Page 30 of Forced By the Bratva Beast

“Innocent? I don’t think you’re innocent, Andrei.” Angrily, she sips her sparkling water as I soak in her beauty.

“I have to say you look stunning this evening. Red for the redhead. Nice combo. It’s so interesting that you choose to come to such places, Sophia,” I snicker.

“At least I’m not a criminal,” she bites back, her naivety shining through.

Scoffing, I step closer to her, within whispering range. “Oh, you think you know these high-society people, but underneath their fancy clothes and charm, they’re all hiding the darkest of secrets. You don’t want to end up collateral damage, like a docile lamb caught in the crossfire.”

She rolls her pretty green eyes at me. “It’s none of your business what I do, and you shouldn’t have come over here,” she hisses back, livid, but she’s lighting my fire like never before. Grinning, I mirror the same actions from her date placing my hand at the small of her back, enjoying touching her again.

“Oh, it isn’t? But it was my business when I was on your couch hearing you moan,” I growl under my breath. Her head snaps in my direction.

“That was a one-off situation, and I didn’t know who or what you were then. Please leave me alone,” she commands, but for me it comes off like a desperate plea. Her pushing me away feels good to me and excites me to my core.

“But I’m the same person. Like attracts like, you know. And according to the places you keep showing up, you must like being amongst dangerous snakes. So, what’s the difference intalking to me?” I justify, inhaling the intoxicating scent of her perfume.

She steps to the side so as to remove my hand from the small of her back, turning to look me in the face. “You can’t take no for an answer, can you?” Her emerald eyes dazzle, stumping me for a moment.

Shrugging, I slide my hands in my pockets, but she’s too evergreen for me not to notice the hidden attraction in her eyes.

Oh. She wants me. I’m right here, baby. “I have to say, I’m not used to women turning me down, but it’s a refreshing change to see a lady with standards.” I’m not going to lie to her, and judging from the way she’s clasping her hands together, I’m having an intense effect on her too.

She smooths her hair down over her shoulder. “I need you to go. Leave,” she hisses as the glamorous charmers around us glide by.

“Are you sure you want me to leave?” I tease, toying with her emotions, but her fingers are dangling dangerously close to her hip, and if I reach out, I can take her hand and kiss it. Tempted, I admire her one last time, deciding it’s best I leave for now.

“Yes. I’m sure. You’re making me seriously uncomfortable.”

Pausing, the light catches the glint of her earrings in the light. Captivated, but knowing when to bow out, I nod, willing myself to move. “Okay. I’ll let you go for now.”

Her dress is even better up close, and I can tell she didn’t just have it hanging in her closet. It’s likely he brought it for her. That slimy fucker she’s with.

Why did I leave my gun in my glove department?

Chapter Fifteen – Sophia

We enter the luxury five-star hotel, and it has me floating on a cloud as if I’m living in some sort of fantasy world. This can be my life as a high-profile lawyer, and I can have this if I see it through. As I walk with Christopher through the lobby and past the restaurant to the elevators, he beams, turning around to gauge my reaction.

“So, what do you think? It’s been a time, right?”

“Yes, it has. I’ve met so many people, and my purse is stacked with business cards,” I respond, overwhelmed by the high caliber of people I met, but despite all the people I met, the one who affected me the most was Andrei Utkin. The imprint of his hand is still on the small of my back, and I wish it wasn’t. God, why did he have to be there? Chills dot down my spine as I think about who would have let him out, because there’s something etched in the fiber of his being that leads me to believe he did everything they accused him of.

Chris snickers as we cross the carpeted floor, heading to the elevator. “I told you it would be a win for your career. And you handled yourself like a pro. I’m proud of you, and I’m glad I brought you,” he praises. It’s hard not to be taken in by the compliments he’s dishing out. It’s not as if he’s an ugly man. He’s the type of handsome that would suit most people, and his slicked, cropped side part works for him, but he’s no Andrei. I feel no attraction to him, but he still has the same hopeful glimmer in his eye that he had when we were sitting at the café.

“Thank you,” I sigh, still coming down from the night’s events. Right before we reach the lobby elevators a man calls out.I turn to see who it is. He’s dressed in a tuxedo, and of shorter stature with dark brown eyes, dark hair, and olive skin.

“Christopher!” He walks over solo, but his face is recognizable. I’m sure I’ve seen him before inside the event.

“Ah, Bruno. Nice to see you. Enjoy yourself tonight?” he asks as the man nods.

“I did. We raised a lot of money for a lot of people,” he concludes, reeking of cigars and cologne. His thick accent is Italian, and his eyes are intensely focused on me for some reason.

Immediately, his smile opens up, his teeth a shade whiter than normal. He kisses the back of my hand. “Bella, you look beautiful. Red is your color.”

“Bruno, this is Sophia Hearst. She’s a second-year law student at the Chicago School of Law. She accompanied me here tonight to enjoy the event,” he explains while Bruno assesses. I didn’t get a chance to speak with him, but I remember him being at the next table to us.

“Bravo, you’ll go far, I’m sure,” he adds, his attention returning to Chris. “We need to discuss business later, yes?” Chris doesn’t say anything, but he nods. “See you later, Sophia. Enjoy your stay at the hotel.” The lingering on the last sentence sends a weird signal to my brain, but I dismiss it as being an overload of people I’ve been introduced to for the night.

Chris guides me to the elevator, pressing the button, my nerves jumping. As we enter, Chris and I move to the back, the only ones in the elevator. “Most people from the gala event are staying here for the night. It’s a cool place. I stay here a lot when I’m in New York.”

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