother would like her. Autumn Corbin had fire and fought for her convictions. Just like his own wife.

“Thanks,” she told him, smiling sweetly. Of course, she’d like every other man in this room but me. “Sasha, get some coaching from your brother. Because you’re a major ass.”

“Where is your reinforcement, Autumn?” I drawled lazily. “Did she leave you, the girl who wants to save the world, all alone for the wolves to eat?”

Was it wise to taunt the best friend of the woman I’d marry? No, it wasn’t. But I needed her to slip. Tell me where in the fuck Branka was. It infuriated me to think of her alone with another man. My eyes flickered to the entrance. I knew the door would ding when another guest walked in, but I couldn’t help it.

Autumn glanced back to Alessio then returned her attention to me. I didn’t like the smugness in her expression at all. When she took a step forward, I knew I wouldn’t like the next words that came out of her mouth.

“Actually, Branka and her boyfriend are spending some time alone,” she said in a low voice. It was my turn to glare at her. Branka and her boyfriend would not spend much time alone if I can fucking help it. “They are getting acquainted,” she added sweetly.

Over. My. Dead. Fucking. Body.

Branka wouldn’t get acquainted with anyone.

Without another word to her or anyone in the group, I stormed out of the restaurant.