Page 34 of Obsession of the Bratva

I shook my head, not wanting this line of thought to continue.

It only stressed me out.

A knock sounded somewhere downstairs, and I looked up. Then another knock and the sound of a door opening. I could hear voices. My entire body went still because voices usually meant visitors, and visitors usually meant problems. We haven’t had any visitors at the house except Bianca the other night.

Then I heard Nico’s voice.

I could not make out the words, but his tone was enough to tell me that something was wrong. Every muscle in my body tightened, and I stood and moved quietly toward the hallway, wanting to find out more. The office door downstairs was partially open, and I could hear him now.

“Tell me exactly how it happened in complete, proper detail.”

The words were low and controlled, yet he still managed to sound dangerous. When I did not hear a reply back immediately, I knew he was on the phone. Someone answered from the other end, but the faint robotic voice made it impossible for me to figure out who.

Nico’s response came immediately. “No.” The single word cracked like a gunshot.

“You don’t get to tell me what you think happened. You tell me what actually happened. I will be there soon, but give me something before I get there.”

Silence followed, which was followed by another voice. It was Viktor this time, who was probably inside the room with Nico. Viktor sounded as calm and measured as he always did, but I still couldn’t make out his low murmur. Nico interrupted again.

“How many of our men?”

The answer came too quietly for me to hear, but the next sound was glass shattering. I jumped, unsure of what might have happened to cause Nico to act in this manner. My mind immediately went back to Papa and how he could be behind something. Why else would Nico be this angry after all? The possibility of it all being because of my father was high, which made me want to know everything at once.

A few seconds later, the office door flew open, and Nico emerged. His dark suit jacket was missing, and the sleeves of his shirt were rolled up. His jaw looked carved from stone, and for a second, he simply stood there. Then his gaze landed on me, and the temperature in the room seemed to drop. I knew what it looked like.

I was crouched on the floor, against the wall, right beside the door. It was clear that I had been trying to listen in on the conversation. Viktor emerged shortly afterward, his eyes falling on me as well. I stood up at once.

“What happened?” I asked, motioning towards the office. He knew what I meant, but he shook his head rather than saying something.

He stared at me. “Nothing you need to worry about. Everything will be taken care of.”

I almost laughed. “You just threw something through a wall. I heard something shattering, and you wouldn’t have done that unless it was something serious. Tell me what’s wrong.”

“It was just a glass, Vera, no big deal.” He sighed deeply, frown lines appearing on his forehead. “I wonder how that poor glass escaped your notice. I am sure you would have smashed it to pieces as well before I could find a chance to do the same thing.”

The reminder was unwelcome, but I had asked for it. Destroying his office was certainly not my brightest moment, but it was done now.

“Interesting work inside the office, Vera,” Viktor commented, a faint smile on his face. “I was both horrified and impressed at the same time.”

“Thanks, Viktor,” I replied drily, not in the mood for banter right now. No matter how much they tried to distract me, I needed my answers. “You breaking things isn’t normal, Nico. Tell me what the call was about?”

His eyes narrowed as if he was trying to gauge my interest and still failing to see reason. Normally, I might have pushed further, but today I didn’t. The entire morning had already been spent sparring with him, and I almost had no energy left anymore, even if I was extremely worried. Whatever had happened clearly had nothing to do with me directly, or else he would have told me. At least I thought so.

Maybe Papa hadn’t found out yet.

Nico dragged a hand through his hair, and the gesture was unusually frustrated. He was human after all. His worry made something uncomfortable twist in my chest, and the familiar feelings of care I had never stopped feeling for him resurfaced.

“I have to leave.”

I blinked, already knowing he had to go. At least that was what he had said on the call. “Leave?”

“Yes.” The answer came sharply, and then his expression shifted slightly. It did not soften. Not one bit. I could simply see him recalibrating.

“Although there is a potential problem I would want you to deal with,” he suddenly said, immediately catching my attention. Nico Romanov wanted something from me, and I was thrilled to simply know that.

“What can I do?” I asked at once, sounding like an eager disciple.

“My sister is coming here.” I stared, confused. I knew he had a sister, but why was she coming here?