Page 30 of The Bratva's Forced Bride

“They claim we don’t spoil ourselves enough, if you can believe it,” Violet agreed.

I didn’t even know what to say.

“How is everything here?” the employee asked with a plain, very retail smile.

“She’ll take it all,” Raya replied with a coy smile and handed her card to the employee. “This should cover it.”

The woman nodded at once and scurried off to the registers to finalize the sale.

“And I don’t need to ask Yaro to pay you back?” I asked, so overwhelmed by the idea of essentially having free reign to money that wasn’t technically mine.

“Of course not. As we said, it all comes from the same place. Besides, you are his wife,” Raya hummed, getting up and linking her arm through mine.

As I was swept away to the next store, the poor guards escorting us had their arms lined with bags of things that caught our eyes—most of which were handed to me without question.

It was impossible to digest just how rich and powerful the Levovs truly were, but there was no denying how nice it was, even if it was far from the situation I came from.

By the end of it, we went through the main corridors of the mall and headed toward one of the exits. Maria slipped in beside me and smiled.

“So,” she began, dragging out the word. “How are things with Yaro? I was the newest addition, so I know what that change is like.”

“Everything’s been good,” I said, aware that I wasn’t being entirely truthful with her.

As if she could sense it in me, her smile softened. “It’s okay to not feel settled yet. It takes time, especially since things tend to be crazy for this family. And just know you aren’t a prisoner to Yaro. If you want to. Be happy despite the circumstances, then you need to try and work with him. Voice your concerns and needs when they arise. You’ll be better off in the long run if you do.”

While it felt like sound advice, voicing any concern felt impossible. It didn’t feel like I had a voice at all some days.

“Thank you, I appreciate it,” I said, trying to be as positive as I could be. “There are a lot of new things I’m being exposed to recently.”

“Of course,” she said, looping her arm through mine. “Remember that we’ll always be there for you. If you need a friend, all you have to do is ask.”

It was reassuring to feel like I had people in my corner, even if I was still trying to navigate such dramatic changes. To know that I was welcomed, and even started to feel like one of them.

***

Shopping with the girls was nice, and I felt way better when I returned to the condo. My many bags were brought upstairs by the guards, and I spent the rest of the day putting them away.

I got dressed in some more comfortable loungewear and made my way back to the puzzle I had been working on before. But as I sat down and felt their absence, that previous sadness came creeping back in.

Even if I threw money at the problem, it didn’t solve how unfulfilled I felt.

When the door finally cracked by the evening, and Yaro came in, his features were stitched with irritation. Something must’ve happened at work.

He said nothing as he walked in and kicked his shoes off. Then, he glanced in my direction. “What do you want for dinner?”

No greeting, no wondering how I was, nothing. It made that sinking feeling in my stomach worse.

Bothered by the idea, I didn’t say anything. It took my hunger away immediately.

A huff came from Yaro as I stared at my puzzle, trying to grasp anything that made sense. His steps were so quiet I didn’t hear him approaching until he was right there, gloved hand beneath my chin. The material felt strange against my skin.

He forced me to look up at him with a fixed expression.

Shocked by the sudden proximity and the gesture, I could only blink back at him.

A rush of simultaneous fear and surprising attraction hit me immediately, and I was immediately conflicted.

But the irritation set in, and I shook him off. Standing to my feet, I pulled back and crossed my arms.

---