Free Expose' (Born Bratva Book 3) by Suzanne Steele Page B

making no attempt to deny the allegations—in fact, he’s staring at me every bit as coldly as Novak is.
    The only way to meet this family is head on. It has to be done with respect, but it has to be done, nonetheless. I straighten my back and give Novak my most direct look as I reply, “I hope his findings show what my true intentions are.”
    “And what would those be?”
    “To make it through college unscathed and to be successful in getting a job at the Courier Journal. Perhaps in the future, the Glazovs may even find me to be an asset rather than a threat.” All eyes are on us and I know they aren’t accustomed to seeing an outsider stand up for herself.
    “Only time will tell.” His face is set like granite and I have no doubt he wouldn’t hesitate to pull the trigger on me if mandated to do so by the Pakhan. Though I just met this man, I have no doubt his allegiance to his branch of Bratva comes before all else. The knowledge that I have to figure a way out of all this is pressing in on me. I have no idea how I’m going to get out of the predicament I’ve gotten myself into. How in the hell did things escalate so quickly? All I wanted to do was write an article and win a contest, maybe save a little money toward tuition, and now I’ve got the Russian mafia stalking my every move.
    Maybe meeting Katrina tonight is something that can work in my favor. She’s the only one I’ve met so far who can relate to my situation. But I must also remember that, even by marriage, she, too, is Bratva. Nonetheless, I’m sure she’s been where I am—in peril, and relentlessly pursued by a Brava male.

Kodiak
    Even in the darkened corner I’ve taken her to after her intense introduction to Novak, I can sense her apprehension. I didn’t expect Novak to come at her the way he did, but he’s looking out for my father’s interests and I honestly can’t be angry about my father being leery of a woman who’s pursuing a career in investigative journalism. Novak’s job is to watch over the brigadiers—the captains—like me. If you are loyal, he is the best source of inside information you could ever have. If you are a traitor, he will find out and become your worst nightmare.
    My father is moving me into the position of captain, so Novak is essentially doing his job. He’s as serious as my father is when it comes to our Bratva cell. His presence here tonight reminds me of my lifetime commitment to ensure the Bratva legacy continues. I need to view Logan as a job, nothing more. My father wants me to guard her and that’s what I will do. This is a crucial point of my life and I’m not going to let a woman be my demise. More than once, a woman has been the downfall of a Bratva man, and I refuse to be that guy.
    I’ve had enough. I grab her shoulders, turning her body and pinning her against the wall. “I want to know what the fuck you’re up to, Logan, and I want to know now,” I hiss as I lean in close to her face. “You’re playing with fire, and it’s more terrifying than anything you’ve ever imagined.”
    “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she says so quietly that I can barely hear her.
    I bury my face in her hair and can’t help but breathe in her intoxicating scent. She’s got to stop fighting me. My frustration pulls a deep growl from my throat. “Liar!” I bark angrily as I pull away.
    “What?” she whispers, and her voice holds an undercurrent of desperation.
    I lock eyes with her as I twirl a lock of her hair around my finger in a deceptively calm gesture. “Did you know that the Russian word for liar sounds a lot like ‘bullshit’? Are you a liar, Logan?”
    “Yes, no -- Damn it, Kodiak!”
    I cradle her jaw in my hand so she can’t turn away. “You’re hiding something and you want to tell me, but you don’t think you can.”
    “Yes, but I’m going to fix it.”
    “That’s funny, Logan, real fucking funny. You don’t fix things when you’ve been touched by Bratva.