Page 15 of The Bratva King's Pregnant Bride

Avoiding her eyes, I unscrewed the cap on the bottle of water. One hell of a night. Now, there was nothing special about it. I didn’t say all that, though, just shrugged.

“Did you use protection?” Jenna asked.

Nodding, I thought about the pill I’d taken the morning after. “I did,” I said, still trying to process the fact that I had slept with a criminal. “Plan B.”

Jenna exhaled. “Perfect. Won’t be nice to have a little Dominik swimming inside you.”

The thought made me want to puke. I gave Jenna a curious look, only to see she had her gaze elsewhere.

“The semester is winding down, and it is almost time for our annual tradition. Putting on fancy clothes and scraping together just enough money for an outrageously pricey dinner,” Jenna said with dreamy eyes. “Just think—only two weeks! I know everyone is looking forward to it.”

I was. But at the moment, my mind was somewhat still overtaken by Jenna’s revelation, as it kept processing the ideal of me having slept with the leader of a Mafia. It was something that happened in novels and movies, not real life.

“Funny how it became our ritual,” Jenna added. “I think it makes us feel like adults, like we’re part of the glamorous life that exist outside the drudgery of our college walls.”

One thing was certain: We would embark on this extravagant retreat, igniting the finale of our college years. We’d blot out the stark reality that quietly awaited us beyond the walls of this university. All this would be a thing of the past.

If only the truth could be erased as easily as money on an overpriced dinner—life would be far less complicated.

Yet, here I was, gazing out of the cafeteria windows, wondering what to do with the meal I’d been served earlier—at least, what was left of it after Jenna was through. I eyed her warily, stuffing the chips I’d bought into my bag. She sniffed, batting her eyes innocently, but I had seen the predatory gleam in her eyes when I’d brought them to the table.

She grinned at me, but my mind was locked in a private battle with the irony of my situation, bemused by the darkened reality that had barged, uninvited, into my world—forever shifting my perspective, and dragging me unwillingly into the complicated labyrinth of reality. A criminal. Out of everyone in the world, that’s who I had chosen to spend my night with.

Sighing, I shook my head. How insane was this picture turning out to be?

Chapter 6 - Dominik

Two weeks later

With a person like me, I could say it was difficult to move without drawing attention to myself. And since I wasn’t one to leave things to chance or make light of luxury, I usually went all-out.

The roar of my black Lamborghini caused heads to turn as I pulled up before the restaurant. Three black Range Rovers, all with tinted windows, escorted me, taking several parking positions all around. One was right across the road, one parked ahead and the other behind, watching my back and keeping an eye my surroundings. I gave them a nod as I entered, feeling their eyes on me.

I made my way to the glass doors, and a uniformed mad opened the door, holding it for me.

I nodded to him, and immediately, a pretty waitress approached me. “Welcome, Sir. Please, let me show you to your table.”

I followed as she led the way. We passed various glass tables till I spotted Feliks Sharov, my brother, staring down at his phone. He saw me approaching, lowered his phone, and got to his feet with both arms spread.

He had a smile on his face, and I grinned in response.

“Feliks!”

“Brother,” he responded, and we embraced.

We broke the hug and leaned back to examine each other before I clapped his shoulder.

Feliks was the operative head of major decisions in the formidable Russian Bratva. He’d been in Russia, overseeing the interest of the Bratva, as well as the activities of the KGB. All our dealings and investments there went through him, including those regarding the new Russian government.

Feliks knew how to find what mattered, and that made him a good choice. A very good choice.

“How have you been?” I asked as we settled at a table.

Feliks shrugged. “Fine. What’s the news from America?”

“Well, you know… The same old, same old…”

He grinned. “That bad, huh?”

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