Page 7 of Brutal Bratva King

“I think things are going well, but the balance of our alliance is still favored to your family. I feel that we need to make an effort to even this out.”

My brothers are all watching him closely. Oleg and Alexei sit with their arms folded across their chests. “Well, what did you have in mind?” Alexei asks.

“I believe there is only one way to properly even things out. Since Oleg married someone from my family—I should marry someone from your family.”

There is a crashing silence in the boardroom and my brothers look from one to the other. None of them says a word. Leon looks horrified.

I bite my lip, wondering who in the world he wants to marry. My cousin is already married. I’m the only girl amongst my siblings and—

Oh.

No.

That can’t be right.

Is he suggesting that we get married?

My heart pulls so tight in my chest that I have to press my hand against my ribs to stop the weird pain that is building there.

Rodion—as a husband?

My skin tingles, heating and sending shivers through my body.

I take a deep breath.

Still, no one has said a word.

Rodion looks at each one of my brothers in turn but not at me. “Don’t you think that it is the fair thing to do?” he asks, waiting for their answer.

Leon stands up abruptly.

“You want to marry Anya?” he asks, already angry because he knows the answer.

“Yes. I want to marry your sister, just like Oleg married my sister,” Rodion says calmly.

“Is this a joke?” Yefim asks and Alexei starts laughing, sarcastic and rude.

I huff, feeling incredibly uncomfortable. They are all discussing me like I’m not in the room. Not one of them has turned to look at me and ask me what I think.

Leon and Yefim start talking about how this is not going to happen. Oleg is the only one who is quiet but looks disgusted by the idea. But he married Rodion’s sister. They are having a baby together. He can’t say much about this request without sounding like a hypocrite.

Rodion starts to get really annoyed and he stands as well.

He demands to know what the problem is and Leon and him are now throwing insults at each other. This is getting worse by the second.

I stand up, my hands shaking because my adrenalin is pumping through me.

“Stop,” I say, but no one hears me.

“Stop this!” I shout loudly, but again, I am completely ignored.

It looks as though Rodion and Leon are about to start throwing punches at each other and the table between them is the only thing stopping that from happening.

I pick up my notebook and slam it down hard against the table. A loud snap resounds through the air and all of them freeze, staring at me.

“You are all behaving like complete animals. Stop yelling at each other,” I snap angrily.

I see each of them swallow hard and clench their jaws tightly. Leon is breathing heavily, and Rodion is leaning against the table with his fists knotted in a tight ball.

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