Deadly Vows (Avilov Bratva #2)

11. Chapter 11

Chapter 11

Aleksandr

I awoke to the soft glow of the morning light streaming through the tall windows of the penthouse. The city was coming alive beneath us, but nothing was more soothing than the warmth of Talia in my arms. Her head rested against my chest, her chocolate-colored hair a silken tangle across my skin. I lay there momentarily, savoring the rare peace, feeling her steady breaths against me. For the first time in a long time, I felt contentment. Talia stirred, her eyes fluttering open to meet mine. Her smile was sleepy. “Good morning,” she murmured.

“Good morning, kiska ,“ I replied, brushing a strand of hair from her face. Her beauty was mesmerizing, even in the first light of dawn. I held her tighter as if to assure myself she was real. We lay there for a few moments, the silence between us comfortable.

“Talia,” I began, my voice low, “there’s something I need to tell you.”

She looked up at me, her bright hazel eyes searching mine. “What is it?”

I took a deep breath, gathering my thoughts. “What we spoke about last night, about keeping you and the baby safe…it will always be my priority. That is why we can’t be in a relationship. You’d be a target for my enemies, and I can’t bear to have anything happen to either of you.”

Talia’s gaze softened. “I understand. But things are different now, aren’t they? We’re already a family. You, me, Sasha, Maxim, and the baby.”

Family. The word sent a warmth through me that I hadn’t expected. I wanted that with her more than anything. But danger still loomed over us. I caressed her cheek, my thumb tracing the delicate curve of her jaw. “I want to be with you. But it’s dangerous.”

She placed a hand over mine, her touch grounding me. “We’ll face it together, Aleksandr. Whatever comes, we’ll face it together and keep our family safe.”

She was strong and brave yet kind and giving. She was perfect for me in every way. I kissed her tenderly, caught in a tug-of-war between what I should do and my selfish desires.

Reluctantly, we pulled ourselves from bed, the responsibilities of the day calling. I slipped on black sweatpants and headed to the kitchen to make breakfast. Talia followed, wrapping herself in one of my soft grey T-shirts. Seeing her like that, looking so at home, made me smile.

“What would you like for breakfast?” I asked, pulling out ingredients from the fridge. “Or should I ask what the baby would like?” I teased.

“Surprise us,” she said with a grin, perching on a stool by the counter. She tenderly cradled her baby bump, whispering sweetly to the baby.

I decided on a simple meal of scrambled eggs, toast, and coffee. As I cooked, Talia wandered around the penthouse, her eyes landing on the paintings that adorned the walls. She paused, studying them intently.

“These are beautiful,” she said, looking at me. “Who’s the artist?”

I hesitated for a moment before answering. “I am.”

“You’re an amazing artist,” she gushed. “Did you ever think about painting full-time?”

“I did,” I admitted, flipping the eggs. “When I was younger, I wanted to be an artist. But life had other plans.”

She stepped closer, her fingers lightly tracing the edge of one of the frames. “What happened?”

I sighed, turning off the stove and plating the food. “Otets was killed. Mikhail was supposed to take over as pakhan , but he couldn’t handle it after Anya died. His depression was so bad that I needed to step up. I had to take care of the children, too. So, at twenty-four years old, I became pakhan . I didn’t feel ready, but I had no choice.”

Talia’s eyes were filled with sympathy. “I’m sorry. That must have been difficult.”

“It was,” I admitted, placing the plates on the table. “I had a different vision for my life. But such is the way of the Bratva.”

We sat down to eat, the conversation shifting to lighter topics. It was easy being with Talia. She had a way of making everything seem more bearable. But our moment of peace was interrupted by the buzzing of my phone. It was Dimitri.

I answered, his voice urgent on the other end. “ Brat , we have a lead on Vic’s whereabouts. He’s hiding in the back room of a Chinese restaurant in the city.”

“I’ll meet you at the mansion. I’ll be there soon,” I assured.

I hung up and turned to Talia. “We have to go. There’s a lead on Vic.”

She nodded, worry flashing in her eyes. “Please be careful.”

“I will,” I promised. “I’m meeting Dimitri at the mansion. I need you to stay with the children to know you’re safe.” Leaning toward her, I captured her lips with mine. This woman meant everything to me, and I’ll burn down the whole fucking world to make sure she is safe.

We quickly dressed and left the penthouse. The drive to the mansion was filled with a tense silence. I hated leaving her, but I couldn’t risk her safety. Once we arrived, I ensured she was settled before heading out with Dimitri to meet Anton.

The city passed by in a blur as we drove to the restaurant. The possibility of finding Vic was electrifying. But when we arrived and stormed the back room, we were disappointed. Instead of Vic, we found a low-level thug with no useful information.

Frustrated, we returned to the mansion. I needed to see Talia to reassure myself that she was safe. I found her playing a board game with Sasha and Maxim in the playroom. Seeing them together brought a smile to my face, a rare moment .

But the moment was interrupted by the ringing of the doorbell. Abram answered, bringing in a long white delivery box addressed to Talia. Her face lit up with excitement, and she realized it was from a florist. She read the note, her face paling.

“ Kiska , what does it say?“ My eyebrows snapped together as I took the note from her.

“Sorry for your loss,” she whispered, her voice trembling. She opened the box, immediately dropping it on the floor. A dozen black roses spilled out as Talia’s expression turned to horror.

“Aleksandr, who would send this? What are they implying?” She cradled her stomach instinctively, searching my face for an answer.

My blood ran cold. It was a message, a threat. Vic was taunting us. Hot fury burned through me, but I forced myself to stay calm for Talia’s sake. “Olga, take the children upstairs,” I ordered.

They wrapped themselves around Talia, giving her a comforting hug before disappearing with Olga.

“It’s Vic,” I stated through gritted teeth. “He’s taunting us.”

I took her in my arms, trying to offer comfort. “I’ll find him, Talia.”

She nodded, but I could see the fear in her eyes. This is another reminder of the danger we faced, the constant threat hanging over us like a dark cloud. But it also strengthened my resolve. I will protect her and our child, no matter what. Vic would pay for his threats in blood, and I will ensure our family’s safety.

As the day dragged on, we stayed close, finding solace in each other’s presence. I held Talia, whispering promises of protection and a future together.

The following morning, I was up early. The previous day’s events still weighed heavily on my mind, but I pushed them aside. After a quick workout to clear my head, I showered and found Talia in the kitchen eating breakfast with Olga and the children.

“Good morning,” I said, trying to sound cheerful.

“Good morning,” they replied in unison.

I kissed Talia on her cheek and then sat down next to her. “Did you sleep well?”

“As well as expected,” her smile small and tense.

Abram brought a plate of food and hot coffee, setting them down before me on the table. “Thank you, Abram.”

“I spoke to Sandy,” Talia said, eyeing me cautiously. “She thinks it would be good for us to spend time together. A little retail therapy to take my mind off things and-”

“No,” I responded immediately, cutting her off mid-sentence.

“I think she’s right. The stress isn’t good for me or the baby.” She looked at me from under her lashes, her full lips even more plump from her slight pout. “Please, Aleksandr. I need this.”

I can’t say no to her. I know she’s been through a hell of a lot lately, and I want her to have a fun shopping day with Sandy, but it’s not safe. “It’s not safe right now. You need to stay here where I can protect you.”

“I can’t live like a prisoner,” she responded, visibly upset. Her cheeks turned a deep shade of pink as she continued. “I won’t let Vic or anyone else keep me from living my life.”

“Talia, you need to stay calm,” Olga said in a steady and soothing voice. “Remember what Dr. Daria said.”

“Please, Aleksandr, I need to see Sandy,” she pleaded, placing her hand on my forearm.

“Fine. You can go, but you will take Nikolai with you.” I sighed heavily, rubbing my aching temples.

“Thank you!” Talia jumped up from her seat, kissing me on the cheek. “I’ll call Sandy and tell her the good news.” She was smiling from ear to ear as she left the kitchen.

Pulling out my phone, I called Nikolai. “You will stay with Talia today. She is going shopping with her sister. Wherever she goes, you go. Don’t take your eyes off her.”

Ending the call, I finished my coffee, kissed the children, and then went to my office. I need to find that mudak Vic and put an end to this bullshit, once and for all.