Page 8 of Brutal Bratva King

“You heard what he said,” Leon huffs, throwing his hands in the air.

“I did. And I agree with him,” I sigh.

“You what?” my brothers say in unison.

“I agree with him.”

I don’twantto marry Rodion. He’s the last person on earth I would choose to marry. But for my family’s sake, to get him to actually co-operate and be a part of the alliance without causing shit all the time—and for Raisas’ sake—because she is my friend, and she is constantly stressing about our families getting along and how it will affect her baby—for them—I will marry him.

I feel like maybe I am not cut out to contribute to the business, but I can make life easier for everyone by contributing to the alliance.

“No,” Leon says, angrily.

Chapter 3 - Rodion

“What do you mean, no?” I snarl. “She just agreed it was fair.” I wave my hand in her direction, gesturing to her. She throws me a heated glare, her eyes piercing and bright.

“Excuse me. Do not speak about me as though I’m not standing right here,” she snaps, annoyed and looking like she wants to rip my head off.

Leon and Yefim turn to each other and stare in disbelief, neither knowing what to say.

Anya sighs loudly, letting the breath slowly out of her lungs. “Our families arealreadyjoined. We already have an alliance. But I agree with Rodion that it is fair for one of the Kuznetsovs to marry a Dubrov of their choosing. Obviously,I am the only unmarried one in the family, so it has to be me.”

Leon pulls his mouth tight. “What about your brother, Rad? Or Roman?” he tries his luck. “One of them can maybe marry a Dubrov instead?”

I don’t get what the difference is to him.

Again, I get the feeling like I want to punch his teeth in. “I am the leader of this family. It will be me, not my brothers,” I say forcefully.

Leon turns to Anya. Practically pleading with his sister to see reason. “You don’t have to do this Anya, we can come up with another plan, something else, you are our sister and—“

“And Raisa is his sister,” she says calmly. “What is your point, Leon?”

I sit down. It seems that she is determined to accept this arrangement and I really don’t need to be arguing on my own behalf. What in the world is happening right now? The last thingI ever would have expected was for her to agree with meandthen defend the idea against her brothers' disapproval.

Every single one of them is clearly dead set against this but Anya is not letting them handle the situation. She has full control of it.

Does she like me?

Has she liked me all along?

I suck my cheeks in to hide the grin that is threatening to spread across my face. I don’t want them to think I’m being arrogant or spiteful by sitting here smiling. I have to hold my emotions back and stay in control of myself.

Anya stares at each of her brothers, waiting for any of them to try and argue again.

Oleg stands up, wanting to add to the conversation for the first time. Of all the people in this room, he is the last one who has a right to disapprove of this.

“Anya, this isn’t a small decision and I just want to be sure that you understand what you’re agreeing to. “

“This conversation is over, guys. I will go ahead with the arranged marriage. No one is forcing me into this, and I am doing it of my own free will.” She is standing tall with the palms of her hands flat on the table. She looks powerful in the tightly fitted grey suit that hugs her fuller curves and accentuates her perfect body. With an attitude as strong as the one she is carrying, no one can mess with her. Not even her brothers.

She looks fucking sexy. I know I’m staring, and I shouldn’t be, not now during such tense negotiations.

I clench my jaw, still determined not to interfere in this discussion.

There is no need. She is handling this perfectly.

She definitelywantsme, and it’s all become apparent right now. All this time I’ve been watching her I thought she despised me.

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