Expose' (Born Bratva Book 3) (12 page)

Kodiak

I’m standing on the second floor balcony of the library overlooking the lobby and the main reading room, and I’m shocked to see Logan talking to my mother of all people. My mother is doing what she always does—being a Bratva wife. The wives play an intricate role in the overall scheme of things. We have cells, groups if you will, of Bratva and our cell is anything but old school when it comes to our women. My mother being here is no coincidence, though I’m sure she’s convinced Logan it is. If I know my mother and Katrina, they followed Logan, and I want to know why. I’m already taking steps to gather information about Logan through any means necessary, which will involve a little B&E. Luckily, I enjoy roaming around where someone lives, searching through their belongings, getting to know what makes them tick. Logan better hope I don’t find anything troubling.

The only good thing about what I see below me is that my mother seems to like Logan. She wants me to be happy but that will in no way stop her from taking steps to find out if Logan is trustworthy. Looks like I’m not the only one on the hunt for this girl. I smirk as I look down at Logan.
You’re not a little girl anymore; not after everything we did last night...

I take a few steps away from the railing and pull my phone from the carrier that’s clipped to my side, just one of the necessities I have to carry because of my last name. I always wear a gun holster on my ankle and carry a nasty little switchblade in my pocket. My dad picks up on the second ring and I don’t waste any time finding out if my father put her up to it or if Mother’s just being Mother.

“Dad?” I say, keeping my voice down. We’re in a library, after all. “Would someone please tell me why my mother is here at the library with Logan?”

He chuckles indulgently at the mention of his wife. The man makes my stalking practices look like kindergarten play when it pertains to that woman. There’s nothing he doesn’t know about her. Sometimes he lets her think she has secrets but, trust me, he knows all of them, and he makes that clear to her at the time of his choosing. I have a pretty good idea of what that involves, but I try not to think about it. I mean, who wants to think of their parents fucking like animals? Not me.

“She’s doing what every good Bratva wife does, making certain your woman can be trusted. You know this about your mother, she is curious by nature.” There is silence on the line before he continues, “I am forever grateful for her tenacity because it led her to me. She didn’t realize she had sealed her fate until it was too late. She is my greatest treasure -- but she is also the source of my life’s greatest aggravations. I’m certain you can relate to that, being that your girlfriend is an investigative reporter.”

“She isn’t a reporter, Dad, she’s just studying it at school. And why can’t that end up working to our advantage? Novak’s wife is a reporter.” It’s an argument I’ve saved for a time such as this.

“She can be if she’s trained correctly, and that’s where you come in, son. Either put the fear of God in the girl or cut her loose. I suggest you take seriously my directive to keep an eye on her. I assure you I am viewing everything that concerns the girl with the utmost seriousness. I have work to do, son, go now and do as I’ve asked you.”

“Yes, Dad, of course. Wait – Hey, what’s the word on her friend, Gilbert? I haven’t seen him since Dominika, er, introduced herself last night.”

Again he chuckles before replying, “Don’t worry about that boy. I have no doubt that Dominika has him…well in hand, as it were.” His tone is grave as he continues, “Son…I love you and I can see that you are deeply affected by this woman. I recognize the look in your eyes lately. Your mother and I have waited many years for this. But you must accept that, for a man in our position, matters of the heart can have serious consequences. Consequences that I would have no choice but to deal with. Handle her like the man I have raised you to be and she’ll be on your arm -- not six feet under.”

He gives me no time to answer as the line goes dead. He has said all he wants to say. My father is a man of few words and I learned long ago to listen well.

Logan

I wait until the two women walk out before I turn back toward the sofa, eager to curl up with my books again. But suddenly the hair on the back of my neck stands on end and I shiver.
All of this Russian mafia business is making me paranoid.

I can’t resist looking up at the balcony, only to lock eyes with Kodiak as he leans a hand on the railing, his other hand on his hip as he glares down at me. Even from here, I can feel the storm brewing; he isn’t happy. My breath hitches when he pushes away from the railing and storms down the steps toward me.
How in the hell did he find me?

Perhaps his mother called him or maybe he cornered poor Gilbert and threatened him with certain death if he didn’t give up my location.
Come to think of it, I haven’t heard from Gilbert since I saw him leave last night with his Amazon minder. I need to check on him.
Either way, that ominous, black-eyed gaze I’ve become accustomed to is bearing down on me. I look down and busy myself with the book in front of me. It’s not like I could focus right now if I wanted to, but it gives me a moment to think of something – anything. I don’t look up until he speaks.

“Woman,” he growls when he reaches me, shaking his head slowly back and forth. The fact that he’s towering over me isn’t helping matters.

I lay my pen down and look up at him sighing, “I see you’re still stalking me.”

“You’re damn straight I’m still stalking you!”
Yep, he’s pissed.

“Well, Kodiak, that’s by your choice, not mine.”

“Why the hell did you leave this morning?”

“Kodiak, please. I haven’t had coffee yet.” It’s the only thing I can think of to say and, as pathetic as it sounds, it’s the truth. Anyone who’s addicted to the stuff like I am knows when you don’t have it, you start going through withdrawals. It’s been my lifeline for all-night study sessions for far too long.

“Then get your ass up and let’s go get some.”

“Yes, sir. Bossy much?”

“Oh, I’ve been nice up until now, sweetheart.” He starts gathering my stuff up before I have a chance to argue with him and I know he’s heading to the coffee shop next door. I’m practically running behind him to keep up and I’m surprised when he stops and holds the door open for me.

The coffee shop has a vintage feel to it with wall art featuring coffee cups and coffee makers from different parts of the world. The owners were smart in strategically placing it next to the library and of course the students love it, for the coffee and the free Wi-Fi. Anyone who’s ever been to college knows those two things are necessities.

I sit down and put my stuff in a neat little pile in front of me, fidgeting with things just to have something to do with my hands. Kodiak sits down across from me and places our coffee on the table. I see the bounty he has laid before me and look up at him with a grin, practically bouncing in my seat like a kid. “Thank you. This is such a treat for me—specialty coffee
and
a blueberry muffin!”

He seems shocked that I thanked him. Honestly, what kind of women has this guy been dating -- spoiled brats? He leans in to sip his coffee as the conversation turns serious. “We need to talk, Logan, and you need to take what I’m about to say very seriously.”

I revel in the first sip of my coffee and moan when my taste buds recognize a caramel macchiato—my favorite. I can’t figure how this guy knows such intimate details of my life. “Kodiak, how do you know things about me that no one else knows?”

A sinister chuckle escapes his lips. “I’ll tell you what my father always tells my mother, ‘You underestimate me’. I can find out anything about you I want to know, and I want to know everything.”

“But why, Kodiak? Why is it so important to you to know every detail of my life?”

“Because you’re hiding something from me, and you’re putting yourself in danger by doing so. My father isn’t the kind of man you want to cross. The only person who has any chance of protecting you from him is me.”

I attempt changing the subject. “Why are you so mad at me?”

“Because I woke up and you weren’t there,” he growls between clenched teeth.

“I didn’t want to disturb you, you looked so peaceful. When I woke up I realized I didn’t have any clothes but the gown I wore to the party.”

“That’ll never happen again.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’ll have a space cleared out of my walk-in closet. Clothes and anything else you might need will be there at my house. I’ll expect you to stay there with me unless there is a compelling reason for you to spend a night in your dorm.”

I’m sensing something in Kodiak I’ve never picked up on before—fear. “What are you hiding from me, Kodiak? I’m damn sure not the only one who’s hiding something.”

“My life is full of secrets. You know this. My secrets are there to keep you safe. On the other hand, the things you’re hiding from me could get us both killed.”

“Yeah, Kodiak, I’m planning the takedown of the Glazov empire,” I drawl as I roll my eyes.

“Don’t even play like that. You will move into my house so I can keep an eye on you better.”

“I’m not moving in with you.”

“You listen to me and you listen good,” he says between clenched teeth. “I don’t think you understand…” he continues, his voice barely above a whisper. “Giving yourself to me last night changed everything. The fact that you were a virgin when you did it really seals the deal.” He reaches across the table and lifts my chin with his finger, forcing me to look into his eyes. “I. Own. You. From the top of your head to the soles of your tiny feet, you belong to me now. You’re my woman and I will move heaven and earth on your behalf. I lost my father as a child and I’m not going to lose the only woman I’ve ever cared about.”

“Don’t I have a say in any of this?” I ask indignantly.

His smug face is the only answer I receive.

“I’ve never asked you about your father. What happened?” I wait for him to respond, not really expecting him to tell me much. I’m surprised when he breaks the silence. His words steal my breath and break my heart.

His impassive mask is firmly in place as he says in a subdued voice, “There was a fire. My first father died trying to reach me. Glazov rescued me and that night I became his son.”

There is so much I don’t know about this man, there are so many stories to be told. Our chemistry is undeniable. I’m having second thoughts about this article I’m writing but I can’t think of any other way to secure the tuition money I’ll need. But for now, I want to put his mind at ease. “You don’t have to be scared that I’ll run, Kodiak, or that I’ll ever do anything to harm your family. I don’t go around hurting people just to hurt them.”

His reply holds an ominous meaning that I understand as soon as the words escape his lips.

“It isn’t you I’m worried about.”