Page 63 of The Bratva's Knocked-Up Bride

I held my tongue despite being tempted to use my words as weapons instead since I knew it wouldn’t get me anywhere. It would only jeopardize it all.

“It’s a shame, you know. My dad would’ve loved to see this moment for himself…hell, he would’ve loved to orchestrate it himself. But unfortunately, he passed a few years back, and he never got to see his goals accomplished or his revenge exacted,” Esidor said, giving Sky’s shoulder a faint squeeze, only making her more tense as she squeezed her eyes shut. His gazedarkened. “Even if the Levovs here ruined his initial plans before and ruined his legacy, I’m here to avenge that dream of his. I’m here to further that legacy…and to accomplish that, you Levovs and Novikovs are going to do exactly what I say.”

Clenching my jaw, I looked only at him. “And if we don’t?”

“You already know the answer to that,” he said with a chuckle, just barely tapping the barrel of the gun against Sky’s head in a taunting manner. She flinched and pulled in a sharp breath, and it took everything in my power to not lash out then and there. “But since I doubt very much intelligence runs through that head of yours, I’ll tell you…”

It was bad enough that Esidor had Sky as his hostage and was planning on trying to ruin both of our families, but it was the cherry on top for him to question my intelligence. To assume I didn’t have it in me to reverse the roles.

Everything about him and the situation at hand made my blood boil, but I had to rein it in. I had to keep my cool and not let him assume the situation had already been won.

Esidor’s lips stretched into a deceptive grin as he trailed the gun down the side of Sky’s neck, furthering his taunt. “If you don’t comply with my demands, then I won’t hesitate to take the precious mother of your child out myself.”

Gritting my teeth to keep my unfettered rage down, I hated knowing that he wasn’t bluffing.

Someone willing to wait years just to exact his revenge wouldn’t hesitate to pull the trigger when it all came down to it.

He had waited long enough, and I had no doubt he’d keep his word.

Chapter 28 - Sky

I wanted to believe that seeing Damien and the others in that room would take away all my fear and make everything better. I was grateful to see them…more grateful than perhaps I had ever been before.

But I was still afraid. Terrified of what might happen.

I had never been so close to that kind of danger, and even with Damien there, I had no way of knowing how it would all pan out.

With no real experience in his world, I could only hope that he and the others knew what they were doing with their guns pointed at Esidor and Raf.

I felt hopeless and useless like I was nothing but a liability, and I hated it.

Even if I felt utterly trapped with the kingpin’s gun against my head while Raf pointed his at Damien, there was at least a shred of hope that came with the situation. At the very least, even if something happened to either one of us, there were more than enough weapons trained on the two of them, and they’d be taken down eventually.

In the meantime, I just wanted Damien and tried to keep myself together as best as I could.

He could likely see just how terrified I was, but my fear didn’t help the situation. If anything, my emotions would likely cause him to do something extreme that might get both of us killed.

Finally breaking that deafening silence as he shifted on his feet, Damien spoke, “You said you have demands…what are they?”

“Finally, some sense,” Esidor said, sounding far too satisfied for my liking. “I have several, so listen carefully.”

When Damien didn’t say anything and just listened, he continued. “First, I want this sham assignment of Sky’s erased and as far away from any printer as possible, and for the investigations to be closed. At the same time, the Pesci name will be restored among the prominent crime families, regardless of what it takes to accomplish that. Nobody will mock my name or think lowly of us. Secondly, I want a fair trade with the Levovs…a significant sum that will set us up for life. No low-ball offers, and no cheating. Only a real, genuine deal that will cement my legacy, along with my father’s.”

It made sense to me that he’d want the articles scrapped, but I couldn’t tell if his second demand was within reason or not. The Levovs were certainly loaded, and I doubted whatever amount he wanted would harm their numbers much, but at the same time, I also knew they had a lot of pride. Money was the name of the game, and for them to simply hand it over because Esidor demanded it wouldn’t bode well for them.

They were supposed to be an untouchable, unshakable family with a grip on New York so tight that nobody could even come close to reaching their heights. I didn’t know if they’d be willing to give that kind of money up just for me.

I may have meant something to Damien and Gemma, but otherwise, the Levovs didn’t owe me anything. To them, I was just a family acquaintance. There was no way they’d just fold like that.

“Why do I have the feeling this amount you’re thinking of is way beyond what you deserve?” Damien asked with a hint of irritation in his tone.

But Esidor only laughed, causing the gun to brush against my skin again, sending a shiver down my spine.

“Hold on now…I haven’t told you the other end of that deal,” he said, tone eerily lighthearted and playful for someone surrounded by guns and men waiting for the signal to shoot him down. “My third demand fits nicely with the second…in exchange for a healthy sum, my darling sister will be married off to a Levov.”

I watched as a mutual darkness shaded Damien and Ari’s eyes. Their anger at the mention of it was palpable.

“This again?” Damien questioned, brows furrowed. “You just can’t leave your sister alone, can you?”

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