Page 18 of Forced By the Bratva Beast

“Born 2002.”

“Wow. You look good in your lawyer uniform. Sexy.” Winking and in full control, I lean back in my chair again as she battles to composes herself.

She ignores my compliment fast-forwarding into her barrage of research questions. “When did you come to United States?”

“When my father moved here in 2000. You wouldn’t have even been born then, sweetheart.”

“Is your father still alive?”

“Hmm, I get it’s for research. You know he’s not alive. He was murdered by some thieving pricks. Yours isn’t either. We’veboth got our pain points,” I deliver in a chilling tone, my cold eyes boring into hers.

“Did you have any other support networks around you at the time?” Her voice is receding into meekness, but I want her to play because I’m just getting started.

“Yes, thankfully. My cousins, brother, uncles and others who arrived at the same time we did.”

“I see. Did you all come to United States with a goal in mind? Why Chicago?”

I can see where she’s digging, and it’s starting to become interesting for me. “Yes. To build a better life like everyone else. Russia at the time was a desolate, cold place to survive, but it gave me the tools to be able to make it here.”

“That’s funny.”

“Not so much. But what is, is that you know my family already. Fiona ring a bell?” This changes her demeanor. Her back straightens, her scribbling stopping as she ends the recording and speaks to me directly.

“Can you stop it? This is my future you’re playing around with.” She’s flustered, her face matching her hair. I shake my head.

“I’m having a hard time concentrating because you’re like a beautiful chameleon, and I want to pick up where we left off.”

She turns the recorder back on. “Why did your family pick Chicago and not any other city?”

“Because it’s a place where my family had carved out a lane for themselves already. If it’s not broken, why fix it?”

“Are you part of a national crime syndicate?”

“Depends on what you call a crime. I’m innocent until proven guilty.”

“You have a rap sheet a mile long and another inmate has advised the Utkins are the top crime family in Chicago currently. What do you have to say about this?”

“I would say that guy’s a filthy snitch, but I will say, the Utkin family are powerful. And yes, I am a boss in my own right. You look like you could boss me around in that skirt. All you need is a whip.”

“Can you please focus on the questions?” She’s close to shouting as I dig harder under her skin.

“Alright. I’ll do my best,” I concede, planning on not doing any of what she’s asking.

“Why are you in jail today, Andrei?”

“Murder.”

“Are you guilty? You were seen on CCTV entering the warehouse with a group of others. Were they your team?”

“Yes. That was my team, and yes, I entered the fucking warehouse. That doesn’t mean I killed the guy. We’ve shipped goods out of that warehouse many times.”

“What types of goods?”

“Do you like Destiny Bar? Is that where I can find you again? Maybe we could go out for dinner next time? Get to know each other a little better.”

“Stop it!” Sophia breaks, her hands shaking as I grin at her. I’ve got her right where I want her.

“That’s not what you said to me last week on your couch, Sophia. In fact, you were begging me to do more. Weren’t you?” I whisper, tapping my finger on the table.

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