Page 4 of The Bratva's Forced Innocent Bride

I was stunned to discover all those families who’d taken me in were getting paid. I’d certainly never seen any of it, having to grovel for the most basic necessities and always being told how grateful I should be. Living on my own was grueling and scary at first, but even though it wore me out, I relished my independence and loved not having to answer to anyone who didn’t have my best interests at heart.

That was why it was so hard to accept this lavish gift of flying first class, even though I was loving every second of it. Jenna would have been sincerely upset if I refused, because I’d learned that some people were good, generous, and kind-hearted. I was lucky to have her as a friend, and we both would have been having just as much fun if we were back in our old place sharing that greasy pepperoni pizza that was the height of extravagance to us.

At the airport, a driver was waiting for us, and as I settled in for the ride up to Jenna’s sister’s place, I was already planning to plunk my behind by the pool and do nothing for ten hours straight. At least.

But before I could even get in the door, Katie hurried out as fast as she could with her adorable baby in her arms, telling me one of her brothers-in-law was going to be taking me on a little tour of Hollywood.

“You remember Max, don’t you? You met him at Christmas, or at least I think you did,” Katie said, looking a bit stressed out.

My mind raced back through time, instantly pulling Max out of my memories. Uh, of course, I remembered him. We’d had a lovely chat during what little of that holiday vacation I got to enjoy before we fled back to San Francisco.

From the moment he introduced himself to me, he had laid it on thick. An obvious flirt and professional player, I nearly got caught up in his games, enjoying myself too much as we talked and laughed. It was probably a blessing that Jenna dragged me back home in such a hurry, or I might have developed an uncomfortable, unrequited crush on him.

Now, he was going to take me somewhere, just the two of us? The crush was springing back to life before I could even stammer out a reply. Lunacy. An accomplished, cocky, older man like him wouldn’t even remember me, and I was sure he had his arm twisted to do this for some reason. The only thing to do was politely decline and get my butt in that pool chair.

But since Katie looked so anxious and it was clear that Jenna wanted some family time alone, I had no choice but to agree.

“Sure, okay, if it’s no problem,” I said.

The words were barely out when Max came out of the big double front doors, taller and more handsome than I remembered. And I remembered him as being pretty damn good-looking.

His dark hair was tousled, a bit longer than I recalled, with the wavy tips brushing the open collar of his dark blue shirt. The shirt was haphazardly tucked into jeans that clung to his muscular thighs, and I quickly jerked my head up before I was caught staring at that part of his anatomy. When I made my way back up to his face, and his eyes met mine, the cafe au lait colored irises darkened to a rich black coffee hue, and a slow smile curled his lips.

And oh, damn. There was that dimple that I recalled.

His long, lean legs ate up the steps as he made his way down, quickly but without seeming like he was in a hurry. He was right in front of me all too soon, taking my hand in a brisk, friendly shake that warmed me to my bones and made me tug at the light sweater I was wearing. Much too warm for LA weather, especially when such a hot man was staring down at me with a look in his eyes I couldn’t decipher.

I shivered as his hand fell away from mine, and he turned to open the door of a bright red convertible—some kind of imported car that was probably worth my tuition for the next three years. He held the door open for me and smiled again, those dark eyes flashing.

“Are you ready, Brooke?” he asked, the sound of my name in his deep, rumbling voice sending a tremor through my knees.

Oh, it was clear now that he recognized me, but other than that, I couldn’t fathom what that spark in his eyes meant. No, I didn’t think I was ready, not at all, but I wanted to find out.

Chapter 2 - Max

Of course, I was going to accept an invitation to dinner at Aleks and Katie’s. My sister-in-law was among the top five cooks I knew, and I was always happy to have one of her delicious meals. What I wasn’t expecting was for it to come with strings attached.

“I’m pretty sure nothing will happen,” Katie said, pulling me aside as soon as I arrived that evening. “But Aleks is being tight-lipped about how he’s going to deal with your stupid brother.”

The stupid brother in question was Lev, who’d managed to marry Katie’s kid sister without her or Aleks finding out about it, and word in the family was that Aleks was still fuming and looking to take at least one swing at Lev.

“It was bad enough that things blew up with Jenna at Christmas,” Katie continued pleading. “Poor Brooke already had to get dragged back home then. I’d really like it if the next time she’s here, a fight doesn’t break out in front of her.”

I perked up at hearing Brooke’s name. I would have liked to say I hadn’t given her a single thought since I missed the chance to get to know her better in the winter, but that would have been a lie. The truth was, she hadn’t left my mind much at all in the past months, always popping up at the most inopportune times.

“What’s this about Brooke?” I asked, pretending to search my memory while Katie twisted her apron.

My newest niece was babbling away in her baby chair, gumming on the safety strap and being about the cutest thing in the world. I pretended to think about it as Katie went on to ask me to take Brooke out for a drive.

“Just until I’m sure Aleks isn’t going to go ballistic on Lev. He shouldn’t. I mean, there’s no reason to since I don’t want to bash his head in anymore, but you know Aleks.”

I did, and I also didn’t think there’d be a fight. But this was a prime chance to get Brooke to myself for a bit. I was blindsided by the news that she’d be spending a week down here in LA, and I hoped it would be for real this time. While I’d been up in the San Francisco area plenty since our first meeting, I was so busy with the problems with Lev’s territory that there was no time to seek her out.

But would it be worth it to rekindle the flame that barely got lit in the first place? Hadn’t that wildly attractive woman been maddeningly reticent and almost immune to my charm? I never could let a loss go easily.

“Hmmm,” I said, waving one of the toys attached to little Alina’s chair.

She kicked her feet and laughed, softening the anxiety in Katie’s eyes as she looked at her daughter. I didn’t think there’d be any punches thrown, but I yearned to see Brooke again. It would be nice to put this bizarre attraction to bed once and for all so that she’ll stop haunting my dreams. Or if the attraction didn’t wane, take her to bed and keep her there.

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