Page 21 of The Bratva's Forced Bride

I leave him to go back to the house when Danil stops me to speak about the handcuffs. I give him a quick comeback and leave him standing there as I head inside. Just because he’s making me do this doesn’t mean I can’t sass him.

I go back to my room and finish packing up. I’ve spent all my adult life in this house, and now I am being forced to leave it. I don’t have to sell it, and I won’t. I’m determined to return to it one day. I don’t care whether Danil believes in divorce or not.

“Asher?” Penny calls from the front room.

“In here,” I call back.

My best friend sweeps in and hugs me tightly. “Oh, honey, I have so many fond memories here. It’s going to be so hard not to come here anymore.”

I tear up and nod. “I know. This was my safe place, and it’s being taken away from me.”

Penny hugs me tightly and strokes the back of my neck softly. “There, there, honey. It’s going to be okay.”

“How is my godson?” I ask as I pull away.

“He’s feeling better. At least he got some sleep last night. His fever broke, thank God. It doesn’t help that I didn’t get sleep from last week. Kervyn threw a party for Danil. Any excuse to get drunk.” She sighs and starts to fill a box with some of my clothes. “I feel like I should throw you a bachelorette party, but I know you don’t want to celebrate this.”

I sigh and sit on my bed. “I mean, we can go out for drinks sometime. Then I won’t be cooped up at his house.”

“You have to call it home eventually, Asher,” she says gently. “It’s where you’re going to live now.”

“I don’t feel like it’s home. I feel like it’s a prison.” I look up at her. “You know what that feels like, don’t you.”

“Of course I do. I was kidnapped the first time, remember? You were kidnapped with me.” She sits beside me. “But you can make it into home. Bring in your own tastes and buy your own furniture. Make yourself feel a little bit better by spending his money on useless knick-knacks.”

I smile at her. “True. And at least I’ll have work to keep me busy.” I perk up a little.

“Exactly. Look on the bright side of things.” She hugs me again. “Now come on, let’s get you moved. It’s like ripping off a band-aid. The sooner it’s done, the sooner we can get you settled.”

“Do you mind managing the guys while I pop into the art gallery this afternoon?” I ask. “I want to see if there’s anything I need ahead of me starting.”

“Sure, that’s no problem. I’ll make sure they don’t break anything. You know how rough boys can be,” she says as she closes up the box.

“Thanks. Actually, I think I’ll head out now quickly. Then I can unpack this afternoon.” I straighten up and look around for my car keys. I find them on the dressing table and grab them. “I won’t be long, maybe an hour at most, including traveling time.”

“It’s really no problem,” Penny says. “I understand. You need the break. Go for it.”

I smile at her gratefully before I walk into the front room. “I’m going to get some things ahead of me starting my new job. I trust you can manage here.” I look at Danil specifically.

“Sure, but don’t be too long, or I’ll unpack everything where I want it.” He helps Luka lift a table, and I see his muscles tense. I won’t lie; it stirs things inside of me.

I go out and jump into my car. I drive with the top down as I head further into the city and downtown to the gallery. I find a parking spot.

When I walk into the gallery, it is relatively quiet. Technically, it’s not open, but the door was unlocked, so I let myself in to speak to my new boss.

“No. No. Not a chance.”

I look at her, confused, as she marches across the one room to reach me. “I will not have you in my gallery.”

I recoil as she reaches out, but she reaches past me to pick up a newspaper and practically slams it into my chest. “You didn’t say anything about your association with the Milov family.”

I open the paper to see the enormous wedding announcement on the front page with a picture of me from my Facebook and one of Danil. He looks good in his photo. I mean, I do, too.

“I don’t understand. You’re denying me my job because I am getting married to Danil Milov.”

“The Milov family owns several galleries that run in direct competition with us. I can’t have you giving them our secrets for our events so they can one-up us every time. I can’t believe you’d think I’d be so stupid.” She points to the door. “Get out. I don’t want to see you here again.”

I throw the newspaper on the counter and storm out. I pause at the door and look back. “Maybe the reason they’re such good competition is because they know a great hire when they see one.” I go out and want to slam the door behind me, but it has one of those metal arm things that catch the door just before it closes and slows it down. I hate those, especially when I’m irate.

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