Page 44 of The Bratva's Virgin Bride

“You can,” Gwen says. “Roman doesn't need it. He just likes the way my body moves.” She pulls into a parking and Anya puts a hand over hers.

“No, Gwen, park closer. We want to be where there are crowds, so we're safe,” Anya says.

Gwen pulls out, and we search for a closer parking spot. Once we park, we get out, and Anya links arms with both of us. “For safety,” she says with a grin. “We are stronger together.” She marches us into the mall and into the busier section,where there are some popular boutiques. She pushes me straight toward a lingerie store and says, “We'll start there.”

I blush crimson and Gwen laughs. “Don't be so shy, Riley. This is your idea, after all. You just wanted someone to come with you.”

“I was just thinking of getting a nice dress,” I admit. “I didn't think of underwear.”

“You have to think of everything. You need a good pair of fuck-me heels,” Anya says confidently.

“Fuck-me heels?” I ask.

“I'll have to show you,” Anya says. “When we go to this one boutique, Madam LaCie’s.”

She starts rifling through the underwear that's hanging up and starts pulling off different ones and showing them to me. Gwen does the same and Anya soon announces, “We'll just take them all. You can never have enough sexy underwear.”

I stare at her. “How do I pick which one to wear?”

“Lay everything out and choose the ones that speak to you. Just remember, if the bra and panties match, it was your idea to have sex.” We take the underwear to the cashier, who happily rings us up. Anya pays with her credit card, and we grab our bags and leave, sticking to the busier areas of the mall. We explore a few more boutiques in search of a dress, but nothing really catches my eye. We take a break for lunch in the more crowded dining section. Anya is determined that we stay where the crowds are. Even though the security guards are trailing us closely around the mall.

We go into a boutique that specializes in shoes, and Anya leads us directly to the boots in the back with thin heels. She pulls down three pairs: one in black, one in red, and one inwhite. They are all glossy, and when I put them on, they fit tightly. I stand up and wobble slightly. “The heels are thin. I might kill myself.”

“Nonsense, you just need to get used to them,” Gwen says.

“Do you have a pair?”

“I have a few. I've been shopping with Anya before,” Gwen laughs.

Anya smiles. “I have several patent leathers like these and normal leather, too.”

“I'm going to look like a stripper,” I point out.

“That's the point,” Anya laughs.

I have to admit, I'm having a lot of fun. We try on some other boots and take the three pairs Anya picked, plus another black leather pair. We pay for them, and as we discuss where else we should go shopping, we walk out of the boutique.

Loud shots ring out, and Anya pulls us down, sending our shopping bags flying. People shriek and scream as glass shatters, and bullets continue to fly, now also from our bodyguards. One guard grabs my arm and starts dragging me away. I see Gwen and Anya following us. He positions us behind a pillar and stands watch.

“Is anyone hurt?” Anya asks.

“No, we're okay.”

After the shootout ends, we wait until the guard gives us the all-clear before we walk out from behind the pillar. The guards are hurrying to pick up our shopping. “I will handle the police,” the guard who saved us says. The rest of the guys willtake you all back to Viktor's house. I'll call ahead to make sure they know what's going on.”

Anya takes our hands, and we quickly follow the guards. Two guards climb into the back of Gwen's car with me while the other one drives the other car. I'm shaking. I can't believe we were just in a shootout in the fucking mall. Someone could have been killed. I don't even know if anyone was hurt. I hope no one was hurt.

Gwen quickly drives us home, and when we pull up, Viktor comes out of the house. “Get inside,” he barks.

We all file into the living room, where Viktor comes in after us. “What the hell were you thinking?” he roars. “I leave for a meeting and I get a call from my guards that you three have pissed off on a shopping spree. You could have been killed. You could have been taken!”

Anya steps forward. “I insisted we stayed in public spaces, Viktor. I thought we'd be safe. I didn't think they'd attack us in public like that.”

“Well, they did, Anya. You're so Goddam irresponsible. Do you ever think about anything other than partying and shopping?”

Anya's face falls and I can see she's hurt. I step forward quickly. “Viktor, it was my idea to go shopping…”

“You should know better than anyone,” he raises his voice again.

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