Page 6 of Forced By the Bratva Beast

I almost spit out my drink, his admission sobering me up. “You’re studying to be a doctor?”

“Yep. Sure am. What about you, sweetheart? You look smart. I like a smart woman. I could do with one.”I could do with one.What is he talking about?A dubious expression rises on my face, thinking its drinks giving him all this confidence.

“Lawyer. Umm, I’m a second-year law student,” I reply, a little too inebriated to lie.

“Wow! My dream girl.” The nameless guy puts a hand to his chest, fluttering his eyes. “We go together,” he says, putting me off completely.

“Hey, excuse me for a second. I’m going to the bathroom. Back soon.”

“Okay—oh wait, what’s your name? I didn’t get your name!” he calls out, but I’ve already slipped through, whispering into Ava’s ear.

“I’m going to the bathroom.”

“Okay. We’ll be here.”

“No problem.”

Relieved, I dash to the bathroom to make myself comfortable again, holding my breath as I drift through the crowd. The problem is, I have to go back… I can’t leave without my friends. I duck inside the bathroom, emerging to keep watch on my friends from afar. They’re all standing in the same spot chatting away to the worst picks of the bunch. In my humble opinion.

I should just leave now. I can’t stay here. I want to go. I can text them when I get out, so they know I’m okay.

Catching an Uber is my next decision as I decisively walk around the back half of the club avoiding my girlfriends. It’s a relief when the Chicago night air breezes over my face. Yes. I remain unscathed.

I walk out of the club, staring down at my phone and my impending Uber booking. Oof. There it is again. That rock hard chest. And the smell of sandalwood and leather. Damn. The same familiar strength of fingers grips my forearm, taking hold.

As my heart rate skyrockets, I look up, a pair of curious, haunting eyes glaring back into mine. “Leaving so soon?”

Now this is more like my type. This is the type of brooding danger that does it for me. A sizzle of heat transpires between us as I meet his gaze, the corner of his mouth quirked.

“Yeah, not really happening in there,” I reply cautiously as he releases my arm. This time he’s not with his lurking friend. Good. It gives us a little space to talk to one another. People fan out around us, leaving us to feel one another out.

I’m the one always giving everyone else stranger danger instructions, but I’ve decided this man is breathtakingly gorgeous; his square jaw’s so tight it looks as if it can break steel. His eyes are alert, his pale smattering of freckles on his alabaster skin matching mine. He’s tall enough for me to stand on my tiptoes or crane my neck to glance up at him. Which I’m all kinds of fine with. His all-black attire is even more enticingly deadly, giving him just the right amount of mystery.

“You should be careful. You were too busy looking down at your phone,” he scolds, a frown gathering. Yes. Teach me a lesson. My mouth waters as I swallow down my elicit thought.“You didn’t even see me,” he clarifies, but doesn’t move inside the club.

“Sorry. I ah… I was trying to organize an Uber. Are you going back inside? Did you leave?”

He chuckles. “Careful, Miss…?” he inquires. “I might think you’re trying to find out more about me.”

Liking the game we’re playing; I break into a smile. “Maybe I am. My name is Sophia. I don’t do last names on first meetings,” I tell him with a straight face, and this seems to amuse him greatly.

“Okay. Name is Andrei. And since you want to know, I stepped outside for some fresh air. It can get stuffy in there when there’s a lot of people. But now you’re here, I’m glad I came out.” He undresses me openly as a funny sensation twinges in my belly.

“Oh, you are?” I flirt back, zaps of electricity sizzling through the air.

“I sure am,” he answers confidently, the smell of leather turning me on. Suddenly, I’ve forgotten all about the Uber as we drift towards the curb together. “Maybe you should skip the Uber, and I can give you a lift somewhere. Save you the money.”

I stare at Andrei for a second, quickly deciding to take a ride with a hot, broody stranger is a good idea. Especially this one.

Maybe I’ll get lucky like Fiona…. “Sure. You can give me a ride somewhere, Andrei.”

Chapter Four - Andrei

I hide my surprise when she says yes. If she only knew what I am, maybe she wouldn’t be so excited to receive a ride from me. That’s the thing; the women of Chicago love a bad guy, and by all definitions I am one of the worst in town. I think Sophia’s different as she sits beside me in the passenger seat for two blocks and small chit-chat later.

There’s something about those emerald-green eyes that make me want to discover more, and the freckles hidden under only a thin sheet of makeup are appealing too. Her lips are sultry enough for me to consider being introduced to them.

“So, I’m your chauffeur at your service,” I joke. “Where are we headed?”

---