Page 13 of Forced Bratva Wife

Would you like me under your care? A chance to see where these tattoos go?

The memory of Lev’s words hit me as hard as a slap, and I sucked in a breath, trying to distract myself. Still, I could feel his words against my skin all over again, that commanding pressure he exuded without even trying.

How had he known I was intrigued by his tattoos?

I shook my head. Of course, he did. Lev was probably as good at reading people as I was. Better, most likely. And I did want to know. I desperately wanted to see exactly what and where those detailed lines went beneath his suit. My stomach squeezed, and that damn ache between my legs started up again.

Absolutely not. If you’re not giving it up for anyone from school, you’re definitely not doing it for a fucking mob boss.

But that was the rub. I’d never reacted to anyone like this before. Trust was hard won from me, and I always kept people at arm’s length. For most, that was reason enough to piss off and let me do my thing. But with Lev, there was no need for him to act polite or hold back. He just shoved himself into my life and took me.

Terror. I should be filled with terror right now, and I was to a certain degree, but there was a strange interest that pulled at the edges. I had never been spoken to in such a way before. It was strange to think, but Lev was the first person who noticed my walls and didn't seem bothered by them.

He’d stood between my legs, touching my face and whispering those words into my ear. There was clearly a sexual connotation to them. Anyone in their right mind would have slapped him or tried to pull away. I’d done neither.

Because clearly, you’re out of your damn mind, Parker.

I closed my eyes, trying to push past the memory of his touch on my chin. It didn’t work. All it did was make my wild imagination sore into action. I could picture him dragging that hand down my neck and lower. I could see him pulling the clothes from my body and taking whatever he wanted. That promise in his eyes from earlier coming into reality.

My core throbbed, and I cursed under my breath. “What the fuck is wrong with me?”

I didn’t even know what that was like. Sure, I’d looked at the odd video here and there. I had the occasional dream of some mystery lover, but the details about what would actually happen to me if Lev decided to do something were completely lacking.

He doesn’t even know. God, what would he think if he knew I was a virgin? I scoffed at myself. Why do you care, Parker?!

With a sigh, I felt my brain swirl with exhaustion. I couldn’t stay up any longer. I needed the sleep, and as much as I didn’t feel safe sleeping here, I knew I couldn’t avoid that. I put my hand on the letter opener in between the two layers of my socks. I’d just have to hope I was lucky. Either take down Lev or whoever came in here trying to get me and make a break for it.

It was a damn stupid plan, but I didn’t have much else to go on. As the resolution faded some of my lingering fear, the tiredness dragging me down only got worse. I laid back against the pillow, pulling myself into a tight ball with my fingers still at my ankle. The weapon there was a comfort I needed.

“Rest. Rest enough so that you can put up a fight.” And with that, I let myself pass out.

Chapter 7 - Lev

After leaving Parker in my bedroom, I knew that I needed to discuss this situation with Sergey. He’d be less than thrilled to know I settled for a hostage instead of money, but he’d be happier that I’d come away with anything at all. Pavel was a slippery fucker, as they were all now learning, and there was a nagging feeling in my bones that suggested he was far from done pulling his shit.

I made my way to the downstairs study, locking myself inside as I had the guards on standby at the door. Before I called my cousin, I went to the small wet bar in the corner of the room, hidden in a false globe. I needed a drink for more reasons than I cared to consider—and one of them I’d just left alone in my bed.

“Ugh, no. Enough of that.”

Grumbling to myself wasn’t going to help matters, of course. My blood was still humming, a tingle in my fingers, as I thought back to Parker wide-eyed and right there on the mattress, ready for the taking. I made the mistake of touching her jaw, and the electricity that zinged through my nerves of the contact had been far too much to be a good thing.

But he’d hurt her, and keeping Parker under my lock and key felt even more crucial after confirming the fact.

I poured myself a few fingers of the vodka in the center of the globe’s storage and knocked it back hard and fast. I appreciated the burn that melted down my esophagus. I needed it more than I cared to admit, I sighed before going to my desk to have a seat. Struggling briefly to get my phone out of my pocket without brushing against things and starting a problematic trajectory, I pulled up Sergey’s number and rang him.

The line opened in only a few seconds. “Lev. So, what’s the word?”

“Pavel’s a piece of shit, is what. He’d definitely been skimming, more than I think we realized. Unfortunately,” I sucked in a frustrated breath, my eyes closing, “he lost it all. Fucking gambling.”

Sergey’s growl tore through the phone. I’d expected as much, so I was quick to provide the good news, shaky though it may be.

“The asshole offered up his own daughter to pay off debts. I’ve got her locked up, and we can use her for leverage. He should definitely be watched.”

The line was silent for a moment, and I could sense the tension bleeding off Sergey wherever he was.

“I need to know he’s not trying anything else. Who the fuck let him bet?”

I sighed. “Independent. Lenny Dotson. And yeah, I feel you. It doesn’t make sense that Lenny would keep going for him once he learned where the money was coming from. He’s an asshole, but he’s not dumb. Lenny knows better than to mess with us for too long.”

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