Page 17 of The Bratva's Hostage Bride

“So, she does mean something more to you,” Kervyn observes. “Lord Luka, this is just what we need. A civilian getting involved in our business. If you let her walk away from this, she will probably go rat to the cops.” He sips his coffee. “Why do you smell like beer?”

I shrug. “I had one with Wynter this morning.”

“It’s too early to be drinking, Luka. You need to calm your party ways. If you’re going to hold a position of responsibility in this family, then you need to start acting responsibly.” He finishes his coffee and waves down his maid to bring more. I flip a cup over for her to fill it.

“I am being more responsible. My businesses are thriving, are they not? Am I not making the family a fuck ton of money?” I ask. “Isn’t that what you want?”

“I want you to stop taking stupid risks,” he says. “Now, how much do you estimate it’s going to cost to fix up the casino and get the word out it’s safe?”

“I don’t know yet. They’re arranging for contractors to go over there now. I should have an answer in the next hour or so. However, I told them to go ahead and get it done because I want to be open again by tomorrow.” I sip my coffee. “Can’t be left standing with no income and staff to pay.”

“I heard about that as well, paying staff when they’re not working. Are you trying to lose me money?” he asks.

“Happy staff, loyal staff,” I say. “You always say that.”

“It’s fine if it’s for a day or two, but more than that, and you better find these people something to do. I’m not paying for people to stay home and do nothing.” Kervyn stands, and I stand with him, downing my coffee. “Come on, let’s move this to my office.”

The front door opens as we leave the dining room, and Danil walks in. “Hello, boys.”

“Danil,” Kervyn greets him. I give him a nod.

My phone starts to ring, and I look at it. It’s Wynter.

That was fast.

I excuse myself and step away from them, answering the phone. “What have you got?”

“We’ve got your little girlfriend,” he says. There’s some shouting in the background. “She’s passed out from all the excitement. I also have a fuck ton of dead bodies. All Armenian.” He pauses to shout at someone in Russian to arrange a clean-up. He comes back onto the phone. “Must I take her home? What must I do with her?”

“Take her to my penthouse. I’ll meet you there and decide what I’m going to do with her.” I say, then look at Kervyn and Danil, who are watching me. “Leave someone to guard her if you need to leave.”

Wynter hangs up, and I look at Kervyn. “Problem solved. They found the girl.”

“How many dead?”

“A couple of Armenian guys. Wynter was telling me this morning that he suspects that they are the ones who hit the casino. So it’s a double whammy. We got the girl back, and we sent our message.” I smile. “See, I’m not entirely useless.”

“Stop treating this like a game, Luka,” Danil says sternly. “This could cause a war between us and the Armenians. And that is going to be Kervyn’s problem, not yours.”

“They started it by shooting up my casino, or doesn’t that count for anything?” I protest.

Danil looks at Kervyn, who nods his head. “He has a valid point. Start with one of us; you’re attacking all of us.”

Danil nods and turns back to me. “Make sure this girl can’t testify against you.”

“Of course, what do you take me for?” I ask before turning to leave.

Chapter 7 - Hannah

The house that they’ve brought me to is massive. If I were here visiting, I would feel out of place surrounded by this level of wealth. After we leave the kitchen, I’m taken upstairs to a bedroom, where I’m tied to a chair and left there. I do my best to try to get out of the bindings, but it isn’t as easy as the movies make it look.

I look around the room. There’s nothing I can use to cut the rope with. I try to move again but go too far, and the chair tips over. I try to roll over on the chair now that I’m at an uncomfortable angle, but I’m tied down too tightly.

The door opens, and the man walks back in. “Trying to escape?” he asks with a chuckle. “Where would you go?”

I look up at him. “I’m sorry, please don’t hurt me.”

He calls his friend in, and together, they lift me and start untying me. “Are you letting me go?” I ask hopefully.

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