Page 81 of Forced Bratva Bride

He is walking backwards, and the distance growing between Chiara and me is causing physical pain in my body.

I have to get to her. I have to help her.

Across the vast space between us, my eyes lock with Angelo’s, and the demonic grin that stains his lips twists my insides. He fires a shot into the air, and the crowd erupts in panic, running and pushing and screaming all over again. I see him tossing something onto the patio. It looks like an explosive device. He managed to activate one of them.

I lose sight of Chiara as Angelo pulls her with him.

“Max, we have to double-check the property and make sure it's safe,” Kiril shouts.

“Get everyone out of here, Angelo just activated one of the bombs. It’s on the patio. I have to go after Chiara,” I shout back as people push past us.

Stefano arrives at my side. “I’m going with you.”

With one last glance at my brother, I turn to follow Stefano, shoving people aside as we move toward the front of the house where the cars are parked. My brothers will find a way to disarm the explosive. They still have all of Angelo’s men, and they were all trained to activate them, so they should know how to handle it.

We run out of the front door just in time to see Angelo’s car screeching away from the property and into the road.

“Here, I parked here,” Stefano yells as he pulls his door open, and I leap into the passenger seat.

He floors the gas and the tires skid, finally regaining traction as the car tears after Angelo’s.

“He’s too far ahead,” I yell, the sound of the engine loud and angry.

“He’s driving badly, he’s all over the road. He’s going to kill himself before we even catch him.”

“Fuck,” I shout, knowing that if he kills himself, he might kill Chiara, too. She's in that car.

“Just get to him. We have to stop him.”

Stefano drives well, and we manage to catch up to him down a long open road that leads toward the city. There are no street lights, just big open fields on either side of us.

Ahead of us, we see Angelo’s driving becoming more erratic. The car swerves and skids across the lanes, and I hold my breath, struggling to remain calm.

Chapter 26 - Chiara

My father fires a shot into the air, and everyone starts screaming again. He laughs as he throws one of the bombs onto the patio, and I see the green timer begin to count down.

“No,” I scream, trying to escape his grip so that I can disarm the bomb. So many people will die. I can’t let that happen.

“You fucking little bitch,” my father sneers, pressing his gun back against my temple. I freeze, knowing that he killed my mother and Stefano’s. He will kill me without a moment's hesitation, and without ever experiencing guilt for having done so.

“Move,” he shouts over the chaos.

I walk as he pushes me towards the front door. People see us and duck out of his way, the gun in his hand giving him full control of the situation.

I hear Maxim shout my name, but I can’t even turn to look for him.

Outside, my father shoves me into the car, keeping the gun aimed at my head. He starts the engine and shoves it out of park. With one hand on the wheel and one hand wrapped around his firearm, he speeds away from the party and out into the open road.

“Dad, you're going to kill both of us.”

“Just you, you little whore. Just like your mother, falling for a Dubrov and betraying me. I was stupid to trust you. Fucking women. I already said it before—all the same.”

He swerves as he loses control for a moment, and I grip the dashboard in front of me. I glance over my shoulder and see headlines in the distance behind us. It has to be Maxim, but what if my father shoots him.?

I don’t want him dying for me.

“Your boyfriend seems to be following us,” my father snaps, pressing his foot harder against the gas pedal. The car growls and our speed increases.

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