Chicago Bratva 06: The Hacker by Renee Rose

Author:Renee Rose [Rose, Renee]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Burning Desires
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

11

Natasha

I wake to the sound of rain. The clock beside the bed says I slept until 9:30 a.m., which is far later than it seems because the sky outside is grey with a summer storm. It’s incredibly cozy. I want to pretend we’re here at this beautiful, luxurious cabin on a weekend getaway. That we have to stay in and play games together today, but when the rain lifts, we’ll go for a walk in the forest and enjoy the scent of rain on pine.

I head downstairs. Dima’s in the office. I pass by to check on Nikolai, who I find awake.

Yesterday we video chatted with Dr. Taylor to show him Nikolai’s wound, and he said everything was progressing well.

“Are you wearing Dima’s boxer shorts?” he asks.

“Yeah.” I tug on the hem. It’s one thing tempting Dima, it’s quite another to be inappropriate in front of his twin. “Oleg and Story brought out groceries and computer stuff, but they forgot to send us with clothes.”

“At least yours weren’t cut off you.” Nikolai flicks his gaze down to his shirt, which was cut to the armpits for surgery. “So does that mean Dima’s free-balling it?” he smirks.

I ignore the question, but he starts singing the lyrics to Tom Petty’s “Free Falling,” replacing falling with balling.

I try not to smile, even though he is hilarious. “I guess you’re feeling better?”

“Just loopy from these drugs. So, should I just pretend I didn’t hear you screaming outside my room last night?” Nikolai says casually as I take his temperature. A strangled sound comes from my throat, and his lips twist into a grin. “Next time, you two could move a little farther away from the door, no?”

“Sorry. It wasn’t exactly planned.”

“No?” Nikolai lets disbelief ring in his voice.

My face grows warm.

“I’m not judging. I’m the opposite of judging, Natasha. I’ve been trying to get Dima to hook up with you since day one.”

“Hook up?” I echo, not sure I like the sound of that.

“Sorry. Did that offend you?” Nikolai winces as he tries to sit up more.

I help him lean forward and adjust the pillows behind his shoulders. I hate how frail he seems.

“May I ask you a question?” Without waiting for an answer, I ask it. “Why can’t Dima have a relationship?”

Nikolai shakes his head slowly. He’s still pale, and his face needs a shave. “Is that what he said?”

“Stop turning my questions into questions.”

“What exactly did he say?”

“He said, I can’t be in a relationship. I don’t want to lead you on.”

“Blyad.’” Nikolai grunts and scrubs a hand across his face. “Then I suspect… he made a promise to a dead girl. And my brother doesn’t break his promises.”

I stare at him in horror. A dead girl. The ring he wears on his finger. Why had it never occurred to me that he wears it as a remembrance?

“Who was she?”

Nikolai shakes his head. “It was so long ago.”

I don’t know why I want to burst into tears—whether it’s for me or for him.

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