The Bratva Queens' Kings: A Reverse Harem Dark Mafia Pregnancy Romance (The Bratva Billionaires’ Club Book 3) by Celeste Riley

Author:Celeste Riley [Riley, Celeste]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Celestine Publishing Ltd.
Published: 2024-04-30T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter 14

Luca

In the dimly lit backroom of what used to be an upscale, now thoroughly commandeered, Italian restaurant, I stand at the head of a makeshift table. Cash piles are neatly arranged.

My guys line up, a motley crew of hardened criminals and wide-eyed newbies, their expressions ranging from greedily eager to cautiously optimistic. They know the drill—line up, keep quiet, and wait your turn.

Paid gangsters are happy gangsters. It's payroll day, an event as regular as it is risky, and yet it's essential to keeping the wheels of our syndicate greased and running smoothly.

That's when she walks in—Lana. She's visibly tired, the weight of the world on her slender shoulders, yet she carries it with an ease that never ceases to amaze me. Her presence shifts the energy in the room instantly; men straighten up, eyes follow her every move, and a hush falls over the crowd. It's not just respect; it's admiration, fear, and desire all rolled into one.

After the paychecks are dealt with, I look at Lana. She's pacing, a frenetic energy about her that instantly draws my concern, cutting through the usual post-payroll lull.

"Lana, are you alright?" I ask, stepping closer, my tone more concerned than I'd usually allow it to show in such a public setting.

"Drink. I need a drink. A fucking cigarette," she mutters, more to herself than to me, her gaze darting around the room, not settling on any one thing, least of all me. It's clear as day—she's having withdrawals.

I understand immediately, the gravity of the situation pressing down with sudden weight. "Out," I command.

Once we're alone, I close the distance between us, stopping just short of reaching out to her. The space feels charged, thick with words unsaid and tension unspooled. "Lana, talk to me."

"It's Roman. He... he's not himself. Did you talk to him?" Lana's voice breaks through the tension, her words heavy with concern.

"About what?" I ask, even though a part of me already knows.

"He's learned about the baby's potential fathers and that he might not be one of them."

"Mhm about that. Yes, he wasn't acting like himself."

"This is not him..." Lana trails off, lost in thought, or maybe in worry.

"He just wants you all to himself, Lana. He never was good with sharing. Like me."

I don't know why I just said that. The words leave my mouth before I can stop them.

Silence follows, a reflective pause that allows the weight of our conversation to truly settle. In that quiet, I grapple with my own feelings, the urge to have Lana all by myself. It's a longing I've kept at bay, understanding that our arrangement, as unconventional as it is, benefits us all. Lana is happy, content even, and the complexity of our lives doesn't spiral into chaos.

But acknowledging Roman's struggle aloud brings my own to the forefront. It's a mirror held up to my desires, reflecting back the shared turmoil of wanting something—or someone—exclusively.

"I'm sorry for putting you all through this... It's selfish of me to have feelings for more than one man," Lana says, her voice a mix of apology and defiance.

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