Page 19 of Used By the Bratva

The Orlov crime family has been around in New York for decades and is still going strong today. Although the members present themselves as businessmen, there is no denying that the Orlovs rule the city.

Most conspicuous among them are Leonid Orlov, his brother Sergey, and the family leader, Ivan. The three of them control New York, and the citizens can’t help but wonder when they will finally escape the cold grip of the mafia.

My heart stops in my chest, and time comes to a standstill around me as I reread the article. I did another search and attached the term ‘crime’ to Leon’s name.

There are more and more results about the damage his family has allegedly done in New York.

I glance toward the closed bathroom door, the light shining through the gap.

Holy shit! I slept with a mafia boss.

With trembling hands, I lean back over the edge of the bed and put my cell phone back in my purse. My heart races as I lie in bed and pretend to be asleep while I hear the shower turn off.

It would be foolish to leave now. He’s too awake. I'd never make it out of the building before he caught up with me. And if he does, I don’t know what he'd do to me.

I need to wait until he’s asleep again. Then I might have a chance of getting out of here before he wakes up.

At least I was clever enough not to tell him where I lived.

Marina taught me not to trust strangers. She always told me to lie if someone asked for my details. It looks like her teachings are still helpful, even on the other side of the world.

The door opens, and the light flicks off. Leon pads across the floor as I focus on breathing deep and even.

As he climbs into bed, the covers shift.

I keep my eyes closed and wait for him to settle down.

He rolls onto his side toward me but thankfully keeps his hands to himself. I don’t think I can ever have his hands on my body again without feeling sick.

How the hell did I ever let someone like him touch my body?

It may have been the best sex of my life, but I needed to get away from him and never see him again.

I slip out of bed only when the first rays of dawn creep through the window, and his breathing is even and heavy.

I carefully grab my dress and purse and sneak down the dark staircase to the entrance level of his penthouse.

While I get dressed, I leave the light off, careful not to wake him.

As soon as the elevator doors open, I’m gone.

***

Pearl leans forward and snatches the magazine out of my hands. “What’s wrong with you? You haven’t been the same for the last two weeks. I’m used to you being quiet, but this is different.”

I sigh and sit up on the couch, crossing my legs under me. “I don’t know. I just haven’t been feeling great lately.”

She scrutinizes me for a moment with her blue eyes, which seem to stare right through me. “Does this have something to do with the man you were seeing a few weeks ago? It must have, right? Because that’s when you started to withdraw more.”

I grab one of the throw pillows and pull it into my lap. “He just wasn’t who I thought he was, but no. I’m not still torn up about it. If I’m honest, the sex wasn’t even particularly good.”

Liar.

The sex was the best that I’ve ever had—mind-blowing, earth-shattering sex.

When I fall asleep at night, I see his face. I can't stop thinking about how his hands ran over my body and how he made me cry out his name.

Pearl grumbles and puts her feet up on the coffee table. “I still have twenty minutes before I have to go to work. In that time, you can spit out anything that’s on your mind.”

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