Page 40 of Forced Bratva Bride

“My family wouldn’t just kill innocent people. My father wouldn’t do that,” I say, desperately fighting against it.

But this is the mafia. Who am I to deny that these things happen every day? People die, lives are taken, senseless violence and murder is the norm of this world. That is exactly why I wanted to leave and never be a part of it.

Humans are expendable chess pieces to the mafia lords and bosses; they are replaceable and meaningless.

“I’m sorry, Chiara,” Maxim says, stepping toward me and lifting me into his arms. I am in such shock about everything, that I just lean against him, my mind flooded with chaos.

***

Two days later, after helping Maxim and his brothers arrange funerals, compensation for the families of their workers and coverage all of the medical costs for those who were hurt, I have to start admitting to myself that I was wrong.

The Dubrov family is going out of their way to help the people who they employ, and when they speak about things and make plans, I can see the genuine grief among them for the people they have lost.

“Who does shit like this?” Kiril says gruffly as he sits down at a family gathering with his brothers after a long day. Maxim pulls my chair close to his and slips his arm around my waist.

He whispers in my ear, “Are you doing alright?”

I lean my head against his chest. “I am. Are you?”

“I am with you here with me.”

I smile.

Paval sighs loudly. “I understand that our world involves death, but not like this. Not innocent lives. Why didn’t they come after us, the bosses, the ones in charge, instead of the people just trying to earn a living?”

“Because they are heartless,” Fyodor says, staring at his drink as he swirls the clear liquid over blocks of ice. He looks exhausted. Everyone does.

Maxim sits quietly with me, listening to his brothers' conversation. I take it all in, understanding that this family is different. They kill. They have done dark things, but they target the people who are meant to be targeted. They would never go after innocent lives.

“Where are the children?” I ask Kat, who is sitting across from me, next to her husband, Fyodor.

“Darya has them. We didn’t think they should be here, you know, with everything our husbands have had to deal with over the past two days. They need to discuss things that children shouldn’t hear.”

I nod. That makes sense.

This family really takes care of each other.

The brothers are all there to support each other, and their wives are a source of strength to them, not trophies, like I've witnessed with other mafia families.

I have never felt a family bond like they have. I lost my mother, and for a long time it was just my father and me. Then he remarried, and he lost his second wife as well. Then it was Stefano, my father and me. Stefano and I never got along, and honestly, as much as my father took care of me financially, he was too busy to actually be there when I needed him. Not in the way Maxim and his family are there for each other.

“I told Chiara why we arranged the marriage between us. I told her the truth, about needing to find out who is behind the sabotage,” Maxim says. His words cause a hushed silence across the table.

“What the fuck,” Kiril blurts out.

“You should never have done that,” Fyodor says angrily.

Maxim holds up his hand, waiting for them to calm down.

“Maxim, you should have spoken to us first,” Paval comments.

“Chiara was not involved in this in any way,” he tries to assure them.

“She might not have been, but now that she knows we suspect her family, she might warn them. Where does her allegiance sit? She's a weak link,” Kiril snaps.

The other brother chime in, agreeing with Kiril, and I feel myself getting annoyed.

“You're wrong about me,” I blurt out. “I am not okay with anything that happened here. I don’t stand for innocent people dying, either, and for the last few days I have been here to help in any way that I can.”

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