Page 57 of Forced to Marry the Bratva

“Well, he hadn’t just cornered her. I saw him slap her, and I couldn’t help myself. We had an altercation, and I punched him a few times.”

“He slapped Genevieve?” Boris roars in disbelief. “In our office?”

I nod.

Lev shakes his head. “That bastard. Hope you gave it to him good.”

I turn to Lev with a small smile on my mouth. “I got him in the jaw real good. He spat out blood.”

“Now we’re talking,” Lev lets out a low whistle.

“Did you really have to punch the bastard though?” Boris asks, the wheels turning in his head. I know he doesn’t approve of what Russo did, but Boris has to think of the bigger picture, and I can’t blame him.

“He had it coming,” I reply coolly.

A silence falls over the room as Boris and Lev exchange glances. It’s clear they hadn’t expected me to defend Genevieve so fiercely, especially since our marriage began as nothing more than a strategic alliance. But the truth is, she’s become so much more to me than that.

“Good for you, Damien,” Lev finally says, a hint of pride in his voice. “Gerald’s always been an ass, but nobody ever stands up to him.”

“True,” Boris agrees, nodding solemnly. “But we need to be careful now. Gerald won’t take this lightly, and he’ll undoubtedly try to retaliate.”

“I know,” I acknowledge, my mind racing with the potential consequences of my actions. “That’s why I wanted to talk to you both. We need a plan to protect Genevieve and our family from whatever schemes Gerald might be planning.”

Boris sighs, a brief look of regret coming over his face. He runs a hand through his dark hair, avoiding my gaze.

“Damien, we should have fought harder to prevent this marriage,” he admits, his voice heavy with the weight of his thoughts. “We never wanted you to be put in such a precarious situation. If he’s capable of treating his own daughter with such callousness, I hate to think what he’d do to you.”

I study my older brother, taking note of his sincerity. But his words do not resonate with me as they once would have. Instead, I feel an unexpected surge of protectiveness for Genevieve welling up inside me. She has shown me another side of her, one that is genuine and kind, standing in stark contrast to her ruthless father.

“Actually, Boris,” I interject, surprising even myself with the conviction in my voice. “I don’t agree with you.”

Boris raises an eyebrow, clearly taken aback by my response. Lev watches us both, curiosity flickering in his eyes.

“Despite how our relationship started,” I continue, “I’ve come to appreciate Genevieve for who she truly is. She is nothing like her father. If he’s night, she’s day. He’s darkness; she’s light. I’ve seen this extraordinary loyalty and love in her, qualities that are rare among our circles. In fact, I think these traits in her must be protected.”

Lev studies me with a peculiar expression. “Have you fallen in love with her, Brother?”

“Love?” I snap my neck up to look straight at Lev, the word tasting unfamiliar in my mouth. I’ve never loved a woman before and have no answer for if this is love. But the more I think of it, the more tangible it becomes as a truth to my reality.

Yet to be so negligent as to say I love her, without truly reflecting on it seems callous in my mind and so I choose to go with, “she’s my wife and I will do all I can to keep her safe. She has my affection, of course.”

“Damien,” Boris finally says, nodding slowly. “If that’s how you feel, then we will stand by you. We’ll do whatever it takes to protect Genevieve and ensure her safety; after all, she is now our family.”

“Thank you,” I reply, feeling a weight lifting off my shoulders. It’s comforting to know that my brothers are there by my side, despite the fact that I really fucked things up for our business with Russo.

“However,” Lev chimes in, leaning forward with a serious expression, “We must be prepared for the possible repercussions of your actions with Gerald. He won’t take your defiance lightly.”

“I know,” I admit, clenching my fists at the thought of the battle ahead. “Yet I’m lost on what can be done. He is my father-in-law, after all.”

Boris leans forward in his leather chair, planting his elbows on the desk between us. “Damien, we can’t hurt him, but we need to control him. I suggest we dig up some dirt on Gerald. If we can find something damaging enough, it might give us an advantage,” Boris says.

“Where do you suggest we start?” I ask.

“His son, Gael,” Boris replies, a glint of determination in his eyes. “He’s close to Genevieve, and he may know things about his father that we don’t.”

I hesitate, my loyalty to my family warring with my growing affection for Genevieve. The thought of involving her younger brother in our investigation doesn’t sit well with me. I know Genevieve’s very fond of him, and I don’t want him to get caught in the crossfire. But I also recognize the importance of finding leverage against Gerald. I take a deep breath, trying to calm the storm of conflicting emotions brewing within me.

“Are you sure bringing the kid in is the right way to go?” I question, my fingers stilling. “We’re already dealing with a fragile situation here, and I don’t want to make things worse for Genevieve or her brother.”

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