Page 67 of Paid for By the Bratva

Dima sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose. "You know I agree,Solnishko. But Marv won’t bother us anymore, and—"

"But he will bother other women," I interrupt.

"I don't want you putting yourself in harm's way," Dima says, his tone brooking no argument. “I’ll handle it, alright?” But I won't back down so easily. Not on this.

“No,” I shake my head. “This time, a conversation with Marv is not what I ask, Dima. You do realize that your threats would only take him underground, or to a different state, but he would continue what he does, don’t you? We need a full operation with a ploy that’ll ensure he never dares to repeat this little stunt of his.”

“Alright,” Dima says gently, trying to appease me. “Tell me what you have in mind, and I’ll ensure I handle it.”

“Stop,” I shake my head. “I will no longer sit on the sidelines on this matter, Dima. This is my fight, too. I won't sit by while he victimizes more women. I want to help you bring him down, Dima. For me, if nothing else. And I want the pleasure of serving him sweet justice."

His eyes search mine, and I can see the internal battle he's fighting. He studies my face for a moment, weighing his options. "You're braver than anyone I've ever known," he finally admits, his voice thick with admiration. "And I’d be a damned fool to deny you this wish. Tell me, what’s the plan?"

Chapter 24 - Dima

The hum of the city fades into background noise as Fedor and I crouch low in the van, setting up the listening device that is crucial to our mission. I connect the last wire, careful not to ruin its discreet appearance.

"Is it working?" Fedor asks, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Should be," I reply, pressing my ear to the device for a moment before handing him an in-ear monitor. "Just need to make sure we can hear everything."

Fedor nods, and we both slip on our monitors, the soft static a comforting sign that the connection is stable. We position ourselves with a clear view of the bar's entrance, waiting for Sofia and Lara to make their move.

"Remember, we must keep our distance but stay close enough to intervene if needed," I remind Fedor, my heart pounding in my chest.

"Trust me, Dima. I won't let anything happen to them," Fedor reassures me, his eyes never leaving the bar.

As if on cue, Sofia appears, wearing a fiery red wig that contrasts sharply against her pale skin. For a brief second, I, too, fall for her new look, believing her skin always looked like that. The latex masks we had made for both the girls clings to Sofia’s face so tight, that even to me, it feels like this has always been her face. The mask adds a paler tone to her face, her cheekbones are fuller, her nose just turned up a little. She glances around nervously before entering the bar. Moments later, Lara follows, donning a blonde wig that frames her masked face perfectly. She’s got on large eyelashes, her nose is now structured a little thicker, but her cheekbones are higher. The mask she has on wascreated to give her lips a fuller look, the latex sliding straight into her mouth. They're almost unrecognizable even to me—which is just what we’re aiming for.

"Here they go," I murmur, watching as they disappear into the dimly lit bar. And then, I turn to my computer.

Having already received the process from our tech team, it takes me less than two minutes to hack into the bar's CCTV feed on my laptop. The risks we're taking aren’t legal, but I know it's necessary if we're to carry out Lara’s plan.

"Got it," I whisper to Fedor, my eyes glued to the screen as I locate Sofia and Lara inside the bar. "They're in position."

Sofia leans casually against the polished wood of the bar, her red wig catching the soft flicker of candlelight. She scans the room, and when her gaze locks with Marv's, she offers him a coy smile that sends a shiver down my spine. In response, Marv raises his glass to her from across the room.

"Jesus, Sofia" I say through gritted teeth, protective of my sister yet impressed by her ability to play the part so convincingly.

"Relax, Dima," Fedor chuckles softly, trying to lighten the mood. "Both of them know what they're doing."

Lara, meanwhile, has taken up a strategic position near Sofia, pretending to be engrossed in a conversation with a group of girls at a nearby table. Her blonde wig is swept back from her face, revealing a pair of sparkling blue eyes that watch Sofia's every move. I can see the focused determination behind them—she's ready to jump in as soon as she senses the right moment.

As Sofia continues her subtle manipulation with Marv, I watch Lara like a hawk, ready to step in if needed—thoughI know that, ultimately, it's up to them to see this mission through.

And yet, I worry.

The sound of laughter echoes through the listening device as Sofia and Marv start to engage in a playful conversation when Marv stops by her seat, offering to buy a drink.

“Why just one?” she giggles flirtatiously. “A girl deserves at least two.”

My blood rushes to my ears to hear my sister talk like this.

“It’s just the plan.” Fedor tries keeping me grounded. I nod, but my heart beats rapidly.

“Oh, Darling,” Marv says, throwing an arm around her shoulder. “I’d buy you a dozen if you like.”

Sofia looks at him now, deadpan, and says, “Vodka water.”

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