Page 32 of Kidnapped By the Bratva

Timur leans forward, his expression serious. “If Kace and Maxim had confronted each other about Arlo’s death, the truth would’ve come out. Fernando couldn’t afford that. He needed the Russians and Americans at each other’s throats, not finding common ground.”

I watch as the realization dawns on Kristen, his features hardening with anger. The man had been loyal to Kace for years—hearing that his boss, his friend, was murdered in cold blood to further some sick agenda clearly rattles him. It’s a betrayal of the worst kind.

“So Fernando orchestrated everything,” Kristen mutters, his fists clenching on the armrests of his chair. “He killed my boss… like a brother to me, just to fuel the war between you and the Americans.”

I nod, my own rage boiling beneath the surface. “He killed my father to increase the enmity between the Russian and American Mafia. To destroy both of us.”

The room falls silent again, the shared hatred for Fernando palpable in the air. For years, we’ve been manipulated—played like pawns in a game we didn’t even know we were part of. The veil has been lifted. We know the truth, and the Italians will pay for it.

Timur clears his throat, his expression focused as he leans back in his chair. “The Italians have grown in power—more than we anticipated. They’ve been building alliances, expanding their influence. We can’t take them on alone.”

Kristen’s gaze sharpens. “What are you saying?”

“I’m saying if you want to go against Don Fernando, if you want to avenge Kace and Arlo, there needs to be an alliance between the Russians and the American Mafia,” Timur explains. “The Americans have the numbers, and we have the money. Together, we can take down the Italians.”

Kristen nods, his eyes filled with a fierce determination. “Let’s do it. For Kace and for Arlo. We’ll join forces.”

Before I can respond, Artem speaks up from the corner of the room, his arms crossed over his chest. “How can we trust the Americans? How do we know their loyalty won’t falter when things get tough?”

I turn to Timur, waiting for his response. I understand Artem’s skepticism. The Americans have been our rivals for so long—trusting them now, after everything, feels like a gamble.

Timur doesn’t flinch. “There’s a way to ensure loyalty. It’s an old tradition—one that’s been used for centuries.”

“What tradition?” I ask, already knowing where this is going but wanting to hear it aloud.

Timur’s eyes flicker toward me, his voice steady as he answers. “A marriage alliance. Between you and Sophia.”

I feel the words hit me like a punch to the gut. Marriage? To Sophia? The thought stirs something in me, a mix of anger and… something else. Something I can’t quite place. I narrow my eyes at Timur, trying to keep my voice even. “You’re serious?”

Timur nods. “It’s the only way to seal the alliance. The Americans get protection, and we ensure their loyalty through family ties. It’s the right way.”

Kristen looks between us, his expression unreadable. “It’s not uncommon,” he says after a moment. “Marriages have been used to unite families in this world for generations. It’s how our fathers kept alliances strong.”

Artem, however, remains unconvinced. “You’re really going to suggest marrying Kace’s daughter? After everything?”

I meet his gaze. Sophia. The girl who’s been at the center of this mess. The girl I kidnapped, manipulated, and used as a pawn.

“It’s the best option,” Timur continues, his tone resolute. “The Italians won’t stop unless we put them down, and we can’t do it without the Americans. This marriage is the key to securing their loyalty.”

I don’t say anything for a moment, my mind racing. I picture Sophia in the car outside, still reeling from the news of her father’s death. She’s already been through enough—now I’m supposed to marry her? It seems absurd. But Timur’s right. An alliance is the only way to ensure we take down Don Fernando, and a marriage is the best way to cement it.

Kristen speaks up again, his voice softer now. “It would be what Kace would want. He always believed in unity between our families, even when we were at odds.”

I scoff internally. Kace, the man who was willing to sell his daughter off to Jackson Miller for a business deal. Now I’m supposed to take her hand? The thought leaves a bitter taste in my mouth, but I know this isn’t about me. This is about revenge. About power. About taking down the Italians once and for all.

I lean back in my chair, watching the room’s reaction to the suggestion. Timur’s proposal has caught everyone off guard, even me, though I hide it well. Artem looks like he wants to argue, but he knows better. Kristen’s brow is furrowed in deep thought, and Timur, always the strategist, stands there as if he’s already playing out every scenario in his mind.

A marriage alliance. It’s not a bad idea. In fact, it’s more than that—it’s a brilliant one. The Americans would be bound to us by blood, their loyalty guaranteed. I’d gain leverage over them, making their princess my wife. It’s a deal with more than just tactical advantage. It’s a show of dominance, a power move that would secure our position against the Italians and keep the Americans in line.

The image of Sophia flashes in my mind. Her delicate features, those fiery brown eyes, the way she stood defiant even in the face of danger. I think about what it would be like to have her as my wife. Not a bad sight at all. I can picture it—her standing beside me, my ring on her finger, bound to me for life. She’d hate it, of course.

She hates me now.

Hate can be useful. It burns hot, keeps people sharp. And eventually, hate gives way to something else.

Artem breaks the silence, his voice low and laced with skepticism. “So, you’re really considering this?”

I glance at him, a smirk tugging at the corner of my mouth. “It’s not about what I want, Artem. It’s about what’s best for us. The Americans need to be brought into the fold, and this is the most efficient way to do it.”

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