Page 34 of Forced Bratva Prisoner

That evening, while trying to decide what to wear, I notice that Leon has selected a black suit for the night, and I decide I had better dress up, too. He bought me two pretty dresses, and I guess this is the night I should wear one of them.

I choose the light blue one with thin shoulder straps and a long, flowing skirt. It is elegant and modest enough for a family gathering.

I do my hair up in a curly bun with some loose pieces hanging around my face, and when I look in the mirror, I feel quite pretty.

I never really thought of myself as being pretty. My father always made a point of telling me I was anything but pretty. He made it clear no one would ever want to marry me or be with me. He made me feel worthless most of the time.

Well, surprise, Dad. Someone wanted me so badly they kidnapped me to marry me.

I laugh silently at my own dark sense of humor. Then I sigh, feeling sad. Maybe my father was right. Maybe the only way I ever was going to find someone to marry me was like this. Not for love. I quickly finish the last touches of my makeup. I’d better get going.

When I get downstairs, Leon is waiting for me. He looks incredibly sexy in his tightly fitted black suit that hugs his broad shoulders and shows off his bulking figure.

He holds the car door open for me and I wonder if it’s to make sure I get inside without running away or just because he’s being polite.

Obviously, it’s so I don’t escape.

When we arrive at his cousin’s place, I am introduced to Kiril and Paval, and then I spot Maxim and Chiara, too, and feel a small amount of relief that they are here.

I smile. It is a family event.

Chiara comes over immediately when she sees me and hugs me tightly, which I accept a little stiffly because I am not used to being hugged.

She treats me like I am her friend, which is confusing. I still haven’t worked out if she actually likes me or if it’s some kind of manipulation. I’m just going with the flow, though. Mostly because I don’t really have any other choice.

“Gin?” she smiles.

“Yes, please.”

“Leo, do you want a drink?”

“I’ll come through now and see what I feel like,” he calls out as Chiara leads me away.

She takes me into the house through the crowd of people, and the more I look around, the tenser I become. This isn’t a family event, after all. This is a house full of my father’s enemies and rivals. It’s some kind of business party, and of course all of their allies are my family's enemies.

I swallow hard, sinking into a corner near the bar while Chiara happily orders us some drinks. I want to hide away. I want to disappear into the woodgrain of the door and have no one see me. Suddenly my dress feels all wrong, and my hair feels wrong, and everything feels wrong.

I thought he was bringing me to a family event, but he brought me here to use me as a pawn in some stupid game he is playing. I’m just a tool of some kind to him.

I feel like an idiot, and knowing this causes me deep disappointment. For some reason I thought we were kind of getting along at home. I mean, okay, not getting along, that’s a bit of a stretch. But I didn’t expect this from him.

Why not, though? He’s just another mob boss like my father. They are all the same, and I should not have expected anything less of him. They use people, manipulate people, and don’t care about the consequences.

Leon arrives and stands next to Chiara.

“Where’s Sasha?” he asks.

“She was just—honey, what are you doing over there?” She grabs my arm and drags me out of the corner where I was trying to hide.

I stand shifting nervously from foot to foot, keeping my face turned down while I still try and keep an eye on who is near me.

Leon frowns. “What’s wrong with you?” he demands.

“I, um, I thought it was just going to be your family,” I mutter.

“So?” He doesn’t seem to get it.

“Nothing. I just misunderstood, that’s all.” There is no point in explaining anything to him, because I doubt he will care, anyway.

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