Page 127 of Bratva and Betrayal: Kirill

“Unfortunately, being the Bratva Pakhan doesn’t always mean I have weekends off.”

I watch him fasten his cufflinks as the night before flashes through my head. Not the coronation. Not the celebration. Not even how we made love when we got home.

A second ago, I thought Tamara was behind us. Did he agree to meet her today?

A cold knot forms in my stomach. “How long will you be gone?

“A few hours,” he answers, putting on his watch.

“That’s vague,” I snort.

“It’s meant to be.” One corner of his mouth lifts.

Only, I don’t laugh.

His expression softens slightly. “I’ll be home before dinner, dorogaya.”

Not moya zhena. Maybe he doesn’t want to think of me as his wife right now.

Before I can press further, he crosses the room and kisses my forehead. “I’ll make Violet’s breakfast. The nanny spent the night. Rest, baby. I took you hard last night.”

Does he have the energy to be with someone else?

Next, he’s gone, and I stare at the bedroom door. Counting in my head, three seconds, four, then five, I throw the blankets off and bolt from the bed. Pain shoots through different parts of my body. Legs, back, butt.

I should love the pinches here and there, but the idea that Tamara could be walking away from wherever the hell Kirill may be meeting her, the real pinch in my heart hurts more.

Moving slowly, I get dressed and put my hair up.

Downstairs, Violet sits at the kitchen island happily eating pancakes, the ones her father apparently made before disappearing.

Am I being paranoid for no reason?

“Mommy!” she chirps, pushing anxiety out of my head.

The nanny smiles from beside her. “Good morning, Madam.”

“Morning, Nadia,” I say, noticing she’s drinking coffee.

I kiss the top of Violet’s head. “Hey, sunshine.”

“Daddy made me pancakes,” she informs me. “My favorite, blueberry and peanut butter.”

“I see that.” I keep the snide out of my tone.

“Wanna bite, Mommy?”

While they look yummy, guilt isn’t my favorite flavor.

“No thank you,” I glance toward the windows and see Kirill’s Escalade is gone.

My suspicion grows, realizing that just one car is missing. My SUV sits near the mouth of the driveway. No guards or driver in sight. They keep to a new wardroom in the north wing.

“Would you mind staying with Violet for about an hour?” I ask Nadia.

“Kirill asked me to spend the day. Thought you’d need extra rest.”

How wonderful. He discussed wearing me out to the nanny. Given her age, I doubt he got graphic.