Chapter 33
891words
'No! No." I shake my head quickly. 'I mean, he might be, sure, but this is someone else. How much do you know about …" I hesitate to say the word, but I can't keep this from her forever. 'About the Bratvas?"
'Camila Marakov, no!" She jumps off the bed, cursing something under her breath. 'Do not tell me that you've gotten involved with the Bratvas!"
Her reaction surprises me. I stand slowly, holding my hands up to indicate she should sit, but she doesn't. 'Mom, calm down."
'Answer me! Have you?"
Wincing at my inability to lie to her face, I go silent. Then, slowly, I dip my head ever so slightly in a nod.
She gasps and her hand twitches. Wincing, I close my eyes in anticipation of a slap that never comes. When I open them, Mom is glaring at the bedroom door. I wait for it to combust from her fury. But it doesn't.
'So," she starts, and I can detect the faintest tremble in her voice, 'Asher is Bratva. Now I understand where all his money comes from."
'Don't be upset at him." I'm struck by how funny it feels to defend him after everything he's done. 'He's not the one that's threatening us. He's doing his best to protect us from Yannick Grachev. That's why I'm here. That's why he brought you here! To keep us safe!"
'Chto?" Mom snaps around, eyeballing me with her lower jaw trembling. 'Did you say Yannick Grachev?"
'Yeah, he's this absolute monster." I shake as I recall what Asher told me Yannick did to his previous wife, Kristina. The drive-by shooting of my studio wasn't just a warning. It was an attempt on my mother's life; I'm sure of it. Suddenly, the image of her cold body, riddled with bullet holes as blood stains the ground, makes my mouth tingle with the urge to vomit.
'Asher says that Yannick has been hanging around our studio. I don't know what he wants from us," I continue when Mom remains silent. 'Asher isn't sure either. But for now, we have to stay here until the situation is settled."
'Settled," she repeats in a hush. Her arms wrap around herself. She rocks lightly on her heels. 'Oh, malyshka. Settled! Nothing is ever settled when the Bratvas are involved, you stupid girl!"
I recoil at her sharp words. She's never spoken to me like this. Neither in word choice nor in tone. What's gotten into her? She must still be in shock at everything, I think to myself.
Gingerly, I move close enough to put my hand on her shoulder. 'All I know is that we're safe here. I promise."
'Yannick Grachev," she repeats grimly and stares at the floor with a heavy scowl. Her fingers are locked tight against each other, and her knuckles are bone white.
There's something else here.
Something she's not telling me either.
'Mamochka," I say cautiously, 'are you okay?"
'Just a headache." She pats my hand, then gently removes it. 'I'd like to finish unpacking. Could you make sure I'm left alone? This is a lot to process … and I …" she takes a shuddering breath, 'I need a moment."
She didn't answer my question. 'Yeah. Of course," I whisper.
The tension in the room is thick enough to cut with a knife. My mom is a wreck, and rightfully so. I don't think I would react any better in her shoes if I learned that my daughter married a pakhan, or that a monster like Yannick is stalking us.
But even with all that, I'm filled with a huge sense of relief. And … joy.
I missed her.
I muster up a wan smile before I close the door and walk down the hallway. My body feels lighter. This situation isn't ideal, but knowing she's nearby, safe from harm, and that I can actually go and hug her again?
I'm calling this a win.
Taking the stairs in twos, I stop in front of Asher's door, tapping with my knuckles. 'Asher?"
He opens the door; before he speaks, I slam into him, clinging to his solid body. His scent overpowers my nose, and I breathe deeply to let it settle inside my lungs, chasing the sensation of power, of safety, of being with someone who allows me the room to be vulnerable.
I didn't realize until this moment, but after the tension with my mother, it's clear.
Asher makes me feel like I can breathe.
In his arms, I don't have to be afraid.
'Camila, are you all right?" he asks urgently.
'I am now." On tiptoe, I kiss him, and then kick the door shut behind me with my heel.
His pleased chuckle tickles down my throat. 'You've got a particular way of thanking people."
'I wasn't sure about this at first, but you were right," I tell him. 'I'm happy my mom is here. More than happy. I'm relieved. Thank you."
'Of course," he soothes, rubbing his knuckle on my cheek. 'I would do anything for you, Camila."
'I know." Shoving him onto his bed, I move back. Not far … just enough so he can see all of me. He's staring with rising interest.
Good.
I'm about to become the only thing he can think about.
