Page 17 of Plus-Size Bratva Bride

Frowning, I cocked my head, straining to hear the usual shouts from the kitchen loading dock down below. But there wasnothing. Just an unsettling quiet that made the hair on the back of my neck stand up.

"What the hell?" I murmured, my heart rate picking up. Is it really that late that the kitchen’s been restocked for tomorrow?

I hesitated at the second-floor landing, just for a brief second. I had worked here too long to know that it was dangerous to be on casino premises all alone. There was always an angry customer who lost it all, always an enemy on the sidelines.

But, going back up was as good as going back home. Perhaps I was just being paranoid.

Taking a deep breath, I continued down with my senses on high alert, my heels echoing ominously in the unnatural silence. I’d rather no one heard me, so I walked softer. In the stillness and silence of the night, I couldn't shake the nagging feeling that something was off.

My mind drifted to Abe, how he would have chided me for taking this route out. God, I wish he had been at the casino today and talked me out of this idea.Just say no,he would have told me,if anyone needs help on the casino floor, there are others they can reach out to. Go tell the valet to get your car.He would have watched me like a hawk until I left the premises. I shook my head, annoyed at myself.

Here I was, thinking of him again when I was pretty certain he hadn’t shown up for four days now so he didn’t even have to lay his eyes on me. A small sadness filled my soul.

Just then, I was pulled away from my thoughts, turning darker when I smelled cigarette smoke. The scent hung heavy in the air, and it meant one thing. Someone was nearby.

As I took one cautious step down and put my back against the wall, I peeked out from the corner of the rounding stairwell. There, partially hidden behind an open door for the first floor, I spotted one of our employees engaged in what looked like a heated discussion with a stranger.

My breath caught in my throat as recognition dawned. It was Tony, one of the dealers known for his shady connections outside of work. He wasn't supposed to be here at this hour, especially not lurking around the fire escape.

“With the Vadims out now, we can finally put our plan in motion,” the stranger said in a frenzy.

“There are always other eyes around,” Tony said. “Don’t get confident.

My brow furrowed. This didn’t look good. What bosses was he talking about? The only bosses that should matter are the Vadims.

Just then, Tony pulled something out of his pocket. I realized with a jolt it was a thick package wrapped in paper. My mind raced, connecting the dots. This wasn't just a heated argument; this was somethingdefinitely illegalhappening right under our noses.

What was the plan here? Were they stealing right under our noses? What does the package contain? Money? Secrets? Video footage? The memory rushes back from earlier today, of someone tampering with our ATMs.Not on my watch.

I hesitated, knowing that for my safety I should probably turn back around and pretend I didn’t see a thing. But the responsible part of me, the part that took my job seriously, couldn't let it go. With a deep breath, I squared my shoulders and started toward them.

"What's going on here?" I demanded, my voice sharper than I intended.

The pair jumped, startled by my approach. The stranger now looked panic-stricken. Tony glared at me.

My heart was pounding as I realized it was too late to turn back, but I steeled myself. “What’s in the package?” I demanded.

The stranger’s face drained of color. "It's not what you think—"

"Save it," I cut him off, my green eyes narrowing on the employee, Tony. "I know you’re not supposed to be doing whatever it is you are, and it stops now." I turned to the stranger, my chin raised defiantly despite my racing pulse. "You need to leave. Immediately."

Tony’s scowl deepened, his hand disappearing into his jacket. "You should've minded your own business, Sweetheart."

I saw the glint of steel before I fully registered what was happening. A knife. He had a knife.

"Oh God," I thought, fear flooding my system. My legs trembled, threatening to give out. Shit. I needed to act fast, but apart from words, I saw no other way out.

"Put that away, Tony," I said, trying to calm the situation, my voice wavering slightly despite my best efforts. "You don't want to make this worse for yourself."

The stranger looked between us, trying to stop this situation from escalating. "Hey, Tony, this wasn't part of the deal. The bosses will get angry if the plan gets thwarted. Let's just go—"

"Shut up!" Tony snarled, his eyes never leaving mine as he advanced, the knife held threateningly in front of him. “Thisbitch is in with the Vadims. We have to get rid of her, or there is no plan.”

I took a step back, my mind screaming at me to run, to call for help. But I couldn't move, couldn't look away from the blade that now seemed to fill my entire vision.

"Please," I whispered, hating how small my voice sounded. "You don't have to do this."

But before he could say more, Tony made a sudden move with the knife toward me. My heart leaped into my throat as I realized I might have just walked into something far more dangerous than I'd anticipated.

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