Page 12 of Pregnant Bratva Virgin

“This is the last voice message received from William Dee on the same night he was murdered. This voice message leadsstraight to you, Utkin. So, lucky for you, today you’re our leading suspect.”

A flicker itches in my jaw as cold reckonings start diverging their own pathways in my head. This man deserves the same treatment as Willy Dee, but I’m going to need to be more strategic with this schmuck. Maybe I can get him assigned to traffic controller for the rest of his life. Yes. Game over, and he can rot there and finish out his miserable existence.

“Where’s the evidence of what William saw? Huh?” I test the thick sheet of anger between Officer McGloughlin and me growing into its own beast.

“He sent the message at approximately 11:05, and he was on stake out at your club.”

“So? It means nothing. All it means is he sent his last voice message from the club. It doesn’t mean I had anything to do with his death. Come on, Officer, you look like a senior. Surely you should be aware you need to have actual evidence in order to make an arrest.”

Triggering the right nerve, I watch Officer McGloughlin draw his gun, aiming it at the center of my temple. I’d showed him up in front of his bitch subordinates, he has no choice but to react. That’s all I wanted to see. No man can let that happen. The same reason I personally handled Willy Dee myself. He tried to infect my operation like a malignant disease, and I had to cut him out.

“You might think you’re above the law, but you’re not. You look like you’re a smart man, so that means you’re coming down to the station.”

Standing up, I smirk, covering the space by intimidating him. “As you wish, but you’ve got the wrong man. I’m just ahardworking club owner who wants to show the Chicago people and its visitors a good time.”

Officer McGloughlin’s glassy eyes harden as I stand firm, his pistol still pointed at my temple, but his hand is shaky. I wait it out, the gloom I was worried about earlier actualized. What a treat. I let my eyes bore into him, a slow tug inching up the corner of my mouth as his hand drops, and he nods to his team.

“No. I’ve got the right man. The voice note is enough to put you in jail, Ryurik, until such time as you can prove you didn’t do this.”

“Like I said, if this is what you need to do, go ahead.” I keep my eyes fixed on him, knowing my men have probably already moved Jarvis out the back of the building long ago. The click of the cuffs lock down on my wrists as the officers shove me in the back, moving me out the door. I eyeball one of my associates, the Bratva code being activated, meaning my men will be put in place and I will be bailed out asap.

I’m going to be out in a few days, and when they let me go… it’s war…

Chapter Seven - Emily

When the world’s collapsing in on you and all sides are crumbling away and you’re falling down a deep hole, there’s no way to grip on to hope. As I battle the morning Chicago traffic, I feel a heavy weight on my chest, despite the promotion I’ve received.

Another loan rejection from the loan program I applied for.Denied.You’re not approved.There’s only so many ways to declare a rejection, but I’ve deciphered them all in my head by now. I pass by West Garfield Park, rain pelting down, matching my misery, because I can’t let Laura die. Not with everything she’s done for me.

I cruise to a stop at a red light, the radio not able to drown out the dark memories of having to sneak food into our eight-bed dorm room in the eerie orphanage. Hell on earth some days, but the girls I connected with in there made it better. We were all trauma bonded together in abandonment, but most of us made it through. All of them had a hand in holding me up until Laura swanned in with her golden halo, rescuing me like the heavenly angel she was.

I stood beside the nun, my T-shirt stained from cornflakes. I’d given up hope every time they introduced me to potential new foster parents or adoptees, and that day was the same as all the others. I scratched my head as the nun spoke to me, her eyes stern and cold.

“Stop scratching otherwise you won’t be taken. They’ll think you have fleas, and we don’t bathe you.”Agnus—I hated the woman with raw passion. The head nun of our dorm, and the most feared. I swore she only worked with children to torturethem in subtle ways that broke their spirits. Often there were nights I went to bed hungry, not able to stomach the options.

“Oh, you’re hungry? Then you can have another bowl of oats. They’re good for you. Will make you strong. If you’re lucky I’ll add some syrup in for you.”It was almost as if Agnus delighted in the pain of others. The glint in her eye was too shiny for it not to be true.

“No thanks, I’ll pass.”

I didn’t want another bowl of cloggy porridge, but my other orphan mate and I found a way to smuggle in Snickers bars to eat. They never used to last long, and I would devour them and hide the wrappers. You never knew when you would get another treat. Shuddering at the vividness of the memory, I turn into my street, finding a parking space and sitting for a second, trying to stop the tears from spilling over.

“We’re going to find a way. Hold on, Laura. You saved me, so it’s my turn to save you.” I look up into the mirror, smoothing back my gelled bun and reapplying a fresh coat of lip gloss.

Pulling myself together, I inhale a deep breath, heading inside. It’s a good thing, Brady and Milton are there to greet me with their shenanigans.

“Hey, why so glum?” Brady inquires, sipping his coffee. I drag my backpack off my shoulder, glad to offload the weight. Maybe they’ll have a solution I haven’t thought of.

“I got rejected for a loan. I’m cooked,” I tell him.

“That’s a shitty start. Doughnut?” he chirps, proposing a sweet alternative.

“Nah. A sugar high isn’t going to fix this one.”

“Right. I guess not. Have you spoken to her today?” Brady asks, walking me to my desk.

“No. I can’t—I don’t want to come back to her and say, hey I’ve got everything under control, and I’m working on it. No, I can’t do it to her anymore. I’d rather not say anything at all until I work out a solution,” I explain.

“I hear that,” Brady replies.

---