Page 52 of The Bratva's Plus-Size Bride

Grateful to have my older brother’s support, I let that determination drive me forward, and we both exited the vehicle, prepared to stand our ground against the twins.

As we approached, it felt strange to just walk in. Normally, we had more than enough men backing us up to maintain a sense of confidence and assurance that regardless of what happened, our forces would move in and neutralize our targets to ensure they didn’t live long enough to cause any more trouble.

But knowing it was the two of us against the two of them seemed to add another layer of pressure. Not only did I have to consider Gemma’s life as well as my own, but also Ari’s. I’d never forgive myself if anything happened to him, especially while he was showing his confidence in my ability to take control of the situation.

As we closed in, guns drawn and aimed at the twins with less heat than usual, they both turned around and acknowledged us.

From behind them, Gemma was tucked beneath the overpass in the shade, arms bound behind her back and looking exhausted. Yet from what I could tell, she wasn’t harmed, and that was enough to soothe my frayed nerves somewhat.

Still, I wouldn’t be back to normal until I knew they weren’t a threat to her anymore. I needed that reassurance, and I wouldn’t rest until it was over.

“Ah, the two eldest Levov brothers,” Adrik said with a smug smile as he aimed his gun in Gemma’s direction, finger cruelly resting against the trigger. The sight alone made my blood boil more than watching as Alina aimed between us with a guarded gaze.

At the realization that we were there, immediate relief flooded Gemma’s eyes when she met my gaze. Yet it was tempered with concern, aware that despite my presence, the situation was far from over. We still had to handle the most difficult part.

Even so, I did my best to muster up as much reassurance as I could and allowed her the chance to see it through my eyes. I wanted her to know that I was prepared to do anything for her. That she was an important person in my life, and I needed her.

“You made us wait long enough,” Alina mumbled, unimpressed as she took us in.

Ari was a sturdy, calm presence on my left as he focused on her while I stayed trained Adrik, should he make any sudden moves. After his many years of running our empire and guarding it against adversaries, he knew how to remain composed and weigh his options—something I was still learning how to do more effectively.

“You laid quite the trail for us. Forgive us for having to navigate it first,” he replied with a confident ease.

From the jump, we were in a standoff. Any wrong move could trigger a spray of gunfire and result in unnecessary deaths that I didn’t want on my hands.

Even if I wanted the Ivanovs to pay for what they had done and to remind them of their place in the grand scheme of things, I wasn’t necessarily out for blood. That wasn’t the goal, but if it came down to exactly that, I wouldn’t have any qualms about it, either.

I had to be calm and collected. I had to think. Focus.

Pulling in a discreet breath, I wore an indifferent mask.

Surely, they already knew how important Gemma was to me and the leverage that offered them, but I didn’t want them to assume I would simply lie down and deal with it.

“Now that we’re here, hand my wife over or risk being put down under this highway,” I directed them, voice level and full of conviction. “You’ve had her long enough.”

Despite how they seemed to understand I wasn’t there to banter or waste time, expressions turning more serious, there was still an air of confidence about them, presumably because they had my wife in their possession.

Alina looked at me squarely. “We aren’t here to be put down like dogs, Benedikt. We’re here to make a bargain, and you might want to hear us out to save your little wife.”

While the insolent inflection in her voice made my blood boil, I held it in.

I had been right, after all. With the article and the risk of being found out by authorities, they had no choice but to turn to us with their tails in between their legs, seeking a scrap of whatever they could get just to hang on a little longer. They were using Gemma as a bargaining chip.

Even if it was clear, I still couldn’t let my guard down. I didn’t know just how desperate they were feeling, or if that left them feeling particularly trigger-happy. For Gemma’s sake, I couldn’t aggravate them.

“Alright,” I said, maintaining my composure as I looked between them, trying not to focus on Gemma too much and risk losing the poker face required at that moment. “What terms are you proposing?”

Alina looked almost surprised by my willingness to hear them out, though she shouldn’t have been. They had my wife, and I wanted her back. That was obvious enough.

Then, she let that brief expression slip to reveal the more sincere yet demanding look beneath it. “We are proposing that you and your family use your Levov leverage to get that damn article redacted and force the newspaper to issue a public apology to clear our name. Eliminate us from the equation, as we should’ve been from the start.”

I examined her for a long moment as I considered her terms. “Blackmailing the newspaper into complying shouldn’t be too difficult. I’m sure we could grease some palms. But why do I have the feeling that isn’t all?”

She allowed her lips to curl in the faintest smirk as she continued. “Perceptive. While you accomplish this, taking the heat off our backs, you will also find a way to bridge the gaps between us and the other powerful families out there. Many of our relationships have been severed because of this incident, but we’re seeking to boost our position now.”

My eyes narrowed slightly as I studied her further, trying to search for every angle she might have. While that condition didn’t sound too difficult to accomplish either, I knew it wasn’t in our best interest.

They managed to skirt by for quite some time without having much of a prevalent image among the crime families. They got what they needed through their own means and secured alliances with some more reclusive groups, earning them modest recognition, but we made sure they didn’t get in too over their heads.

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