Page 54 of The Bratva's Plus-Size Bride

I had spent so long resisting him and wishing that I never ended up in that situation in the first place. The very thought of being married to Ben once felt like a death sentence.

He was arrogant, presumptuous, and cocky—all of which I couldn’t stand, despite his charm. But after we managed to understand each other a bit better, I couldn’t deny how I’d rather go back to that time than be without him.

It was easy then to realize how much I genuinely cared about him. How I cared about us and our marriage.

I didn’t just want to be rescued from the whole mess. I wanted to be with him, and I wanted the chance to explore our connection more.

But as I looked at him with a gun pressed against my temple while my head ached and adrenaline pumped through my veins, I couldn’t help but feel terrified. With my eyes on him, I was silently pleading for his help.

Pleading for the chance to get away and try again.

As he looked back at me, I couldn’t miss the anger in his gaze, along with the tension throughout his body. He seemed to be silently working out how to help me, and how to navigate the unknown in front of us.

Everything with the twins escalated to a point I didn’t expect, especially with Adrik being dead set on their demands despite how Alina seemed to wish they could just be done with it.

Regardless of how she tried to maintain her composure, it was easy to see the questioning look on her features, along with the doubt and worry, as she focused on him instead of Ben and Ari.

Something seemed to be unraveling inside her while Adrik bumped the pistol against my temple, forcing me to wince in pain.

“Why should you big shots get to decide the fate of our family anyway? Who decided you should sit on top forever while everyone else beneath you struggles to keep going?” he demanded, his grip on my shoulder making me ache. “Who made you the kings of this place?”

Despite the clear irritation on Ben’s face, he didn’t say anything at first. He only watched him closely with his gun trained on him.

Even if I didn’t know anything about organized crime or what went into it, I knew that he was looking for the right opportunity. He needed an in to take Adrik out, while also being able to keep him from firing the gun against my head.

When I started my research for that article, I never imagined I’d find myself in that position, so intertwined within Ben’s world that I found myself in the middle of a hostage situation. If I had known at the time, I would’ve run as far away from New York as my legs would take me.

While I was grateful for the chance to see the real Ben underneath it all, this situation was literal life and death. With a small squeeze of the trigger, Adrik could end me right then and there. I would’ve wasted all my time chasing after a dream and trying to get accustomed to the unorthodox arrangement I had with Ben.

That thought made me angry.

I didn’t want it to all be for nothing. I wanted the chance to reach success and appreciate the rewards of it. I wanted to know that I didn’t work my ass off and struggle just to end up a casualty between two crime families.

Knowing Ben and I had finally made progress made it all the worse. It wasn’t fair.

“That’s enough, Adrik,” Alina muttered, gun on Ben and Ari despite how her heart didn’t seem to be in it anymore. How her grasp on it weakened to some degree with a slip of her resolve. “Don’t do this.”

Regardless of the plea in her voice, Adrik’s frustration only deepened. He wasn’t going to give it up, no matter what she thought.

I felt every current of anger that moved through him, forced to endure every jerk of his hand and hit from the chamber. Eyes closed, I tried to block it all out, regardless of how difficult that was to achieve.

“No. I won’t allow you dogs to continue dictating the moves of everyone around you,” Adrik muttered, fingers tightening against my shoulder. “You’re greedy. Manipulative. With one single article, you managed to put everything my sister and I worked towards into question and at risk. We were forced into hiding, forced into accepting ridicule. I bet you Levovs have never experienced that a day in your life. You wouldn’t understand the pain. The agony of knowing you sacrificed everything for nothing!”

Something twitched in Ben’s jaw then, and he adjusted his grip on the gun. “This isn’t about us. This is about you giving Gemma up and accepting the deal. If you let her go now, I’ll get on the phone with one of my guys and I’ll put it all in motion. The article will be redacted, you’ll get your public apology, and you can continue as you wish on your own turf. But don’t mistake my leniency for weakness. I won’t offer this again. Take it or leave it.”

Evident anxiety emanated from Alina as she seemed forced into watching that opportunity pass her by. It was clear that she loved her brother, yet their minds were in two different places.

Before, they seemed like a solid team—a combined force with enough determination and work ethic to keep them going. But as her resolve crumbled more and more, it felt like the twins were worlds apart.

Adrik growled his growing irritation. “You Levovs are always so smug. So self-assured just because you look at everyone from above. But even giants fall. With enough families rallying together, it would be possible. Difficult? Yes, but possible. Then none of us would be plagued with your tyranny. Maybe then we’d have a chance to experience even a portion of that success you guard so diligently.”

“Stop it,” Alina muttered, becoming more concerned as she listened to his ravings. It seemed even she couldn’t recognize him at that point. “You’re speaking nonsense. Don’t be an idiot and take the deal, Adrik.”

“Now you’re threatening us with a coup?” Ben asked, eyes narrowed sharply at him. “Consider this a warning: I don’t make deals with cowards who turn the first chance they get. My patience is waning, Ivanov.”

I could feel the strain through Adrik’s bruising grasp, and I wished more than anything that my hands weren’t bound. Even if it would end up being an awful idea on my part, I reveled in the thought of taking him down. In putting an end to the agonizing situation.

Adrik’s voice was as sharp as a whip, “I don’t want any deal with you bastards!”

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