Page 136 of Married to My Sis’s Bratva Fiancé

"And keep an eye on me," I said. "Make sure I don't go back to the office early, don't rip off the straps, and don't let Feodor sneak in paperwork at midnight."

Feodor's calm voice drifted in from the hall.

"That last one has already happened four times."

I looked toward the door. He studied the corridor with a blank face, like the wall had spoken instead of him.

Elena's mouth twitched.

"Feodor can handle that."

"He only knows how to rat me out."

"That is the most correct thing he's done all day."

I closed my hand around hers.

"You can take any room. The studio will be yours. The guards won't step into your private space without permission, and you don't need my approval to leave."

Her gaze dropped to our hands. I'd controlled docks, smuggling lines, and more lives than I cared to count. I'd never hated waiting like I did right then.

"At least until the doctor clears me completely," I said again, unable to stop myself.

"I'll move back," she finally said. "Temporarily."

Air finally filled my lungs again.

"Temporarily works."

"And you don't get to milk the wound for sympathy."

"I never did that."

She looked at the edge of my bandage, the red seeping through.

I sat back like nothing happened. "Accident."

She laughed.

And for that second, even the hole in my shoulder didn't hurt as much.

Back at the manor, Olga grabbed Elena in a tight hug.

"You finally came back."

"I'm just taking care of a patient," Elena said.

"Sure," Olga said, winking at me. "Just taking care."

I took Elena upstairs. She'd used to stay at the far end of the hall, so far it felt like a polite kind of imprisonment. Now I'd set up a suite beside the master bedroom. The connecting door could be locked from her side. She could come closer when she wanted, and she could shut me out when she needed to.

The other door led to the studio.

Elena ran her fingers over a row of paints. "These aren't the basic ones I used before."

"I know."

"They're expensive."