Page 5 of Paid for By the Bratva

I call for Yuri, one of my most trusted men.

“Boss?” he enters my office.

I hand him a photo of Lara. "Keep an eye on her, but don't get too close," I instruct Yuri. "Just gather information and come to me the moment you notice anything strange.”

“Done, Boss,” he tells me.

***

Three days later, Yuri asks to meet me. "Boss, you asked to see an update as soon as it came in on the girl," Yuri informs me as he hands over the latest report.

"Thank you, Yuri. You may leave," I say, taking the papers from him. As I scan through them, my suspicions only deepen.

I scan the surveillance footage and photos and watch Lara leave her apartment in broad daylight with a backpack in tow. Instead of taking the family driver, which she usually does during the day, she sneaks out from the service lane and hails a cab. I switch to the next footage, which shows her entering a strange, nondescript, and broken-down building. It looks abandoned. The footage ends here, but I see images of her making an exchange. She’s selling a pair of diamond earrings to a man, and there’s a photo of her putting an envelope in her purse.

Why would Lara need to pawn off her jewelry? What kind of trouble could she be in? More than anything, and despite not wanting to, I feel worried for her. She’s just a young girl in a big city and could find herself in hot water sooner than she realizes.

Somehow, knowing that her brothers are in the dark, a far-fetched sense of responsibility to protect her falls on me. I cast the thought aside. She belongs to a family I don’t trust.

But if I know of her whereabouts and something happens to her, won’t it be my fault?

There are more images and photos of her entering small pawn shops, making transactions. Something tells me she’s looking for the best price, like every dollar counts.

The pieces of the puzzle are starting to come together, but I still can't make sense of Lara's actions. What could she possibly need the money for, given how rich her brothers are? What is she hiding from them?

The contrast between the quiet, innocent, and reserved girl I've met multiple times and the wild partygoer with seedy daytime dealings captured in the footage is striking. There must be more to her story.

This beautiful, twenty-two-year-old is turning out to be the most interesting Zolotov from the lot. I decide to keep a closer eye on this wild one.

***

Later that evening, our families are gathered together for dinner to celebrate Anoushka’s birthday. Across the table, I can't help but notice Lara's tense demeanor. She picks at her food, her eyes darting around the room as if searching for an escape.

"Is everything alright, Lara?" Vanya asks, concern etched on her face.

"Of course, Sister. Just a bit tired," Lara responds with a forced smile to her cousin.

"Perhaps you're overdoing it with all those museum visits," her brother Vladimir chimes in, casting a disapproving glance in her direction.

“Museum visits?” I speak out before I can stop. Is that what her brothers think she’s up to?

Suddenly, Lara looks over at me, almost frightened that I’ve addressed her passively. Her black, doe-like eyes knock on mine, and she shuffles in her seat.

As I watch her reaction to my question, a strange feeling stirs within me. The way her cheeks flush a delicate shade of pink under my gaze, the way her eyes widen with a mix of surprise and apprehension—it's all too captivating. She quickly regains her composure and offers me a polite smile, but I notice the way her fingers fidget nervously in her lap.

Vladimir takes this opportunity to speak up, his tone annoyed. "Yes, museum visits. Lara seems to have developed an interest in art recently. We suggested it to her, but she’s taken quite a liking to it and is hardly ever home after noon,” he shoots his sister a disapproving look.

Lara, whose eyes are still locked onto mine, averts her gaze when she notices her brother’s gaze. Hauntingly, I become aware of the crushing disappointment of not having her attention any longer.

"I'm just enjoying my youth while I still can," she mutters.

Oh,she sure is, I think to myself as the images of her dancing the night away with those sultry moves come to mind. I clear my throat, reminding myself just who she is, forcing myself not to focus on the heat pooling between my legs.

She’s my sister-in-law Anoushka’s cousin. Far too young, not that I could be interested. I’m 33, and she? 22.

Throughout the evening, I continue to observe Lara from across the room, attempting to piece together this enigma of a girl. She’s so quiet and polite, only speaking when spoken to.

How is this the same girl who wears six-inch heels and makes her way in and out of glamorous bars? What secrets does she hide beneath her innocent facade?

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