Page 1 of Brutal Bratva King

Chapter 1 - Rodion

A low thrum of conversation drifts steadily through the air at my sister’s party. Raisa and Oleg look happy together. It annoys me, even though I should be happy that my sister is happy, I feel agitated just being here. I still don’t trust that guy. I still think that he manipulated the situation with my sister, and I don’t like it at all.

On top of that suspicion, ever since Oleg Dubrov forced us into an alliance by marrying my sister, I’ve had this annoyance about the whole arrangement because I think I got the short end of the stick.

Those Dubrovs act like they own Boston. But this city isn’t theirs. It belongs to no one with its pulsing energy and fast-paced lifestyle. They think they can control the city like they can control us.

I sigh, standing alone, leaning my shoulder against the wall as I watch the rest of the crowd converse, laugh and enjoy themselves while all I’m doing is waiting until it’s over and I can get the hell out of here.

I glance at my watch.

Still, a few more hours, I reckon.

Throwing back the rest of my drink, I push off the wall and head over to the bar for a refill. May as well take the edge off and enjoy the expensive single malt.

Stepping around Alexei and Leon, Oleg’s brothers, I nod a greeting and then quickly sidestep to avoid being dragged into any kind of conversation. The Dubrovs are a close-knit family. A tight group that makes everyone else feel like outsiders.

My sister seems to fit in well here, but my brothers and I are all looking as uncomfortable as I feel.

“Whisky,” I say, placing my empty glass on the bar counter.

The barman takes the dirty glass away and replaces it with a clean one, pouring me a double.

I hear her voice before I realize she is standing next to me.

“Pink gin, please. With strawberries,” I turn to look at her, and as always, she takes my breath away.

Anya Dubrov. The youngest of the siblings and the only girl in the family.

Since the first time I set my eyes on her, she has stolen my attention.

Anya glances towards me with a cold look in her eyes.

Her long light brown hair looks almost gold tonight. It’s beautiful, pinned up in that messy bun with loose strands hanging around her face.

Her caramel eyes are bright and fierce and her plump lips pulled tight when our eyes meet across the short space between us.

Then just as quickly as she looks towards me, she turns away again.

She is the only reason I actually don’t ditch these parties completely. Well, that and the fact that I need to maintain the business relationship I am trying to grow with them.

I didn’t know she had arrived. I’ve been wondering for the last hour if perhaps she wasn’t going to be here today.

I guess the party just started looking up.

The only problem is that she doesn’t seem very fond of me at all.

“Hello, Anya. Fashionably late?” I ask, turning towards her, leaning my elbow on the bar counter.

She turns towards me again, pulling a sour face and raising one brow as she looks me up and down with distaste. “Rodion,” she says curtly.

“You look lovely,” I say, admiring her dark blue dress and how it flows over her hips and curves over her lower back onto her ass. The things I would like to do to her.

“I know,” she says, her gaze straight ahead towards the bar.

Her coldness annoys the absolute hell out of me and turns me on at the same time. It’s like she enjoys taunting me.

I could be wrong, though. She might just flat out dislike me. More likely.

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