Possession of the Bratva (Morozov Bratva #15)

Chapter 13 - Aleksandr

Leaning against the car, I waited for Mila. As she came towards me, she kept her gaze focused on the ground before her. Opening her door, I held out my hand. She pushed it aside as she flopped into the seat. Closing the door, I noticed her family had come outside as well.

They were all gathered outside the van, staring at us. I stopped at my door, looking at them, I felt my anger wanting to take control. “I’ll deal with you all later!” I spat before opening the car door.

I started the car and glanced at Mila. She was staring out her window at them. I pulled out quickly, leaving a cloud of dust behind us. I felt my anger turning into rage as it pushed up but kept it bottled.

We would settle this at home. I had to find a way to avoid the Smirnov family. They had a bad habit of firing my cylinders up. Glancing at Mila, I could see the sadness she held. I wasn’t happy either. But I wasn’t pleased with her actions. It was something we would have to talk about.

The drive home was filled with a cold silence. I had barely stopped when Mila sprang from the car. She moved up the stairs and into the house at such a speed that one would think the car was on fire.

Getting out, I handed the keys to the guard and followed the fuming Mila inside. Entering the house, she was halfway up the stairs. “Mila,” I spat at her, slamming the door shut. She stopped but didn’t turn.

My tone was even but cold as I continued. I was furious at her. “How dare you use my little sister the way you did? Do you use everyone that places their trust in you?”

Tasha thought she was making friends, then to be betrayed like that. It wasn’t good; she always saw the good in people. Glancing over her shoulder, Mila opened her mouth. I stepped forward. I had to be sure I could hear what she had to say. But she closed it without uttering a word.

I didn’t want any excuses, but I had to know. Mila lowered her head, sighing. “I didn’t want to, but you left me no other option.”

Absorbing her words fueled the anger I felt. How dare she blame me for her mistakes. I knew the rage I felt, combined with my jealousy, wasn’t good. As I spoke, I could hear content in my tone. “Aside from misusing my sister, you also placed the alliance in jeopardy. Are you pleased with yourself?”

Mila slowly turned towards me. Looking at me, I noticed tears glittering in her eyes. I had hit a nerve but couldn’t stop the words as they left my mouth. Except for being envious of her bond with her so-called brothers, I felt hurt and frustrated. How could she sneak out and join them? How could she flirt so openly with that man?

I was sure we were making progress. I genuinely thought things were improving between us. But after this, I knew that I was way off course. I had never been more wrong in my life. On top of it all, I had learned she was gathering intel on my family and business.

My mind was flooded with ideas of what she wanted to do with the information. How did she intend to use it? Not wanting to play games anymore, I asked her outright. “I would love to know what you intend to do with the intel you’ve been gathering. And don’t even try to deny it.”

As I spoke, I could see the shock on her face. But it was replaced with anger even before I was done talking. Walking up the steps, I stopped before her. “Mila,” I said, trying to calm my rage. “Just tell me what is going on.”

She shoved me back lightly as she started yelling. “You are no different from the monsters of my past. I escaped them, and I will escape you, too. I was gathering the intel for my own safety, you evil thing.”

It felt like she had just struck me with a pipe. I gasped, stepping back. “Mila,” I huffed. “What are you talking about?” I had no idea what was going on.

Tears rolled lazily down her cheeks as she spat at me. “Forget it, it doesn’t matter.”

I stood frozen as I watched her turn and walk up the stairs. My mind was blank; I didn’t know what to say. But I knew I couldn’t just let her go. As her words sunk in, I felt my anger subdued. It was as if she had poured a bucket of ice water over me.

Taking two steps at a time, I caught up with her swiftly. We stood at the top of the stairs. Gently, I took hold of her arm, stopping her. “Mila,” I said, turning her to face me. Her tears were now flowing like a river. I wanted to pull her into my arms and hold her until the pain subsided.

But I wasn’t sure if that would make things worse. I didn’t know what she had been through. Making the wrong move now could push her so far away that I would never have her.

“Please, talk to me,” I begged. “Let me help you, I want to understand.”

Mila glanced at me through her tears. Her breathing was shaky and shallow. “Would you like to sit down?” I inquired softly.

Pulling her arm free from my hold, she flopped down on the top step. Mila wiped her cheeks. I took out the napkin that I carried in my top pocket. Unfolding it, I held it out for her. Her hand was also shaking, but she took it and dried her eyes.

She rolled it between her fingers as she spoke. “When I lived in the orphanage,” she said shakily, then took a deep breath. “We did as we were told. If we disobeyed, they would beat on the boys or lock us up.”

Mila took another couple of sharp breaths. I waited for her to continue. I didn’t want to rush anything; I had to understand.

Wiping her eyes again, Mila glanced at me. I could see deep pain in those beautiful eyes. The sparkle in them was gone, and I felt my heart ripping. “Mila,” I whispered.

“I’m not done,” she replied sharply before I could continue. Sitting down next to her, I took her hand and squeezed it gently.

“As I aged, the man in charge started showing an interest. But not for him.” She fumbled with the napkin as she appeared to stare off into oblivion. There was a longer silence. This time, I waited for her to continue.

She took a long, deep breath. I could hear her breathing normalizing slightly. “I was to be kept safe, were his words, for his friend. I wasn’t allowed to go out with my friends. I wasn’t even allowed many friends. I had to be a good girl.”

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. This was no way to treat a child. Realizing that I had no idea what trauma she could have suffered, my heart ached even more.

She rose as she continued. “If not for my brothers, I don’t know where I would have ended up.” She breathed in slowly as she started turning. “Married to a monster, I guess!” Mila spat at me, then turned and ran to the room.

The door slammed shut. The door frame sounded like it was vibrating from the intense impact. My gut was all twisted up. It felt like she had thrust a knife into it as her words dawned upon me. I was the new monster in her life.

It was my fault that she hated me from the start. I had caused a rift between us with the forced marriage. My jealousy had only added to the hatred she felt. I mishandled everything. I thought I could make her love me by showing her how wealthy and organized I was.

But I now realized I was only pushing her further away. I wasn’t sure how to fix it, but I was determined to try. I would do whatever it took to change the way she viewed me before it was too late.

Standing and moving toward the bedroom, I vowed to consider her feelings before I did anything. I would consider how it would affect her and then decide on the right course of action.

I knocked on the door lightly and listened. Mila didn’t answer. Opening the door, I peeked inside. She was lying on the bed. Moving closer, I considered my words with care. “Mila, I am sorry,” I whispered. “Maybe when you’re feeling better. In a day or so, we could discuss things?”

She didn’t move or speak. I leaned forward and caressed her foot before turning to my couch. I sat watching her, thinking about the thighs I needed to change. The stuff I had to work on to make us work.

Fluffing up the pillow, I lay down and waited for sleep to take me.