Page 34 of Forced Bratva Bride

“It's a long story.” I kept my eyes on Larissa and tried to get him to go away.

“I bet it is,” he sipped his whiskey. “You know who she is?”

“Yes.”

I didn’t offer any more information, for I knew he was digging for it. Bruno was an acquaintance, capable of being either an ally or an enemy. I had never seen his true colors and didn’t trust him with Larissa’s name.

He frowned when he noted the cold shoulder I gave him, and with one last lingering look at Larissa, walked away. I then felt the tension ease from my shoulders.

But… I wondered, would Bruno try to pry into her background? Was his interest in her dangerous for Larissa?

I was so lost in thought with my paranoia that I almost missed it when Diego Abate, the young, ambitious head of one of our allied families, approached Larissa. His hand touched her elbow, his body leaning in too close as he whispered something that made her laugh.

Heat flared in my chest, spreading outward until my fingertips tingled with it. I knew that look in Abate's eyes. I'd worn it myself often enough around a pretty young thing in my younger years. To see him deliver that look on her had my blood boiling hot.

Larissa smiled up at him, twirling a strand of hair around one finger. Her body language was open and inviting. She had no idea who she was flirting with, and I wondered if she even realized she was flirting. She was just so nice—too nice.Diego, however, would perceive it as more than just her being nice.

I was over by her side before I consciously decided to move.

“Diego,” I said, sliding a possessive arm around Larissa's waist. “I see you've met mydate.”

I watched Larissa’s head whip in my direction, surprise etched on her face.

Abate's eyes flicked between us. “She's delightful, Lebedev. You've been holding out on us.”

“I don't share what's mine.” The words came out like ice. Abate raised a single eyebrow, entertained, I was sure by my display of jealousy.

Larissa stiffened beside me. “I need some air,” she said, pulling away from my grasp.

“Feisty,” Abate commented, watching her retreat with a smirk.

I brushed past him and followed Larissa out. She weaved through the crowd, her back straight and head held high. She moved so quickly, so swiftly, that I knew anger was what urged her on.

I followed Larissa onto the terrace, where she stood gripping the stone balustrade, her back to me. She heard me behind her, for she turned to face me with fire in her eyes.

“What was that about?” she demanded, crossing her arms in front of her.

“What was what about?”

She scoffed and narrowed her eyes with disbelief. “That caveman display.I don't share what's mine?I'm not yours, Gio. And we arenoton a date!”

God, she was even more beautiful when she was furious.

“Abate isn't someone you want to encourage,” I tried to say placatingly.

“We were just talking! Having fun! I wasn’t encouraging anyone!”

“He wasn't looking at you like he wanted to talk.” I stepped closer. She scoffed, and for some reason, that pissed me off. Couldn’t she understand I wasn’t the type of man to get worried over nothing?

I raised my voice, and before I could think, I said something I shouldn’t have: “He was looking at you as if he wanted to bend you over the nearest surface.”

She reddened in the face, shocked by what I’d said. “How dare you? I was just having some harmless fun. We’re at a party, for god’s sake. Are you even listening to yourself?”

A growl built in my throat. Harmless fun? For some reason, those two words jarred at my consciousness. “What else for you is harmless fun?” I spat out. “Was kissing me also harmless fun?”

The question hung between us, and for once, she had no instant answer.

Her eyes widened, caught off guard by the change in direction. “I... That's not...”

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