Page 3 of The Bratva's Prisoner Bride

“I hope that means this will be behind us sooner rather than later.”

“Yes…Rurik and his sister won’t be a problem moving forward. I’ve got it all covered,” I replied, not letting him think for even a moment that I didn’t have a complete grasp of the situation.

After a beat of silence, my brother hummed. “Good. I’m glad I can rely on you for this. Get your ass back home soon so we can go for drinks, yeah?”

The proposition broke through the wall of anger I had up around me for a moment, and I chuckled with a faint grin. I nodded to myself. “If you’re offering.”

“Cheap prick.”

Once we wrapped up the call and I felt somewhat normal for a moment, that light-hearted ease slipped away from me the moment I looked back at the jet and slipped my phone into my pocket. My lips fixed into a scowl again at the thought of getting back on and having to be near Daria again. Of having to work out the details of the non-plan I was following.

Reminding myself, I had to follow through with my desire to get back at her, I forced out a breath and went up the steps in a few smooth strides.

She lied to me and my family, stringing me along like a helpless fool, and I wasn’t going to let her get away with it.

Chapter 2 - Daria

Just when I thought I was already in hell, it turned out my initial situation was more like a daydream in comparison. Things could definitely get much worse.

And that they did.

My mind was in a scramble while my heart raced as I tried to process everything—Rurik being locked up for his plan failing, me being hauled away by Ivan, and having to face whatever fate he decided to deal me.

With no regard for my thoughts or feelings, I was leaving my brother’s control just to be handed over to Ivan…to the Fokins.

Even if my involvement only extended to being used by Rurik when he needed me to further his plans, he told me enough about the Fokin family to know they weren’t small dogs in the crime world. They were no joke, and they proved that the moment they busted his attempt to get in their way.

One way or another, he was going to pay for it, and I had the feeling I was going to have a similar fate.

After being forced onto the private jet, I glared out the window while watching Ivan talk on the phone. I was strapped to the seat as tightly as possible, with the seatbelt digging into my wrists uncomfortably.

I felt like a criminal—but one who was about to face justice outside of the law. My fate was in his hands, and something about it made my skin crawl.

Even if I was angry for being hauled around and wanted nothing more than to avoid wherever the hell they were taking me, I couldn’t ignore the guilt that bubbled up inside my chest just from looking down at Ivan.

He had been so sweet to me before when I didn’t deserve it. My goal had been to get to Olivia, but Ivan managed to wedge his way in with his flirty looks and suave words…he seemed genuinely interested in me, but there was nothing I could do.

I hated my involvement in deceiving both him and his family, yet, Rurik had his claws in me. He orchestrated it all, and I had the feeling trying to explain that to Ivan would do as much good as speaking to a wall.

He was furious with me—that much was clear.

I couldn’t blame him, but I still didn’t like how he was treating me, as if I had purely malicious intentions.

If I could’ve met him and the others without my brother being involved, pulling the strings behind the scenes, then things could’ve been so different. I would’ve gladly been myself and tried to be as genuine as possible.

But that wasn’t reality, and I couldn’t take it back.

My stomach twisted the moment Ivan got back on, and the crew began preparing for takeoff. Of course, I couldn’t go anywhere…not with the elaborately placed seatbelt digging into my skin.

Ivan sighed heavily from behind me, then he murmured some words I could barely catch to the few men around him. He was close, yet far enough away for me to be able to breathe normally. At the very least, not having to look at him gave me a break from the guilt that made my whole body ache.

I couldn’t tell what was worse…being able to feel his absolute wrath even from a distance, or knowing that I couldn’t be completely angry with him because of it.

The attendant walked by dressed in her finest with several crystal glasses in her grasp to give the men, and I made a point to catch her eye, hoping she might feel bad for me.

I wasn’t sure what I hoped she would do, but it was at least worth the shot. There weren’t very many options laid out in front of me.

Her blue-tinted gaze locked with mine for a beat, long enough for me to will a desperate expression onto my features. Then, just as quickly, she glanced away and handed the drinks over, receiving a few murmured ‘thanks’ in return.

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