Page 4 of Claimed By the Bratva Brothers

Artur smiles and heads over to the mini bar. “Let’s look at this situation from every angle, shall we?”

I keep my mouth shut and simply watch as he takes out a tumbler and fills it with ice, then opens a bottle of Amaretto, pouring a double shot. He brings me the glass and I take it with a slightly trembling hand. I down the whole thing, welcoming the almond liqueur and its accompanying chill down my throat.

“Would you like another?” he asks. I nod, and he brings me another glass with a curt smile. “You came here for an interview with Bowman yet we beat you to it. A hairline win, I promise. But we got to him before you did, and truth be told, I’m not sure how he’s going to walk out of this after we’re done with him.”

“If he can walk,” Ivan replies coldly.

They seem so matter-of-fact and chill about the whole thing. They’ve just admitted that they basically kidnapped one of America’s most powerful and influential entrepreneurs like it’s nothing.

“Point is, Lyric, you’re here, we’re here, why not make the most of it?” Max asks.

“Make the most of it?” I repeat after him.

Max comes closer, glancing down at me with hooded eyes. “May I?” he asks, and I nod in the affirmative, though I don’t know what I’m agreeing to. Slowly, he reaches out his hand and tucks a lock of hair behind my ear. His touch is subtle, much like the brush of a butterfly’s wings, but it’s enough to send fires coursing through my veins, and I’m unable to look away from him. His cologne is heady and laced with pepper, filling my lungs, and my mind, with all kinds of sinful thoughts. “You know what they say about redheads?”

“No.”

“That they were kissed by fire,” he replies. “I’m willing to bet there’s a fire burning inside of you, Lyric. I can see it in those baby blues of yours.”

I’m speechless. Breathless. Shocked by my own reaction—or lack thereof.

“You’ve made it this far,” Artur chimes in. “There’s plenty of booze, we’ve got all the privacy we need, and we’ll make sure you get home safe when you’re ready to leave.”

“When I’m ready to leave?”

“Why, yes,” he says, raising an eyebrow. There’s a playful flicker in his gaze and it’s making my knees turn to jelly. Good thing I’m already seated.

Max’s fingers linger over my ear, slowly but surely making their way down the side of my neck. “You’re free to leave whenever you wish,” he tells me. “We wouldn’t dream of holding you against your will.”

“So I can leave. Right now. Even though you just told me you kidnapped Jack Bowman.”

The men exchange brief glances and smiles. “Our business is with him, not you,” Max replies. “So, yes. You can leave. Or you can stay and see what it would be like to let go of your inhibitions.” His hand finds the back of my neck, squeezing slightly. “You could use a proper unwinding, that much I can tell. Why don’t you let us take care of you, help you relax and forget everything, just for a while?”

“I…”

“But here’s the thing,” Artur cuts in, handing me a third drink. I didn’t realize I’d finished the second one already. “You stay, you get the three of us. We share you, fair and square.”

“Wait, hold on a minute,” I say, trying to shake myself back into some semblance of clarity, but before I can, Max bends down to meet me at my level. His grip on the back of my neck tightens, causing me to tilt my head, my lips suddenly less than an inch away from his as he looks right into my soul.

“You are one of the most beautiful women we’ve ever come across,” Max whispers, his lips touching mine. “Indulge yourself. See what it’s like to be shared by the three of us. And when it’s over, you only need to walk out that door, and that’ll be the end of it.”

Oh, wow, they’re serious.

I should be outraged and appalled, slapping his hand away. But instead, there’s an ache growing in my core. I can feel myself clenching tightly in my seat, liquid heat pooling between my legs. My blood’s boiling, my breath uneven. His lips are so close, all I can think about is tasting him.

“How do we go about this?” I ask, my tone soft and innocent.

Max smiles, then kisses me, and everything turns white for a moment. I melt on the inside, my lips parting as I welcome him. His tongue is eager and playful, exploring and tasting me. I respond in equal measure, and the kiss deepens into something that quickly renounces all forms of control.

“First, you need to get up,” Max says as he pulls his mouth from mine.

I stay seated, my eyes still closed. I can still taste him. The air in the room feels thick and heavy. Slowly, I return to the present and look around. Max, Ivan, and Artur stand close together, barely a foot away. They’re all so big, towering over me while I tremble with anticipation.

“Okay,” I say.

“That’s not the right answer,” Max replies. “What do you say when you’re given an order that you’re desperate to obey, Lyric? Because I can tell from the look in your eyes that you’re desperate to obey.”

“Yes, sir,” I say as I stand up.

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