Page 33 of Cruel Russian Pakhan
Lev took a sip of his drink then handed his glass to Avit as Jaroslav took a few steps, positioning himself behind Lev. My breathing quickened as the man stopped a few feet away from Lev.
I noticed the stunned look on the faces of the others who stood behind him. But the man who seemed to be the oldest? His face was blank.
“Safin,” the man snarled.
“Rykov,” Lev returned icily.
“So, you have the guts to show your face in public after you botched our deal?”
“Botched our deal? Let's not forget who brought the deal to the table, Artyom, which means at any time, I can also remove the deal.” Lev paused for a moment, then continued, “My intel informed me that Vera had disappeared, that she went seven days off the grid, a week before the wedding. Curious timing, don't you think? That doesn't exactly scream commitment in my book.”
Lev's eyes narrowed. “So tell me, Artyom…why was my fiancé missing, if you intended to hold up your end?”
Artyom’s fists clenched. “You had my sister followed?”
“The deal made it clear that Vera would be mine. Any man worth his name in the Bratva keeps eye on what’s his. You know how this works, Artyom. We’re territorial. We don’t wait around to be blindsided. We eliminate uncertainty.”
Artyom nodded in my direction as his lips curled in disdain. I felt myself shrink back.
“So you eliminated the uncertainty? Is that it, Safin? You cut Vera loose and picked up a fucking whore who looks just like her? A knockoff you could leash and control?”
Lev dropped his arm from around me and advanced on Artyom. Jaroslav mirrored him instantly. Marten, Avit, and Pyotr’s hands moved to the small of their backs, and the men now standing directly behind Artyom did the same.
I stepped back, hand clutching my chest as my heart pounded. Flashes of gunfire from the shootout tore through my mind.
“If you’re looking for a whore,” Lev's voice dripped with venom. “I suggest you check the last one you fucked. She is my wife. And you will respect her as such.”
Frantically, my eyes darted around the room, watching as the rest of the room carried on, chatting and laughing, oblivious to the conversation unfolding inches from disaster.
Since it was confirmed that Lev had kidnapped and married the wrong woman, if things escalated, would he protect me like last time or would he let me die?
The room began to spin as I struggled to stop myself from hyperventilating.
Not knowing if I'd be safe, I took another step back and another, my breathing quickening with every step. I needed to leave. I needed to get out of there.
Suddenly, a hand circled my waist startling me, halting my retreat.
I looked into Mariya's confident eyes.
“We’ll be okay,” she whispered.
I nodded, barely. Her grip tightened as I turned my eyes to Lev.
“Respect? Your family no longer has the little respect I did have for you not after the fucking stunt you pulled. I already had plans for using that route that was in the deal, and you fucked that up, Safin. You cost me millions. And for that you will pay.”
“Are you threatening me?” Lev asked, his tone controlled, but every muscle in his back tensed.
Artyom took a step forward to Lev, his gray eyes darkening. “I am. What are you going to do about it?”
Lev chuckled darkly. His voice held a hint of amusement as he spoke. “You must really take me for a fool. Do you really think I'd put bullets in your skull here?” Lev paused for a moment and looked around. “Not that it's not tempting.” The amusement from his voice faded and was replaced with malice when he spoke again. “But make no mistake, Artyom, by calling me your enemy, you’ve already started a war you can’t win.”
Lev stepped back, took my hand in his, and we made our way out of the party to Lev's SUV where Rocco was waiting. As I got in, I saw Lev's siblings getting into the other cars. As soon as Lev hopped into the car, he instructed Rocco to take us home.
The tension on the way home made me nervous. I shot glances at Lev, but he kept his gaze straight ahead, his face like stone.
As soon as the car pulled into the compound and parked, I rushed to my room, my mind spinning from the night’s events. I’d never believed in doppelgängers, until tonight. Seeing that woman, the one who looked exactly like me, changed everything.
Piece by piece, it all started to make sense.
