Page 2 of Brutal Bratva King

“Did your boyfriend make you late?” I ask, fishing for information. I am almost certain she isn’t seeing anyone, but despite being so drawn to her—I actually know very little about her.

“Hm. Wouldn’t you love to know?”

I chuckle. I would love to know. I would love to know who I need to eliminate to make her mine.

She turns away from the bar and bumps into me. She huffs in annoyance and sidesteps to get around me, but I sidestep at the same time and we end up stuck in this awkward dance. I grab her waist and stop her from moving. Her eyes flare at me as my hands heat against her skin.

“Get your hands off me,” she snaps.

I let go, chuckling, and step to the left so that she can get around me. But not enough, forcing her to have to brush that tight little body of hers against mine.

She smells of jasmine. Those soft, delicate white flowers that you wait all year to see bloom. And when they bloom, they are so intoxicating with their scent that they become all you can think about.

My blood boils as she presses past me.

Fuck.

I want her.

“Still got your eyes on that little firecracker?” Radmir's laughter comes from the bar. I turn to him and throw him a look. I don’t need other people overhearing shit like that.

“She’s a little young for you.” Rad taunts.

“She’s twenty-seven. I’m forty-three. I could teach her a few things.”

Radmir orders a beer and when it arrives he takes three massive chugs of it before setting it back down on the bar and wiping his hand across his mouth.

“Summer heat getting to you?” I ask, standing next to him, my eyes following Anya through the crowd as she walks towards my sister, Raisa.

“Yeah, and this place. How much longer do we have to be here?” he mutters.

“Think of this as a business meeting, Rad. Something we have to do. The alliance is working wonders for our turnover—we have to play nice here.”

“I know. But the Dubrovs are all so arrogant. I wish we could knock them down a level and show them they aren’t any better than us.”

I clench my jaw. I haven’t said it out loud, but I feel exactly the same way my brother does. Radmir just tends to be a lot more vocal about things than I am. Even when he really needs to learn to keep his mouth shut sometimes.

“I’ve got an idea,” I say, without elaborating.

“Good, because I was starting to worry that you were letting them take us for a ride. They’ve taken my sister,I think it’s only fair that we return the favor."

Raisa laughs loudly when Anya leans close to her and whispers something. They’ve gotten pretty close since she married Oleg.

Just behind Raisa, Oleg picks up a glass, waves at the DJ to stop the music and then calls for everyone’s attention.

“I need everyone's attention,“ he pauses until the crowd quiets down.

I lean close to Radmir and whisper, “I guess we are about to find out what the big announcement is.”

“About time,” he sighs.

Oleg pulls Raisa to his side and she giggles as she looks up at him with wide, adoring eyes. She really seems to genuinely love him. I want to be happy for her. I am. It’s just that—why did it have to be him?

“Raisa and I invited you to our home today because you all mean a lot to us and we wanted to share some really special news with you.” Raisa scrunches her nose, clearly excited. Oleg looks down at her and she nods. “Raisa and I are going to have a baby. My beautiful wife is pregnant.”

He leans down and kisses her, and I look away. There are some things I’m not interested in seeing.

My eyes immediately find Anya in the crowd. She’s clapping and excited, cheering just like everyone else.

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