Page 10 of Forced Prisoner By the Bratva

We all knew the drill, and as I leaned back in my chair, my lips curled into a faint smile. My eyes drank in the dissatisfaction etched on my brothers’ gazes. It was rather amusing to watch their disapproval, but I was unable to do much about it.

The O'Brians had proven over the years to be a thorn in our flesh, and they were the last Irish mafia family that any one of us had thought we'd call a truce with.

“Patrick O'Brian has a daughter who's ready for marriage, and we could marry her into the family as a symbol of unity,” Pakhan Artem said.

Tessa's face flashed through my mind as I remembered my brief encounter with the arrogant girl.

He continued, “We could take a further step to solidify our union. Since my niece, Zoya, just turned eighteen, we could arrange for her to be promised to Liam O'Brian until she is ready for marriage.”

“So, you're proposing that the agreement with Zoya should be formalized as a future marriage with Liam in two years?” Lev asked Artem.

“Correct,” he replied. Then, he added almost immediately, “But that's the future; we need to talk about the union taking place in the present.”

This strategic alliance between both families would pave the way for the Bratva business across the city of Chicago and beyond. With our forces, power, and influence joined together, this alignment could benefit both families in more ways than one. We just had to make sure that it was a success.

“Yeah. We need to decide which Tarasov would marry the O'Brian princess,” I concurred, my voice bold and confident.

“I'm glad you think so, Erik,” Pakhan Artem said, staring at me with a mischievous glint in his eyes.

But it wasn't only him; every other Tarasov in the room turned to face me, wearing matching grins.

I squinted. “Why are you all looking at me like that?” I tilted my head to the side, a bit confused.

“Well, for starters, you're the only eligible bachelor amongst us,” Afanasy said, his voice smooth and teasing, and his smile broadened.

My eyes widened at the realization that I'd missed earlier, my brows rising. “Ahh, I see. Fair enough.”

Lev chuckled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “You're the chosen one, Brother.”

The others laughed, tossing teasing glances at me.

So, this was happening. I was going to be a married man in the not-so-distant future. Was I ready for that?

I leaned back in my chair, recalling the fire in Tessa's eyes during our last encounter. She was a woman with both beauty and brains—fearless and witty. The memory of her boldness andspunk still lingered on the fringes of my mind, and just the thought of her brought a sly grin to my face.

Things just got a little bit more complicated, and I couldn't help but consider the implications of this marriage. It would change everything, but was I ready for that?

Chapter 5 – Tessa

“Dad, there's something that I need to discuss with you. It's urgent, and I need you to listen,” I said, looking in the mirror, my voice devoid of courage. “No.” I shook my head, shoulders slumping in dismay. “That won't cut it.” I paced around my room, biting and chewing on my fingernails.

I'd been doing this for hours, prepping for the supposed conversation that I had made up my mind to have with Dad. Despite the amount of time I'd put into rehearsing my speech, I still hadn't been able to come up with a rational plan.

“I'm sick and tired of being treated like Liam's understudy—no, I shouldn't start this way.” I slapped my forehead, letting out a deep groan, as frustration crept into my tone.

Both hands flew to my hair, smoothing it backward as I stared at the woman in the mirror. “You can do this, girl,” I said, trying to encourage myself, but I couldn't even convince myself, let alone someone else.

My hands dropped, and I drew in a deep breath, my chest heaving as I reminded myself of the reason why I was doing this in the first place.

I could no longer sit idly by in my father's house and let my dreams, goals, and aspirations go to waste. Clearly, no matter how much I tried to prove my worth, I would always remain in my brother's shadow.

It had been a few days since I won the long-awaited poker game for the entire family. So far, neither Liam nor Dad have appreciated my effort. Not even a bloody “thank you.” So, why continue to waste my time trying to prove myself to people who didn't even give a shit?

My life shouldn't revolve around Liam and Dad; my future and my success shouldn't be tied to them. They were thetwo most important men in my life, but I wouldn't starve my dream to feed theirs.

The fact that there was no place for me in this world of theirs didn't mean that there wasn't any spot for me out in the real world. If I wanted my freedom, I'd have to grab the bull by the horns.

Step one was making up my mind to venture into the clothing and fashion business. Step two was actually getting off my ass and doing my research. I spent hours studying the market and analyzing the perfect location to start.

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