Page 29 of The Bratva King's Claimed Bride

He turns to Liam and Christopher. “I’ve seen enough to know that you’re both guilty. My wife is kind-hearted and wants to take pity on you, and I don’t think it’s wise, but as we’ve just married, I will give her this as a wedding gift. Your lives. Spared.”

Liam and Christopher look relieved, but Igor takes a step toward them. “You are going to pay back every cent that you stole. Then, you are banished from the family forever. If I ever see your faces again, I will personally shoot you in the head.”

Liam nods. “Yes, sir, of course. And, uh, how long do we have to pay this debt?”

“The end of the month,” Igor says.

“That’s…” I start to say, but Igor gives me a look that silences me.

“Two weeks. I want all my money back, and I never want to see either of you again.” Igor turns to Matvey. “Take them to pack their shit and get them off the resort.”

Matvey eyes Igor out before he holsters his gun and turns to Liam and Christopher. “Pick yourself up off the floor, you disgusting worms.”

They scramble to get up, and Matvey sees them out of the room.

The guards don’t move, and neither do I. I’ve crossed a line with Igor. He told me to stand and watch, and I pulled rank over Matvey.

“Igor… I…”

He grabs me by my wrist and starts to drag me out of the room. I try to resist, but he pulls me to him, and I see the anger in his eyes, and I comply. I made my decision, and now I need to see it through, whatever the consequences are.

The few people we pass stare at us as Igor drags me into the elevator and selects the penthouse suite.

“Igor,” I say quietly.

He glares at me again, and I fall silent, looking at my shoes. I’ve already cocked this up, and it’s been less than a day.

Chapter 10 - Igor

I drag Arina down the hallway and into our suite. I let her go and turn toward the door, locking it.

“Igor, wait…” she says.

“Wait, nothing. You don’t tell me what to do, Arina,” I snap, finally turning around to face her. I glare at her. “We are Bratva. Do you know what that means?”

“You’re Mafia,” she says.

“We are more than Mafia. Nobody messes with us because we are strong. We are loyal to our family, and that makes us strong. What you did down there made me look weak. It is your job to make me look good, do you understand?”

“Like a trophy wife?” she asks. “Is that all I am? I thought I was here to learn the ropes.”

“You are,” I hiss. “But until you learn what that means, you must keep quiet and out of the way. What if I’d been too slow to stop Matvey? Do you know I would have to kill my own brother because of that?”

She backs off slightly as I take a step toward her. Something about her retreating stirs a primal feeling within me.

It’s sexy.

“You answer to me, and your actions are a reflection on this family,” I growl as I advance toward her.

“Those boys were orphans. Desperate lives lead to desperate choices,” she says, backing away slowly.

“People who cross this family cannot be so easily forgiven,” I say as she backs up against the floor-to-ceiling shatterproof window.

“You crossed me,” she says quietly. “You forced me to marry you against my wishes. Should I not forgive you so easily?”

“So, you forgive me then?” I ask as I stand in front of her, putting a hand on the window to the right of her head.

“Not if that’s not how the family does things,” she breathes. I can see a thin bead of sweat run down her neck.

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