Page 3 of Forced Bratva Bride

“We'll look into the bombing,” Marco said, pulling me out of my thoughts. “Is there anything else?”

I shook my head. “Let me know if Gastone schedules any more dinners, and I expect a full report on the guest list.”

***

After parting ways, I slipped back onto the main street. The crowds were still thick, many people getting ice cream with their kids, some walking into theatres, others sitting around and watching the buskers hard at work.

I reached the walkway opposite the alley where I had been passed and waited for the pedestrian light to turn green. When it changed, I was about to cross over when I caught sight of a large man at the entrance of the alley where my car was parked, his head darting around as if he were surveying something.

I paused, watching his movements, and ducked behind a group of people to go unnoticed. Just then, a woman in a navy-blue dress, with thick blonde hair cascading down her neck, turned on her heels and gestured to him. He quickly followed as she turned and walked away.

I kept my eyes on his face, feeling on edge after the day I’d had. Then, I caught sight of his side profile.

My heart roared in my chest, wanting to rip open another.His.

I recognized him immediately: Dom, the Ajello family's favorite muscle. He was utterly loyal to the family.

From how he walked a respectful distance behind the woman, never beside her in stride, I knew exactly what he was doing here. He was acting as her bodyguard, which made her an imminent member of the Ajello family.

An Ajello woman? Could be their sister, a cousin, perhaps even a girlfriend. Whoever she was, she was important enough to warrant Dom's protection while she was out here doing god knows what.

There was only one reason why she and that brute Dom were at the same place as I was. Only one reason why they were near where my car was parked.

I remembered what the twins said. The Ajellos had been hosting dinners without any of our family representatives, talking of tradition and loyalty.

It couldn’t have been a coincidence to see an Ajello here, right after we were bombed. They must have followed me out, were probably the ones in the car tailing me on the way over.

The Ajellos had been, without a doubt, responsible for the attack on our warehouse.

I had found my perpetrators.

I made my decision in an instant. If the Ajellos wanted to play games, I would oblige them. But I would be the one to dictate the rules.

Without hesitation, I crossed the street, maintaining a careful distance behind Dom, who in turn followed the blonde woman.

I had no idea of what my grand plan was, but knew one thing for certain. I wanted to see how I could use her to send a message back to Gastone Ajello.

The blonde entered a café at the corner of the street. I couldn’t hear her, but I saw her turn in my direction. I ducked behind a cart and watched her point at a store in the distance behind me. He nodded as she handed him a slip of paper, leaving her to enter the café alone.

Chapter 2 - Larissa

Dom stood outside the café. “I’ll be waiting right here,” he said, his eyes scanning the crowds with such intense focus that I worried for him. I didn’t know why my brothers insisted he accompany me everywhere. In my twenty-five years of existence, I’d never faced any danger in public, or elsewhere.

“Would you like some coffee? A snack?” I asked. Dom had been with our family for longer than I could remember, a looming sentinel, and often accompanied me on errands. Though he was a quiet man, we’d formed a friendship of sorts, and I sometimes forced him to join me for a meal or a coffee.

Today, however, he shook his head. “Won’t be able to sleep at night,” he said gruffly.

“You’re such an oldie,” I laughed, and he tried to keep his face neutral, though I did see the corners of his mouth turn upward.

“Alright then,” I added. “I’m going to get a takeaway and then head to the grocery store. Meanwhile,” I pulled out a receipt from my bag and handed it to him. “Would you mind going to grab the dry cleaning?”

Dom crossed his arms across his chest and shook his head vehemently. “You know I can’t, Miss. Your brothers would be furious.”

I sighed dramatically. “Look,” I waved at the dry cleaners down the block. “The store is right there, Dom. Right there! All I’m going to do is grab my coffee and walk that way,” I pointed to the grocery store. “It’s a two-minute walk, Dom. I can have my coffee and the groceries done in twenty minutes.”

He hesitated, knowing his orders. “Miss Ajello, I don't think—”

“Gastone wants everything ready for tonight in time,” I reminded him, playing my trump card. “His important guests arrive at eight. Do you want to explain why we didn't manage two simple errands? Besides, he expects me home soon. Now, he won’t care if we met with traffic on the way here, will he?”

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