Page 74 of Savage Truce

Rodian: Now there’s an incentive to get my ass home sooner. I want to taste your cooking.

Anastasia: Great! I love you. Be safe out there.

Rodian: Love you more, moya krasavitsa.

Getting up from my chair, I leave my workshop, thinking of what to make. When I walk into the kitchen, I head straight for the fridge. I check the contents, and finding lamb shank, I grin.

“Bingo.”

As I put the meat in warm water so it can defrost quicker, Mam and Marina come into the kitchen, and Mam asks, “I’m making tea. You want some?”

“Please,” I reply.

Marina peeks into the sink. “Are you going to make it?”

“Yes. I told Rodian I’d make dinner for him.”

A smile curves her lips. “You hear that, Irena. We need to go to bed early to give the kids privacy.”

“I always sleep by nine,” my mother-in-law mutters. “You stay awake late.”

I let out a chuckle and join them at the table for tea.

“I wanted to talk to you about wives of the senior men in the Bratva,” Marina says.

“What about them?”

“You need to invite them to tea.” I don’t like the sound of that at all, but before I can reply, she continues, “It’s important. They’re waiting to meet you.”

Ugh. The last thing I have energy for is a bunch of catty women giving me the stink eye like all of Yelena’s friends did.

Clearing my throat, I sugarcoat it as I reluctantly admit, “I don’t have a good history with other women. They tend not to like me.”

“It doesn’t matter if the wives like you, Anastasia. You’re the pakhan’s wife. You have to make them respect you. All these women whisper in their husbands’ ears, and if they’re loyal to you, they won’t make trouble for Rodian.”

Well, crap. I didn’t think about that.

Marina places her hand on mine. “I’ll teach you everything, and if one of them dares to insult you, you shun her in front of the others. Make an example of one, and the rest will fall in line. You reward good behavior by letting the woman sit closest to you or inviting her for a private lunch in front of the others. They all want to be the most important in our social circle, so they will be eager to compete for your attention.”

Squeezing Marina’s fingers, I nod. “Okay. How do I invite them?”

We spend the next thirty minutes adding all their numbers to my phone and sending out personal invitations for tea this coming Thursday.

Mam pats my cheek lovingly as she gets up. “I go take nap.”

As soon as we’re alone, Marina says, “Always remember you’re a queen now, and that gives you all the power.”

Gathering the cups, she takes them to the sink before leaving.

With a lot to think about, I get to work, prepping the lamb shank so it can go in the oven, as it will need a long time to cook.

Usually, I’d make it with mashed potatoes, but not ready to face that vegetable yet, I make roasted butternut, cauliflower with cheese sauce, and Yorkshire puddings to soak up the gravy.

It’s the first time I’m getting to cook for someone because I want to, and instead of it being a chore, I find myself enjoying every second.

Wanting a cozy mood, I set the kitchen table instead of the one in the dining room, and even find a candle, which I place in the middle of the table.

I check that there’s enough freshly squeezed orange juice for Rodian, and with everything ready, I hurry to our bedroom so I can change into something prettier.