Page 25 of Cherished By the BRATVA Grump

“You know,” he says. “Like, I’m not going to go and blow up a hospital or a school or something. She knows I’d always endeavor to protect anyone who needs protecting, but mostly her. She knows our business works on the darker side of the line, but she knows I’m not a monster.”

“With Dee, it helped when I explained what the actual Bratva are. You know, like the origins and stuff.”

Eduard nods, his fingers steepled. “Same with Sammie, but she was so scared with what she witnessed that sometimes I worry that she trauma bonded to me, rather than fell for me in a more traditional sense.”

“Nah,” Jasper says. “She fell. Delilah told me.”

The three of them turn to face me. “You and Tamsin, huh?” Eduard says as the door opens again and Mechislav walks in.

“Jesus, do you three have no work to do?” I demand.

“What?” Mechislav asks. “Am I not allowed in the office now?”

I roll my eyes.

“What about you, Mech?” Natan probed. “How did you convince Daisy to give you a chance when she found out what you were.”

“I kept showing up. It was probably a bit much to be honest. After the crash, I thought that would be it, but for some reason she came around. Still not sure how but I’m glad.”

“She spent time at Patricia Kleine’s place, and for some reason Patricia is pro-Federov.”

Natan’s eyebrows flash in surprise.

“Shame we don’t have an uncle for her,” Jasper quips and Eduard’s mouth turns up in one corner. The closest he ever gets to an actual smile.

“So, your advice is something along the lines of Stockholm syndrome,” I point to Eduard, “stalk,” I point to Jasper, “be overbearing” I point at Natan, “and harass,” I finally point to Mechislav. “Sounds like a great plan.”

“Well,” Mechislav adds with a cock of his head. “You are a Federov… you have the other skill too.” He wiggles his eyebrows for effect.

I don’t dignify it with an answer.

“Have you told them about the other thing?” Eduard asks, back to business.

All three of my cousins turn to me now with varying levels of curiosity on their faces.

“I bought the gym off the corner of Yew and Linetti.”

Natan thinks for a moment. “The old run-down place?”

“That’s the one.”

Jasper slouches back, obviously dissatisfied with the news and expecting something juicier.

“Oh, I know the one you mean, the bro-hole,” Mechislav says.

“What the fuck is a bro-hole?” I ask.

Mechislav opens his mouth to answer but Eduard cuts him off. “You’re going to be busy getting it fixed up for the next few months, so I’m taking you off rotation for the yard.”

I nod. More grateful than I’m letting on. Hopefully that will give me the time I need to figure out stuff with Tamsin. And stuff with me.

Jasper looks thoughtful for a moment. “Hey, do you think Tamsin would want to run a dance class? Yulia was saying something about the kids not having enough activities outside of school hours…”

“That’s not a bad idea,” I say, standing up from the ridiculously uncomfortable chair. “Call me if you need me. I’m going to find Tamsin.”

The drive across the Bridge in rush hour is not fun and takes twice as long. Which is ridiculous.

I pull into the same parking lot as always, the one on the corner where one direction leads to Purr & Pour and the other leads towards the street where Tamsin is living with her mom. I quickly rush to the florist, walking through the door minutes before closing.