Page 1 of The Bratva's Forced Bride

Chapter 1 - Danil

My little brother’s birthday. There’s always something going on with these crazy kids. Arseny wanted all of us to celebrate at the club, and how could I say no to that smug little face?

I button up my dress shirt until the last button, and then I leave that top button open. I throw on a smart jacket and run a hand through my hair. The salt and pepper look suits me more than it suits Kervyn. Now that he’s had a child, he looks older, like he’s exhausted. Sleepless nights, most likely.

I leave and get into my car, driving to the club where I’m meeting my brother. I walk straight to the VIP section, where Arseny is already sitting with a drink in hand.

I signal the waitress to bring me a whiskey on the rocks before I go over to Arseny and ruffle his hair. “Hello, little brother. Happy birthday.”

“You’re going to mess up my hair,” he snips. He runs his fingers through his hair, trying to smooth it back down.

I chuckle and sit beside him, crossing my ankle over my knee. “Anything or anyone interesting here yet?”

“No. Luka just went to get shooters after he saw you walk in, and Kervyn and Penny will be by in a short while.” He looks at me. “You know, your favorite person.”

“Let it go, so it took me a while to warm up to our sister-in-law.” I look around the club. “There’s nothing wrong with that.”

I see Luka coming back with three shots, and I know it’s vodka. He has a particular, expensive brand behind the bar just for us.

He sets the shots down on the small table in front of us. “Hello, old man,” he says.

“Old man? Look who’s talking, you’re catching up.” I reach for a shot.

Once we each have one, we cheers each other, making sure to gaze into each other’s eyes before we knock back the shot. I don’t react to the shot, even though Arseny shivers slightly.

“I hate Vodka,” he grumbles.

I laugh and slap him on the back. “One of the only Russians I know who hates decent Vodka.”

Luka chuckles and looks around. “Think there will be any fine girls here tonight.”

“You mean aside from Asher?” Arseny teases.

Jealousy stirs inside of me. I don’t know why. It’s well known Luka is a player, and Asher is not interested in him romantically. No, they’re more like best friends scheming together. She helps him pick up girls. The two make quite the dynamic duo.

I, on the other hand, feel very different about Asher. Since she was brought into our lives through Penny, she has had a certain quality that just drives me mad. Not that I would ever admit to that. I’ll be shot, stabbed, and tortured, and I still won’t admit that I have feelings for the feisty, voluptuous woman. I don’t think anyone’s noticed, which is what I prefer.

“Can you believe that Kervyn and Penny have been together so long?” Luka says, sitting on my other side.

“They’ll be together for life,” I comment.

Arseny chuckles. “Not if you had anything to do with it, Danil.”

“I don’t have an issue with it… now.” I smirk.

“But you took forever to come around to the idea that Kervyn was in love with Penny. I wager you were the last one to come around to the thought of her.”

I signal the waitress for more shots as Luka speaks.

Arseny sits back and sips on his whiskey. “You were the last one out of us to like her.”

“How do you know I even like her?” I shoot back.

“Because you’re nice to her. You’re never nice to anyone. You don’t have to be,” my youngest brother says. I look at Luka and raise an eyebrow. “I can be civil for Kervyn’s sake.”

There’s some excitement at the front of the club, and I see Penny, Kervyn, and Asher enter the VIP section. I sit a little straighter when I see Asher. She’s wearing a tight strapless dress. Her large breasts are barely contained in the tight fabric. The skirt is about mid-thigh, and I can only imagine for myself that she’s not wearing any underwear or what she’s wearing is thin and easily pushed to the side.

I lick my lips and cross my legs as the waitress brings the shots.

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