Page 18 of Unwilling Bratva Bride

“No way! You’re on a lake?!”

“Yup, that’s why we picked this spot.” Ivan set my bag down on a small table near the stairs. “Want to take a look before I show you to the master suite?”

I wanted to say no. I wanted to tell Ivan to get fucked for putting me in this position, but again, all I could do was nod.

We walked out onto the porch, if you could call it that, and indeed, it did sit right on the water. It was dark and cool back here, but when I looked to my left, there was another section of this outdoor space that went to an outdoor hot tub.

You couldn’t get to that from this spot, though. It looked like a set of stairs from the second floor went directly down into the water, and speakers and rocks surrounded the jacuzzi.

Lush greenery came right up to the edges of the porch no matter where you were, and when I turned around and looked up, I could see the bottom of the wrap-around porch on the second floor.

Ivan took me back inside, walking me up to the next floor as I tried to understand what I was seeing. This place was like a private oasis, and I felt wholly separated from the city I knew was just a forty-five-minute drive away.

The second story was just as open and wall-less as the first. There was a section off to either corner where I could see actual doors, but aside from that, it was an expanse of wood, glass, and light.

There were several more seating areas, and at the back wall on my right was a pool table and gaming lounge. On the other side was a sunken-in living area, with the couch built right into the floor. Several industrial-style bookshelves surrounded that area, filled to the brim.

“And what’s this?”

A deep male voice called out from near the pool table. When I spun on my heel in that direction, I saw a tall man—obviously related to Ivan—coming from the patio on this floor. He was followed by another man who clearly looked like the other two, and I had to assume these were his brothers.

“This is our new resident, boys. Adley, this is Abrahim.” I looked at the tall guy leading the way in and nodded.

He had lighter hair like his brother, but where Ivan’s eyes were a gray-blue like a storm, Abrahim’s were green and bright. He was littered with just as many tattoos, and he sauntered over for a handshake, looking as though he could just as soon kill me as shake my hand.

“So, this is who wrapped my brother’s cock around her finger.”

“Fucking hell, Abe. Shut it.”

Ivan shoved his brother playfully, and Abrahim took it all in stride, knocking him on the shoulder before walking away toward the stairs.

“Nice meeting,” Abrahim called over his shoulder, his hand raised in a wave. “I need food.”

Left a bit turned around, I glanced over at the other man who’d come in from outside. He was just as tall as the others but somehow…darker—in every sense of the word.

The guy’s hair was a much deeper brown, nearly black, and his entire being exuded a shadowy aura. If I believed in that shit. His muscles bulged underneath the fitted black shirt her wore, sleeves stretching to his wrists even though it was a warm spring day.

One of the most startling things about him was the scar that slashed across his chin down his neck in a jagged line. That nasty-looking old injury was just half the shocking finale, though, because the guy’s eyes were so pale greenish-brown that they looked almost…yellow.

“Adley, this is Vlad. Don’t expect the same greeting.”

I could guess that much. For as blunt as Abe had been, he was at least sort of friendly. Vlad didnotlook friendly in the slightest.

“And it’s not just because he’s an uptight prick. Vlad doesn’t talk.”

My stare flicked from Ivan back to his brother. “Oh, well. Sorry about that, I guess. Umm, nice to meet you.”

When in doubt, always go with kindness.

Vlad regarded me, his oddly colored stare seeing into my bones. But just as quickly as he’d laser-focused on me, he blinked, nodding before he offered a short wave and went downstairs.

“Aww. I think he likes you.”

I glared over at Ivan as he smirked, but all he did was laugh, hoisting my bag up on his shoulder again and nodding at another set of small stairs to my right that went up.

“What? We’re going to the attic?”

Dragging my feet just a bit, I followed Ivan toward the steps when he turned around and met me with that devastating grin of his again.

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