Page 34 of The Bratva's Hunted Bride
“Alright, so my observation was half correct,” I smirk.
***
Talia and I watch the crowds at the party. We talk about the various people, I teach her about who they are while she sips soda water with a slice of lime floating on the surface.
It’s past eleven when Talia lets out a polite yawn, trying to hide it by turning her face down and covering her mouth with her hand, perfectly painted, elegant, pale pink manicured nails flashing as she does so.
She leans closer to me, blinking with watery eyes. “I’m really tired. I would like to go home now if that’s alright?” she whispers.
The fact that she called it home doesn’t go unnoticed, and it spreads a smile over my face. It was probably just an oversight, an easy use of the word, but it means more to me than she might know. Her homeiswith me. She might not know it yet. But it’s true.
I open my mouth to make some excuse why we need to stay just a little longer, but there is no need. As I look across the sea of faces that make up the party crowd, I spot the person I’ve been waiting for—Marlen Popov, followed by his two brothers, Simon and Bardil.
“Sure, we can head home if you’re ready,” I say in agreement, but turn toward the direction her brothers are in. This is perfectly timed.
She is leaning close to me, tucked in at my side, as she has been for most of the night. My arm is around her waist as I lead her toward the exit, but also toward her brothers.
Marlen spots me easily, taller than almost anyone in this venue, his eyes pierce into me as the gap between us grows smaller. I grin, the dark smile playing over my face with eager anticipation. His eyes drift to my left, to the woman against my side.
His brows shoot high, his jaw clenches as he reaches over to grab his brother’s forearm, his fingers digging into his skin. “Simon,” he growls, pulling his brother’s attention to what he’s just seen.
Both Simon and Bardil turn to see what has their brother’s voice so tense.
“Talia?” Simon blurts out in horror and anger.
“What is this?” Marlen growls, speaking directly to her, ignoring me.
At my side, Talia is rigid; her body is so tense that she is barely breathing. “Marlen,” she gasps.
I pull her closer to my side. If I’m not mistaken, I can feel her shaking.
“What are you doing here, Talia?” Marlen reprimands her, his brows knotting together as his eyes dart over her in confusion.
Bardil is staring with his mouth dropped open in disbelief. Simon glances from Talia to Marlen. I can tell that the last person they expected to see at this party was their little sister. Their overprotected, hidden-from-the-world, little sister. And worse, she’s in the arms of one of their enemies.
“Marlen Popov,” I say with a deep growl in the back of my throat and a dark smile touching my lips. “I believe you know the mother of my child, Talia.” My fingers tighten at her side as she tries to step away from me, turning to glare at me with shock etched over her face.
“Child?” Marlen says, barely a whisper.
The smile on my face grows wider as I savor the moment, a sick twist of triumph and possession churning in my stomach. It’s like a knife to her brother’s throat, and a claim over Talia in the same breath. Now everyone will know she belongs to me. It’s all I wanted. I want everyone to know she’s mine. So why not start by announcing it to her brothers?
“Marlen, I…” Talia stammers.
Marlen’s eyes grow dark. “Is the how far you’re willing to go to prove a point?” he snarls, speaking to his sister.
“What?” Talia mutters. “No…that’s not…” She’s shaking her head, her face clouding. She looks as though she wants to cry. “Marlen, it’s not what you think,” she says defensively.
He sneers at her. “It looks like you’re putting in a lot of effort just to piss me off,” he snaps.
My anger spikes. Who the hell does he think he is? No one speaks to my girl like that.
Chapter 16 - Talia
Marlen, Simon, and Bardil are all staring at me as though they’ve seen a ghost. Their faces are painted with disbelief, shock, and anger, flickering in quick succession as they struggle to regain control over their reactions.
Marlen is furious.
And I can’t tear my eyes off him.
