Page 2 of The Bratva King's Claimed Bride

That’s all it was from day one.

The Maias had two other daughters, one older than me and one younger. I was meant to help take care of them. At first, they passed it off as chores, which I was accustomed to doing anyway—doing laundry, helping make dinner, and cleaning up. But I noticed the other girls didn’t have to do chores.

The first time I brought it up, Mrs. Maia, my new mother, explained that they had already earned their keep, and I had to earn mine.

Then, the discipline started.

I would fold something wrong or cook something the wrong way, or I would do something my new sisters didn’t like, and I was turned around and swatted on the ass. At first, it was just with their hands, but soon enough, it progressed to a belt they kept hanging on a hook near the door.

They’d make me fetch it.

My punishment for not being perfect.

Every time I didn’t finish my food, every time I wet my bed, every time I forgot to do something.

My room was a small closet with a mattress in it. I was allowed to shower, and they never hit me anywhere it would show. So, to my school, it seemed my life was completely normal.

Teachers took a little more interest in me because I was adopted and being given a decent education. It was not the private school my sisters went to, but a decent public school.

I knew that would be my way out of this hellhole. I would need to study hard, work hard, and graduate with enough credits to get a bursary so I could leave.

The abuse just got worse as I got older because my sisters were allowed to hit me if I didn’t do what they said while our parents were at work. Clarisse, my older sister, took this job very seriously and often gave me impossible-to-do tasks so that I would almost certainly fail, and she would reluctantly meter out my punishment. Then she would tell her mother about it when she got home, and most times, I’d get another hiding, especially if I tried to defend myself.

Through all that, I held onto the letter from my mother—a double-sided, scribbled letter that blamed my father and his family for the life I had endured.

So, hatred had built up. It wasn’t hard to find the family she mentioned through the news and social media. They were gangsters, thugs who took what they wanted and dictated their own rules.

I fucking loathed them.

I kept checking on them and collecting news articles about the family. I got to know them through their nefarious deeds. I dated people from their gangs to find out information. I did what I had to do.

All while studying to become the best real estate agent that I could possibly be because that was one of their weaknesses. Prime Real Estate.

They used it to launder their money and were always looking for a great deal.

I worked hard to get where I am today. I worked hard, and I’m going to look each of them in the eye and begin the first step toward my revenge.

I’m going to take them down, one at a time, starting with Luka and ending with Kervyn. I don’t care who tries to stand in my way. I will take them down with my half-brothers. It’s their fault I’ve had such a miserable life.

I can’t exact revenge on my father. He’s already six feet under, so this is the next best thing.

Once my travel mug is full, I look around my apartment. I put the lid of the mug on, and I pick up my leather briefcase.

Today must go off without a hitch.

I need to get my foot in the door and become their new real estate agent.

Downstairs and into the underground parking, I make a beeline for my BMW in its assigned parking spot. It’s a deep royal blue car with a retractable top.

I put my briefcase on the passenger seat beside me and my coffee in the holder. I backed the car out of its parking spot and left, waving to the security guard as I passed him.

I join the busy stream of traffic. I left early because I knew there’d be traffic on my way to the city center. It’s always worse this time of day.

Hopefully, my new clients won’t be late.

I tap my steering wheel, a little nervous about what I’m going to do.

I can’t let on too early that I know them, and I can’t sound too eager. I need to handle this professionally, as I’ve always managed my clients.

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