Page 19 of Paid for By the Bratva

I brace myself as the storm breaks. On the one hand, Lara’s brothers stand passing accusations. On the other, my younger siblings fight back. Ivan, Boris, and Nikolai remain neutral, trying to appease the tension.

Voices overlap into an incoherent din.

“I’m going to kill you!” Denis shouts, lunging at me, but his cousin Lev steps in to restrain him. “Let go of me!” Denis demands, trying to push Lev aside.

“You took advantage of her!” Mark accuses. “She’s innocent and naive, and you’re ruining her life!”

“Watch yourself, Mark,” my brother Nikolai warns, stepping beside me. “Dima wouldn’t act without a reason.”

“Like hell, he wouldn’t!” Mark screams, hurling his scotch at the wall. My own relatives return fire, everyone shouting and gesturing wildly.

Amid the turmoil, Lara grips my hand so tightly it hurts. I see the fear in her eyes. This situation is spiraling out of control.

I catch Nikolai’s eye and subtly nod toward the door. As the eldest Orlov sibling, his authority carries weight. Nikolai moves to intercept Abram, who is pacing angrily but happens to be the only one who can bring his brothers under control.

"That's enough," Nikolai rumbles, placing a hand on Abram's shoulder. Abram tries to shake him off, but Nikolai clamps down. "We'll get nowhere carrying on like children."

Nikolai's words, although harsh, have a meaningful effect on the room. Ivan, Lara’s cousin and head of the Zolotov empire, takes this moment to continue with the appeasement.

“My brother-in-law is right.” He comes and joins Nikolai. “The step has already been taken. Now that the initial shock has passed, let’s settle down and have a proper discussion. Dima and Lara have something to say, and we must hear it.”

“That would be wise,” Boris adds.

Lara’s brothers and my younger siblings, though still angry, stand down. I notice Nikolai and Anoushka look relieved that war hasn’t yet broken out in their household.

“How? Explain yourself,” Abram begins, falling back into a chair. Anoushka hands him a scotch, which he takes with a grateful nod.

I feel Lara trembling beside me, and a protective instinct surges through me. I squeeze her hand reassuringly, offeringwhat little comfort I can amidst the chaos. I clear my throat. "Lara and I have been secretly seeing each other for a few months. We realized we wanted to be together, so we decided to get married. I know it was a drastic decision, but I couldn't bear the thought of losing her."

A murmur ripples through the crowd as they absorb the news. Nikolai and Anoushka exchange a glance, their faces tense. "You realize what you've done, Dima," Sofia says coldly. “You’ve gone and chosen a girl who could be of great threat to our family.”

“Sofia,” Nikolai warns. “Stand back. Lest you forget that my wife is a Zolotov, too.” His face glowers.

Sofia’s eyes flicker to Anoushka and then back at our oldest brother. “Anoushka is not Lara,” she hisses. “This girl Dima’s gone and brought into our folds has just come to America. We knownothingabout her.”

“And we know nothing about your brother,” Lara’s second oldest brother Vladimir bellows back.

Sofia and Vladimir stare at each other like two cats on the hunt, neither backing down.

"Enough!" Nikolai's booming voice cuts through their anger. He steps between them, his gaze stern and commanding. "This is not the time or place for this, given how our families are now united."

"Your brother has disrespected our family," another of Lara's brothers, Denis, growls, his eyes never leaving mine. "We won't stand for it."

“And we won’t stand for it either,” Fedor growls. “For all we know, she seduced him!”

"Fedor!" I say sharply, angry at my brother for how he’s reduced Lara to a seductress when she’s anything but. Lara looks up at me with surprise, and it pains me to see she didn’t expect me to defend her.

And here I thought we’d come to know each other. "I understand that you're upset, but we made this decision together. Lara is my wife now, and I will do everything in my power to protect her and make her happy. That means you all need to stop attacking our decision."

"Protect her?" Abram scoffs. "From what? Her own family?"

"From anyone who threatens her happiness," I reply, tightening my grip on Lara's hand. She seems so small and fragile amidst the storm of emotions swirling around us. "Including her family, if necessary."

"Enough!" Nikolai repeats more forcefully, glaring at both families. "Dima and Lara are adults, and they've made their decision. Whether we agree with it or not, we must respect it."

"Fine," Abram spits, narrowing his eyes at me. "But don't expect us to just accept this quietly. I have questions."

"Nor should you," I tell him, meeting his gaze unflinchingly. "But know that I love your sister.” Beside me, Lara gasps, and I feel her hand freeze in mine.“And I will do everything in my power to be the husband she deserves. Anything you wish to know, you need only ask.”

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