Page 15 of Forced Innocent Bratva Bride

He drew closer, placing both hands on my slumped shoulders. His eyes bore into mine. “We need this alliance, Lorena. It will benefit us all.”

I wiped my tears, taking a deep breath. My fate had been decided already, and there was no use in running away. This was my reality now. I would be marrying the devil himself in a month.

Chapter 5 – Alexei

“I'm telling you, Gordey, that girl is bad news—a spoiled little brat,” I spat, my voice laced with venom. My palms grazed over the soft skin of the curvaceous redhead perched on my lap.

The club's dazzling lights illuminated our faces as we lounged in the plush VIP booth, surrounded by pulsating music and half-naked women. Bare skin glistened in the vibrant lights as girls danced, their flexible waists rippling as if boneless.

Gordey, sitting across from me, cradling a glass of scotch, had his eyes roaming the dancers’ bodies, a hand stroking his chin. His lips parted into a smirk, head tilting as he examined them, appreciating their slender forms.

“Hey, are you listening to me?” I snapped a finger to catch his attention.

The redhead on my lap bent over, her hair spilling over her face as she ground over the print of my cock, her hands traversing her own body.

Her slow, sexy moves were turning me on, and maybe later on, I'd have her in my bed to help me get over this unpleasant setup. But for now, I had bigger fish to fry with the Lorena Campbell situation.

Gordey shifted his attention to me, his eyes darting to catch mine. “MaybePakhanArtem was right…. Maybe she's not the same girl you remember.” The slight pause came when he shrugged his shoulders, taking a sip from his glass.

“I doubt it,” I objected, my voice tinged with conviction. “She might have grown up since the last time I saw her, but I can guarantee you that girls like her, born with a silver spoon in their mouths, will always be spoiled.”

“Maybe,” he said, his tone calm and collected, “or maybe you're just still pissed off that she was rude to you three years ago.” Gordey’s eyes darted back to the sexy belly dancers.

As much as it pained me to admit it, he was right. The real reason I loathed Lorena Campbell so much was because of the way she stood up to me that night. Perhaps it was the alcohol in her system, but whatever the case, she exuded confidence and fearlessness while addressing issues about my life she had no business addressing.

The only reason she didn't lose that sharp tongue of hers that night was because she was a teenage girl. Despite the ruthlessness of the Tarasov Bratva and my unforgiving nature, we had strict rules concerning women and children. Luckily for her, she was both.

I couldn't physically hurt her or make her suffer for crossing one of my lines, but that didn't mean I had to like her.

“Regardless of her lack of manners and respect, Lorena will make a terrible wife,” I said, catching Gordey's eyes. My voice was still laced with disdain.

He stared at me in silence, a sly smirk playing on his lips like he was enjoying this—seeing me in this state.

I continued, ignoring what resembled a self-satisfied grin etched on his rigid face. “The rich brat thinks the fucking world revolves around her. She's used to getting what she wants and when she wants it. That's a fucking red flag, Gordey.” I emptied my glass in a single shot.

He laughed lightly, his index finger absently circling the rim of his glass. “Relax, Boss. It's not the end of the world. Plus, you've dealt with worse situations and came out unscathed.”

His calmness was starting to irritate me. Easier said than done. He wasn't the one marrying the world's peskiest little thing. I would rather fight all my enemies combined than tiethe knot with Lorena Campbell, but my loyalty to the Bratva superseded my hatred for her.

“You know, once you're married to her, you'll have no choice but to kiss this life goodbye,” he said, his eyes locking onto mine with a piercing intensity.

My brows furrowed, forming faint creases between them as I watched a subtle, knowing smile curl the corner of his lips.

Gordey leaned back in his chair, his gaze never leaving mine. “You know what that means, Boss?” came his rhetorical question. “No more side chicks.” His voice was laced with amusement, a brow rising as if daring me to deny the inevitable.

“Fuck you, Gordey,” I said, my tone mild and tinged with a hint of playfulness.

He chuckled, raising his hands in a defensive manner. “Just stating the obvious, Boss.”

He wasn't wrong. Whether I wanted to or not, I'd have to quit this life, as it was tradition for Bratva members to focus only on their wives after marriage. That marital loyalty was non-negotiable. Essentially, in a month's time, I'd be stuck with the woman I hated the most in the world—bound to her for all eternity.

The redhead on my lap melted into my body, her manicured fingers tracing the contours of my ear, her nice breath warm against my face.

She stuck her tongue out, sliding it into my mouth and sealing my lips with a magnetic kiss that had me glued. Her hands roamed my body, igniting the fire in me as though reminding me of what I'd miss out on once I got married.

“If she's anything like her father, then I suggest you get ready…. She might have a temper,” Gordey added, his voice retaining its smoothness.

I broke the kiss, and my eyes met with his as the redhead toiled with my dark hair.

---