Page 74 of Forced to Marry the Bratva

“Don’t insult our intelligence.” Boris cracks his neck, glowering. “We have a full confession from your partner in crime. Did you really think you’d get away with it?”

“You have no proof!” Gerald backs away, glancing between us with desperation. “It’s all lies! Slander and lies!”

“Enough.” My voice slices through his protests. “We’re not here to trade words, Gerald. We’re here to tell you your reign of terror ends today.”

I pull out the tape and play it out for him.

“That’s not all,” Boris says, taking a seat and planting his feet on Gerald’s desk. “We know you had men spy on us. But for the right amount of money, they told our guys everything. You’ve been spying on all the families across the globe, haven’t you? The Popovs, the Sokolovs, the Andreevs…” He lists the names of the most powerful Bratva organizations in the nation and across Russia. “We’ve got copies of the files.”

“And we don’t mind sharing them with our frenemies,” Lev grins. “Once we do, tell me, do you think there will be a corner of the world you’ll be safe in?”

“What? N…No… Please,” he stammers, standing from his desk. “We are family. You wouldn’t!”

“Where were your familial loyalties when you tried to put your own son-in-law in the grave?” Boris shouts, slamming his fist into his chair. Gerald winces.

“The entire Russo family, except you, is now under the protection of the Zolotov name. If you value your life, you will sign over your assets and leave this city immediately. Your assets will be distributed fairly amongst your children, Gael and Genevieve. God knows they deserve it after putting up with the likes of you as a father,” I spit in his direction.

“If you ever threaten us again...” I bare my teeth in a cold smile. “Well, let‘s just say your next mistake will be your last.”

Gerald stares at us, chest heaving. Finally, he slumps into his chair, defeated.

“You win.” The words are barely a whisper. “Just... Just leave me with my dignity intact.”

“You forfeited your dignity long ago.” Lev steps forward. “Get out. Now. Before I call the families myself.”

Gerald flinches as if struck. Without another word, he gathers up his papers and sits back on his desk, shoulders hunched in surrender.

“Your power of attorney,” Boris hands him a paper we had our lawyers draw up just an hour ago. “Sign it over to Damien, and he will handle your asset distribution.”

He scrawls his signature with a trembling hand and passes it to us. Without another word, we rise.

“Be out of this city by 5 am and never show your face around here again, or else…” Boris says before slamming the door shut.

***

Back home, I tell Genevieve everything that happened. She sighs, leaning into my side. “It’s over.”

I press a kiss to her hair, holding her close. “It’s over,” I echoed softly. “You’re free, and so is Gael. The two of you can build an empire in your name as you deem fit.”

She looks up at me, that same mischievous glint I’ve come to love shining in her eyes. “I thought I was a Zolotov.”

“You can be both, Mrs. Zolotov.”

“That does have a nice ring to it, doesn’t it?” she giggles, a fragile hope shaping in her voice. “Does that mean... We can finally be together? Properly?”

My heart swells, overflowing with love and joy. I cradle her face in my hands, gazing into her eyes. “That’s exactly what it means, milaya. You’re mine now... And I’m never letting you go.”

“Yours,” she whispers into my ear. “All yours, baby. Now tell me, am I a good girl?” she seduces me with hints of the little kinks she loves, and I immediately feel a thrill go down my spine.

I turn my face to her and bring her lips to mine. “You’re so fuckin’ good, baby,” I whisper, giving her lower lip a small bite. She tastes like sunshine and carnal sin, all wrapped up in one. She bites me back and the sheer roughness from that soft mouth sets my hunger ablaze, and in a sudden move, I grab her hands and hold them behind her back, forcing her to arch her breasts toward me.

She looks at me with wide eyes and parted lips, each breath a gasp for not air, but what I promise. For a second I forget myself, unable to comprehend how I landed up with the most beautiful woman in the world. My eyes gaze over from the strands of hair falling down her shoulders to the dip in her breasts.

Unable to hold myself back, I bend my head lower to lick the crevice of her cleavage.

“Oh, Damien,” she moans, trying to break herself free. I let go of her hands, and push her down on the couch by her shoulders.

I hover over her, my eyes locked on hers, as she giggles nervously, her green eyes sparkling with anticipation. “Genevieve, my love,” I whisper, my voice low and raspy. “We have an entire city to conquer together, and we will start by conquering each other.”

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