Page 5 of Forced Bratva Bride

“First, you need to rush upstairs and get ready. The guests will be arriving in the next hour. We have a party tonight.”

My heart sinks. He isn’t going to tell me yet, and the last thing I feel like is another party. But I smile, and dutifully do as I am told.

A quick shower, a splash of make-up, and a pretty sparkling blue dress that feels a little too short for me. I pin my long, dark chocolate-colored hair up into a loose bun and check my reflection in the tall mirror on the outside of my closet door.

By the time I head back downstairs, the guests are already starting to fill the house.

There are faces I recognize and faces I don’t.

I wander around, greeting people and trying to find my father. When I spot him surrounded by a group of businessmen, I decide to wait until he isn’t so busy and head toward the bar to get some champagne.

“Little Chiara is all grown up.” The voice behind me instantly makes me cringe. I turn to face my stepbrother, my mouth pulled to the side.

“Stefano,” I say, as politely as I can manage.

His eyes trail up and down my body and I feel myself shudder inwardly.

“You are looking…different,” he says with a sly grin.

“And you look exactly the same,” I reply, turning my back on him.

He grabs my arm and spins me to face him again. “Don’t be rude, little girl. I am your older brother, after all, don’t you think it's time you started showing me some respect?”

“Stepbrother. And I will show you respect when you deserve it.”

“Still a bitch, I see.” His grip tightens on my arm, and I yank it away from him.

“Still an arrogant asshole,” I snap back.

His eyes darken as he glares down at me.

I pick up my champagne from the bar and say, “I'm going to go and find Dad,” then spin away from him and march toward where my father is standing. I would rather be stuck in a conversation with a bunch of businessmen than my stepbrother any day.

We have never gotten along.

I think he's an arrogant, self-centered, violent asshole. And if I had my way, I would never speak to him again. He's bitter about everything, as though he hates his own life and wants to take it out on everyone around him. He just needs to stay away from me while I'm here, and everything will be fine.

“Look at you, all grown up,” one of my father’s associates says as I step into the circle of people. My dad grins, proudly.

“She graduated top three in her class,” he remarks.

I grin and join the conversation, not really enjoying any of it and wanting to try and sneak away as soon as I can manage, but my father keeps introducing me to new people and parading me around the party. I politely entertain everyone until finally, after hours of monotony, I decide I've had enough. I excuse myself from the conversation I am trapped in with one of my father’s associates and start trying to find him in the crowd. Unfortunately, I spot him standing right next to Stefano.

I am just going to sneak off instead. My dad will understand.

I turn to head back into the house so I can head upstairs to my bedroom and hide away for the rest of the party, but just as I'm about to escape, my father’s loud voice booms around the room.

“Can I have everyone’s attention?” he says, and the room falls silent as they all turn towards him. I freeze, biting my lip. I guess I'd better stay for this and then make my escape afterwards.

“I wanted to thank everyone for coming out tonight. It’s a big night, and a very important one.” He looks around, squinting into the crowd. “Chiara? Where are you, sweetheart?”

I raise my hand and grin as everyone turns towards me. I feel my cheeks flush.

“Come on, come stand next to your old man, here.”

I push through the crowd and take my place at his side, feeling awkwardly watched.

“Most of you have met my beautiful daughter, Chiara. Well, tonight, we are all here to celebrate something special—the union between my family and one of our long-standing allies. The Napoli family and Dubrov family will be joined in marriage; my beautiful daughter, Chiara, is going to be marrying Maxim Dubrov,” he announces, and the crowd cheers, and shouts congratulations.

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