Page 4 of Brutal Bratva King

“I will because you asked so nicely,” I grin.

Her cheeks flush Raisa pink with frustration.

With one last heated glare, Anya spins on her heels and marches away from me. I watch the dark blue dress sway over her hips.

I definitely have a plan and her brothers are not going to like it one bit.

But fair is fair, and I don’t see how they can rightfully turn it down given the circumstances.

Raisa arrives at my side, looking around. “Where’s Anya?” she asks, sounding disappointed.

“She just left.”

“What did you say to her?” She throws me a sideways, very accusing look.

“What the hell?I didn’t say anything.”

“You’re always so weird around her.” Raisa huffs, “she’s a really good friend of mine, Rodion. I need you to be nice to her.”

“Iamnice to her,” I say defensively.

“Well, then benicerbecause your version of nice isn’t working.” My sister rolls her eyes and walks off, looking for her friend.

I finish my whisky and set the empty glass on a tray as a waiter walks past me.

They’ve made their announcement, I’ve shown my face. I think it would be alright for me to sneak away now, unnoticed, hopefully.

I take a look around to take stock of where each of my siblings are.

Renat, Radmir and Rigor are all at the bar, chatting and laughing together. Roman and Ruvim are sitting with Yefim and his wife, looking bored, but chatting anyway. And Raisa—well, Raisa seems perfectly comfortable around these people, so I don’t have to worry about her. My youngest sister, Ruslana, couldn’t make it today.

So that’s everyone accounted for. They all seem fine. Which means that I can make an escape.

I turn to leave the party and walk straight into Leon.

“Rodion, I was looking for you. How are things going?”

“Good, yeah. Thanks. And you?”

“Everything is great, man. I don’t like to talk business at family events, but I wanted to check that you’ll be at the meeting on Monday.”

“I’ll be there,” I nod, shoving my hands into my pockets. I really want to get out of here.

“Excellent. Well, I’ll see you there then. Enjoy the rest of the party.”

I smile and Leon walks off. I don’t know why they all make me feel so damn uncomfortable. Something about their attitude. All of the Dubrovs. It’s like they think they are better than everyone else.

I walk quickly out of the party, not wanting to be caught in another weird conversation I don’t feel like having.

Climbing into my car, I rev the engine to life and head out of the Dubrov mansion towards my own home.

Chapter 2 - Anya

Pulling my long hair up into a bun can sometimes be a mission I am not in the mood for. This morning especially. It doesn’t seem to be behaving the way I want it to behave and it keeps softly falling back into my face.

I throw my head forward, gather it up and twist it into a bun it can’t negotiate its way out of.

There.

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