Page 16 of The Bratva's Forced Bride

“Why didn’t you tell me? Honestly?” She looks at me with big, sad eyes, and I pull her into a hug.

“Aw, little bug. I honestly just didn’t know how to bring this whole new aspect of my life out to you without making you feel rotten,” I say. “I’m out here, getting engaged, and I don’t want you to think I’m leaving you behind.”

She hugs me tightly and mumbles into my neck, “I would never think that.”

I let her go and retrieve the mugs. I make us both rich, creamy hot chocolate and push hers toward her.

“Don’t worry. You’ll be part of the bridal party and everything.” I sip my hot chocolate, and my announcement seems to cheer her up a little.

“What’s he like? Danil. He’s obviously foreign.”

“He’s Russian,” I say. “Definitely the more handsome of the four brothers. Penny fell head over heels for Kervyn, the oldest, and Luka, his baby brother, is my best friend. I don’t speak to Arseny much. He’s quite a loner.”

“What does he do for a living?” she asks.

“Runs clubs and casinos. Talking of which, you got us into serious trouble tonight, Piper. Don’t think I haven’t forgotten that.” I give her a stern look. “I want your fake ID.”

She pouts. “Please. I need it to go to the frat houses on campus. You had a fake ID at my age.”

I sigh and set my hot chocolate down for a moment. “Piper, if Danil hadn’t gotten us out of the situation, they would have sold you and probably me to some human traffickers. Do you understand that life is dangerous?”

She looks at me with big, round eyes. “I’m sorry, Asher. I just wanted to show you how much fun I am and that I can do adult things.”

“Being an adult means being responsible. What you did was not responsible. We could have had a lot of good, clean fun and not gotten in trouble.” I pick up my hot chocolate again.

Piper finishes hers and puts the mug in the dishwasher. “Do you have to pay all that money back to Danil?”

“In a way, yes,” I say. I don’t want to lie about that. She needs to learn a lesson. “Luckily though, he’s quite forgiving.”

“I like him already,” she smiles at me. “And I’m sorry I got us into trouble. I promise I’ve learned my lesson.”

“I have some errands to do early in the morning, so why don’t you sleep in? I’ll fetch you around eleven.” I finish my hot chocolate and put the mug away.

“Okay. I’m exhausted, so that’s probably a good idea.” She hugs me again. “Thanks for saving us.”

“You’re welcome,” I say. I watch her go to her bedroom and shut the door. I go to mine and climb into bed before I silently break down.

I can’t sleep. I toss and turn all night, trying to figure a way out of this deal with Danil. There has to be something I can offer him that will stop him from marrying me.

I eventually get up at seven and shower. My phone starts ringing, and I pick it up. It’s Penny.

“Penny,” I say breathlessly. “Where the hell were you last night?”

“Samuel wasn’t feeling well, so I was cooped up in bed with him, trying to get him to sleep. What the hell is this that you’re marrying Danil?”

“I can’t talk here. I was going to come over, but actually, can we meet somewhere else? Like Zeek’s?”

Penny pulls the phone away from her face, and I hear her talking to who I presume is Kervyn. “Love, I need to go. Asher needs me. Can you drop Samuel off by Mama?”

“Yeah, it’s fine,” Kervyn says in the background.

She comes back to our conversation. “I just need to feed Samuel and get dressed, so give me half an hour.”

“I’ll be there waiting.” I hang up and walk toward my front door. I find they pushed my car keys through the letterbox flap on the door. They’re lying in a neat little heap on the floor. I pick them up, grab my handbag and leave. I get into my pink Mustang, parked outside my house like I didn’t leave it in a parking lot last night, and pull out of my driveway.

I don’t blame Piper. She’s misguided, not mean. She has always tried to impress me since we were kids. My mom passed away when we were little, and my dad… our dad was a piece of work. He didn’t hit us, but words can do so much more damage. I couldn’t wait to get out, and I wasn’t going to leave Piper behind without me. It’s been the two of us since then. I don’t know if our father is even still alive.

All these thoughts are running through my head, but I know it’s my mind’s way of distracting me. I have to speak to Penny and get her to call this thing off before I go to Danil and have to sign a contract that binds me to him.

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