Page 58 of The Bratva King's Twins

It was them.

With my hands bound and in the back seat of the moving vehicle, I felt more like a prisoner than a liberated captive.

“What’s going on?” I asked, testing my voice despite how dry my throat felt. I was surprised they were able to hear the squeak I managed to get out when they both glanced at me.

Even if they captured me and hauled me away, I was hoping they’d show me some compassion. Something in me hoped it was some sort of misunderstanding, and that they assumed they were just saving me.

I wanted to believe they just wanted the best for me. That they cared about me.

But they never did that much growing up, and I had the feeling they would never change.

Their careless looks at me only affirmed that much.

Dante sighed. “I was hoping that would keep you out for another hour or so. Shitty product, I guess…”

“What?” I murmured, not understanding why that would be his first concern. “Dante, what’s happening? Where are you taking me?”

Leaning his arm casually against the center console, he didn’t even look at me as he spoke. “We finally got you away from that Levov dog. We’ve spent weeks trying to get through their defenses and trying to trace their steps long enough to piece together a suitable time to strike. Those bastards are good, I’ll give them that. But not good enough.”

“Aristarkh let his guard down, though. He didn’t realize we caught on to his restaurant of choice, or that we managed to gain access to their booking system. So much for always being prepared,” Elio added, focusing on the lefthand turn he took.

Guilt immediately trickled into my heart then, squeezing at the memory of suggesting we eat there again. If I had just let Ari think of one himself, there was a big chance I wouldn’t be in that position.

“Why do I have the feeling you didn’t do this for me?” I asked, recalling their usual disinterest in me.

Months had gone by, yet they only waited until now to take action. They could’ve tried anything then to save me if that had been their intention, but I knew better.

“Because we didn’t,” Dante snapped. “Unfortunately, you were the only real leverage our family ever had to make real progress. Dad always had money, but he used it frivolously rather than investing in the business or creating solid alliances in the city. Because of that, we had to get you back. Aristarkh thought he won, but now he has to face the consequences.”

Blinking through my bleary vision as I silently panicked, I tried to keep my voice level. “What about the marriage license? Nobody will trade their allegiance for me when I'm already married.”

Dante continued to look forward as he ran a hand over his face. “It doesn’t matter. However we can, we’re going to axe it. The marriage will be nullified, and it won’t be a problem. You’ll be back at home with us so we can keep an eye on you, and we’ll get you married to someone more suitable for our needs.”

A cold chill ran down my spine at that, hating the thought of not being married to Ari. I didn’t know if my brothers’ plan had any legs to stand on, but it was enough to make my pulse race.

The thought of being stuck in that house again, forced to sit idly by while my family pulled the strings behind the scenes to hand me over to someone else, made me feel sick. I didn’t want to be trapped in that cage again.

I once thought Ari’s house was another kind of prison, but with time, it proved to be the opposite. He showed me the life and future we could have together, and now that it was being threatened, I couldn’t help but want it back more than anything.

To make matters worse, I was carrying his babies, and my brothers didn’t know that. If they were to sell me off to another kingpin and he found out about the twins, I had no doubt I’d be in even bigger trouble.

I had to get away from them. I had to.

“I thought you didn’t have any involvement in the business,” I mumbled, struggling to keep myself together given the circumstances.

“A lot of things have changed ever since that night, Vivian. Dad isn’t running things anymore,” Elio said, gripping the wheel with a gloved hand. “We’re making strides far bigger than he ever did.”

“The Levovs tainted our name, but that won’t matter once we take their place in the city,” Dante said, focused on the road ahead.

Even if Elio was the oldest, it seemed Dante was the brains of the operation. He always had been the cruel one.

I should’ve felt some sort of relief, given how Ari had forced me into marriage and swept me into his life, but I didn’t. Before, I would’ve gladly stepped back into my old place, left to wait and take that abuse. I thought Ari was as bad as they came, but I was wrong.

I knew then that my brothers were exactly that, and they had no intention of giving me a good life.

I didn’t want to be separated from Ari. We were starting a family, and he made me the happiest I had ever been.

But of course, my brothers didn’t care about what I wanted.

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