Chapter 17 #2
Cara gives her a sympathetic look. “You don’t have to tell us anything you don’t want to.
But know that this is a safe space. The men in our lives…
Well, they’re all a little crazy. They’re possessive and aggressive.
And even though they love us unconditionally, sometimes we need to vent about their ridiculous behavior.
” She gestures at the group of men by the front door—not at all blending in with the other patrons.
“Like Liam assigning me three around-the-clock bodyguards, for example.”
Mary Beth adds, “Rory tried to change the uniforms at the Emerald Lounge to be dresses that are so baggy, I can’t even dance in them because he doesn’t want any other men staring at what’s his.” She rolls her eyes.
Caterina shrugs, then says, “Brian fired the last construction crew remodeling our apartment because he was worried they’d all seen a pair of my underwear I accidentally left on the bathroom floor.”
“See,” Cara says. “They’re all crazy, and sometimes it helps to talk about it with other women who understand. And since Alexi’s part of the criminal world, it’s not like you can chat about what he’s doing with the local grocery clerk.”
Ulayna visibly deflates, relenting to their friendly pressure to open up. “He says I’m his.”
Hadley claps excitedly, and Phoenix raises her hand for another high five.
But Ulayna shakes her head. “No, you don’t understand.
The Bratva is not like the Irish. They will not welcome a woman.
Some of the men marry for strategic alliances, yes.
But the women are expected to be docile and meek.
They do not stand at their husband’s side.
They stay in the background, often at home, raising kids.
And that’s not the life I want. There is no room for me at Alexi’s side, and if he tries to put me there, the men will think he’s weak. ”
“Pscht.” Hadley brushes her off. “That can’t be true. You’re a badass. From what I hear, you’re a Bratva queen in the making.”
Ulayna shakes her head again. “We’ve been through this. Bratva literally means ‘brotherhood.’ There are no women, and they don’t have queens. The Pakhan is at the top. No one else.”
Hadley points at Phoenix. “She’s in the Bratva, isn’t she?”
This time, Phoenix shakes her head. “No. I’m a member of Alexi’s team. A team that he put together before he took control of the Bratva. Except for a couple of maids and Cook—who’s eighty, if she’s a day—Ulayna and I are the only women on the entire estate.”
“Wow,” Hadley says, raising her eyebrows incredulously. “Talk about a sausage fest.”
Ulayna chokes and sputters on a sip of mimosa, and the other ladies chuckle.
Caterina eyes Ulayna speculatively. “Sounds like it’s time for you to shake things up.”
“What do you mean?” Ulayna asks.
Caterina shrugs. “Sounds like a bunch of antiquated bullshit to me. I think you should break through that glass ceiling and demand your place at Alexi’s side.”
“That would never work,” Ulayna says, frustration obvious in her voice. “If Alexi tried to force the men to recognize me as their partner, they would revolt. It would weaken his leadership.”
Caterina leans forward, all signs of levity gone from her face. “I didn’t say anything about Alexi putting you there. I said you should demand your place at his side.”
Phoenix looks at her kindly. “That is what you want, isn’t it? I’ve seen how you look at him, and it’s obvious you love him. Maybe Caterina’s right. If you want him, maybe you need to fight for the right to be by his side.”
Ulayna looks back and forth between the ladies as if trying to process what they’re saying.
Trying to be encouraging, Cara adds, “Maybe it’s time you show the boys’ club what a woman can do?”
Phoenix smirks. “You’re halfway there already. You’ve been trained by the best.” She takes a moment to gloat and brushes nonexistent lint off her shoulder. “Plus, you won the last challenge.”
“Oh!” Mary Beth’s eyes light up. “Tell us more about the challenges. Everyone in Liam’s organization is talking about it.”
Ulayna spends a few minutes describing the first challenge and recounting her part in it. The ladies all make the right sounds of shock, excitement, and joy as she tells her story.
“See!” Hadley exclaims, gesturing with her second glass of mimosa. “She’s a badass.”
Cara and Caterina share a knowing glance, then Cara asks, “And what about the second challenge? Are you competing in that?”
Ulayna perks up, and Cara can see her start to connect the dots. Cara raises her eyebrows and gives her a knowing look, silently signaling that, yes, there was an ulterior motive for the brunch invite.
“What’s the second challenge?” Mary Beth asks, oblivious to the excited undertones swirling between Ulayna and Cara.
Ulayna meets Cara’s eyes steadily as she says, “We’re supposed to get something from the Irish that they’re holding secure… You wouldn’t happen to know what that something is, would you, Cara?”
“I might.”
“And you wouldn’t happen to know where it’s being kept, would you?”
Cara smiles mischievously. “Let’s just say, I think you should come over for dinner one night this week. I can give you a tour of the penthouse… and the safe room that can only be opened with either Liam’s or my thumbprint.”
Ulayna bites her lip. “Alexi did say that the package can be retrieved by any means necessary as long as Liam’s men aren’t killed. I don’t think this is what he had in mind, but it’s not technically breaking any rules.”
She looks at Phoenix as if to confirm what she’s saying, but Phoenix just shrugs.
“Work smarter, not harder, baby,” Hadley encourages.
“This is why women should be running things. The men will all be running around, waving their guns, flexing their muscles, and threatening to kill each other. Meanwhile, the women will pop a bottle of bubbly and get things taken care of in half the time.”
“So true.” Caterina laughs.
“To women being on top,” Hadley says and holds her glass up for a toast.
The other women raise their glasses in cheers, but Ulayna flushes bright red and bites her lip.
Hadley laughs and points her finger accusingly at Ulayna. “Do I sense that someone’s interested in being on top in more ways than one?”
“What?” Ulayna asks, trying to act innocent. But it doesn’t last long, and a second later she’s laughing lightheartedly. The other ladies join in, loving the unintended double entendre and the shared moment.