Page 67 of Captured By the Bratva

IVAN

Two days later, after I’d thought I’d reached an important step of explaining to Becca that she was holdingmehostage by capturing my heart, I sighed heavily and slumped in the chair at the table at the family’s mansion.

She’d gotten so damn mad, and it had taken me a full night of restless sleep to think back and understand why.

Becca was always on my mind, deep in my heart, and it had hurt when she’d blown up at me after I’d fucked her on that table. I’d taken her the way I had to show her with my desire how badly I coveted her, and she’d taken it the wrong way in the end.

After we came, and when I’d asked her again if Dom had ever been in that studio, I’d inquired because I was jealous. I wanted to think that I was the only man to really everseeBecca, to be invited into her special place and share intimacy there.

Knowing she wanted me in that place felt like a reward, and I wanted to get used to the idea of being theonlyman to ever go there.

But I saw how she likely assumed I was just after information for the sake of wars and vendettas, for the purpose of being a step ahead of my enemies.

Asking about Dom so soon after we’d had that deep conversation, after we’d told each other what we saw for ourselves in the future, she would’ve wondered about my intentions.

Because we started our relationship unconventionally, with her as my hostage in the matter of business, we would always have that past to overcome, that lingering lack of trust in the beginning.

I couldn’t blame her for being so on edge and suspicious. Especially after the lifelong treatment Murphy gave her—asking her to do favors, then Dom manipulating her where her heart lay.

She would need time to get used to the fact that my feelings for her were sincere, that I wanted her for a selfish reason unlike what her father and her rapist had in mind.

I wanted Becca because she completed me. Because with her, knowing I might have her love in return, I was a better and stronger man.

No time for it now.

Right now, I had to push back the headache of making up with her and expressing myself clearer. I was here for a discussion about business, and it wasn’t looking good.

I’d been busy with more issues at the clubs, and now I had to take a meeting with Alek about the increase of drugging incidents.

I was the last to arrive, coming straight from LeVant’s and checking with Kenneth that he would be extra cautious tonight. Even though it seemed like they’d been waiting for me, I stayed quiet while the rest of the brothers greeted me.

“We’ve got to stay on top of this,” Alek began.

I nodded. That was what I was doing yesterday and today, dealing with the news of a few more people being drugged atclubs, including one of ours. Two men had died so far, and one woman might not make it. “I’m trying.”

Once this got to the news, we’d be facing lots of trouble. From law enforcement. The Feds. Even our clientele. The news of bad drugs at our clubs would scare off our guests from being members and visiting. Money made the world go round, and we had to be wise about how to deflect this rising potential of bad press.

Alek was furious, drumming his fingers on the table.

I was livid too. This was personal now, my avenue of the Bratva organization under fire. This was no longer a simple hiccup we could overcome.

Dmitri summed it up perfectly. “Someone’s setting up the Bratva to take the fall for this.”

“And it’s got to stop.” Alek leaned forward in his seat, eyeing me for a long moment. “Now.”

Goddammit. I know that.

“Drugs had never been an issue,” Nik said. “But this hardcore shit sounds like it’s going to be a problem that we can’t wait out to finish on its own.”

Obviously.We wouldn’t stop the drug trade completely, but we had to figure out who was dropping this nasty shit near or at our clubs. The Bratva was in this to make money, like any other corporation, but we only planned to do so with the typical drugs that were already available elsewhere. Not this experimental crap that seemed to be a lab product.

It was killing customers. And Alek was right. It had to stop now. Not tomorrow. Not after we found Murphy and I killed him. We had to end this before further damage brought us down.

“What if someone goes undercover at a club?” Maxim suggested. He glanced at me, facing me directly. “Maybe it’s doing more harm than good for you to show up. So many peopleon the club scene know you and recognize you. These drugs might not pass hands when you’re around for that reason.”

I nodded, sighing. “I was thinking that too.” I was viewed as the Bratva’s representative at all the clubs.

“Undercover?” Nik winced, rubbing his jaw. “I don’t think I can. Not right now.”

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