Page 29 of The Bratva's Forced Bride

They had been nice enough at the wedding, but I still wasn’t familiar enough with them. It was intimidating to feel like I needed to join the fold and become one of them.

“We got our nannies rounded up to look after the kids today, and we wanted to know if you’d like to spend the day with us,” Adrienne began, wearing a pantsuit that looked extremely fitting for her.

The most familiar face, Raya, stepped forward. “We were thinking of going to the mall first, then possibly getting some cocktails. How does that sound?”

The first word that formed on my lips was a dismissal. I wanted to say no out of habit, but it didn’t take long for me to remember just how long I had been stuck in the condo for. I needed to stretch my legs beyond moving from the living room to the kitchen and then back to the bedroom again.

I pulled a small smile for them. “That sounds really nice.”

“Perfect,” Raya said, looking pleased with herself. “We’ll help you get ready!”

Smiling to themselves, the girls poured inside, and as Raya promised, they put together every piece of my outfit and helped get me ready. She focused on the clothes while Maria did my makeup, and both Adrienne and Violet did my hair.

By the end of it, I was in a pair of white, flared trousers that went to my waist, matched with a solid black top that accentuated me nicely. They accessorized me with bangles, small golden earrings, and a simple necklace to pull it all together. My hair had been slicked back in a sleek pony, and I almost didn’t recognize myself.

I actually felt…good.

Walking through the mall with them, I couldn't help but feel like somewhat of an outsider still. They were more than welcoming as they chatted with me as if we were old friends, but I knew that kind of thing took time.

At the very least, being surrounded by them and their brightness was nice. I was surprised they all seemed so happy since our husbands were involved in organized crime. It was hard to wrap my head around.

It made me wonder if there was something else to their business. If things weren’t as doom and gloom as I assumed they were.

We grabbed a drink right away to sip on as we went from store to store and browsed. Being with them started to make me feel better about everything, and I relaxed enough to let myself enjoy the companionship.

At school, I had hoped for a whole group of friends to keep me company, but that proved to be harder than I anticipated. Regardless of how well I knew them, they gave me that feeling I craved.

It was nice to not feel alone.

We reached a store I had never even considered stepping foot in before, and I was immediately dazzled by everything on display. From sleek outerwear to strappy shoes and chic sleep sets, they had everything.

“This would look amazing on you,” Raya said, passing me a tiny black dress. “With your legs, you’ll look like a runway model.”

“Oh, and this one!” Maria said, passing me a lacy lingerie set. “I’m sure Yaro would love this.”

The girls giggled at the idea, but all seemed to agree. I tried to force away my slight blush.

Before long, my arms were full, and the employee had the items whisked away to a changing room. Ushered in, the girls sat on luxurious couches and waited for me to come out with each piece. I modeled them all, and each article made them hype me up.

By the end of it, I had a pile of clothes they all approved of, but the second I checked one of the price tags, I nearly choked.

“These are great and all, but I don’t have money for all this,” I said, feeling embarrassed to admit it. At that point, I didn’t even know where my wallet was.

While I was silently panicking on the inside, the girls were relaxed.

“What about the black card?” Adrienne asked, sipping from her drink.

When they noticed my confusion, she furrowed her brows at me.

“Did Yaro not give you one yet?”

“No,” I answered simply. “I haven’t really left the condo enough to need money.”

“Well, to get you up to speed, we all have these credit cards,” Raya said, pulling hers out. The glossy black card almost seemed to twinkle under the lights. “They’re all linked to the same account the boys set up for us. It’s extra spending money allotted for the whole family that won’t be missed, be it for supplies, new clothes, or anything else we might need. We call it the ‘family bank’. I can’t believe he didn’t give you one yet.”

I was at a complete loss for words. I could only guess how shocked my expression was. “So, you just…buy things whenever you want?”

Maria laughed quietly to herself at that. “Basically. They even get upset if we don’t spend enough.”

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