Page 40 of The Bratva King's Claimed Bride

“Everyone calls me by my surname. You can call me Peter.” He smiles. “If we’re going to do business, we should at least be on a first-name basis, Arina.”

I don’t know why, but the leery way he looks makes me uncomfortable.

I smile and slowly stand. “I hope you’ll consider our offer. It really is good. Failing that, it was a pleasure dealing with you.” I realize too late that I’ve put Richardson between me and the door. I casually walk around the table, but as I fear, he stands up and blocks me before I’m fully around the table.

“Why the rush, Arina? Are we not here to discuss business?” he asks. “After all, we’ve been doing this dance for days now.”

“There’s no dance,” I say, keeping myself poised. “It’s business, plain and simple. And it’s Mrs. Sidorov to you, I’m afraid.”

I’m hoping the use of Igor’s name will drive some fear into him, but if anything, it seems to excite him more, and he advances on me.

“You think I haven’t noticed how you’ve been flirting? The low-cut tops you wear?” he asks, licking his lips. “Shoving those tits in my face every opportunity? I’ll take your deal if you give me a little more than what’s on offer.”

I frown. “There is nothing else on offer, and just because a woman dresses nicely doesn’t mean she’s throwing herself at you. Please don’t flatter yourself. I wouldn’t come near you with someone else's hand.”

Richardson’s face changes into an ugly, twisted snarl, and he grabs me by my throat. I choke as he’s cutting off my air. “I think you can first choke on my cock then you can bend over while I fuck you.”

I scratch at him and catch his face. He roars and throws me against the table. I hit my lower back, and pain shot up my spine. I grasp my throat and take big breaths before I try to scramble to my feet.

Richards grabs me by my hair and pulls me against his crotch. I go with the motion and head butt him in the balls before he can pull me back. He grunts and bends over. I crawl away, trying to go around the other side of the table.

I feel a sudden kick to my stomach, and I cry out.

There’s a commotion outside, and I hear the door slam open.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?”

“She attacked me,” Richardson says. “Look at my face.”

I feel strong arms helping me up, and I fall into Matvey’s arms. “Are you okay?” he asks.

I glance at Richardson, who is being restrained by two guards.

“He… he tried to attack me.” I want to burst into tears, but I don’t want to give Richardson the satisfaction.

Matvey tenses beside me and looks at the guards. “Secure him in this room. We’ll be outside waiting for Igor.”

He leads me outside. I limp slightly, and he holds me up. “You’ll be okay. Igor is on his way anyway. He’ll deal with this situation.”

I shake in his arms, and I hear Yvonne from down the hallway. “What happened?”

I look up as she comes hurrying toward me. “That bastard…”

“I’ll cut his dick off,” Yvonne seethes, smoothing my hair around my face.

Matvey gets a guard to bring me a chair and sits me down. “Once Igor is here, Yvonne can take you home, and we’ll deal with this prick,” he says gently. He seems a bit out of sorts, as though he’s not sure how to handle me.

I shake. I can’t believe how close I came to being… Igor has never treated me that way. Even when we had sex, he was kind. I’ve been leered at before but never attacked.

We all look up as the elevator dings open, and Igor steps out, stopping when he sees me.

Chapter 14 - Igor

I step off the elevator and stop.

Time stops.

I see Arina with her disheveled clothes and hair, and I see red. I stride to her and kneel beside her. “What happened?”

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