Page 38 of The Russian's Forced Bride
I chuckled, leaning forward. “Don’t worry, Saavedra. I bounced back within a day.”
Joaquin scoffed, swinging a shot of his drink as he leaned back against his booth. I could see traces of annoyance on his forehead, but his hat—along with the dim lighting in the club—did a good job of shadowing his expressions.
I wanted to punch him right in the face, or maybe slam his head through the glass table in front of him, but I kept my hands still.
“You know, you’re actually as good as they say you are, Rafael.” Joaquin nodded, the clink of his glass drowning out the music in the background as my attention turned rapt.
“Maybe,” he said, shaking his finger that was now pointed at me, “just maybe you can survive what’s coming next.”
My jaw clenched. “Survive what?”
He shrugged, humming along to the club music while I was struggling to keep my act together.
“Survive what, Joaquin?” I repeated.
He waved his hands. “Nothing serious,amigo. Though I hear you have quite the temper locked in here.” He gestured to his chest. “So don’t go all crazy when your boy breaks the news to you.”
I inhaled sharply.
Calm down, Rafael. He’s trying to get under your skin.
I looked him squarely in the eye. “What news are you talking about?”
He shrugged, and I could see a faint smirk tugging at his lips.
“You know—the whole mystery about Jaxon Whitmore’s death.”
He then began to laugh so hard that he held his stomach, as if everything he had said was hilarious.
“I’m sorry,” he said in between his peals of laughter. “It’s just so funny how you think Oskar and Matvey told you everything. It’s hilarious how much you think they trust you.”
A vein on my forehead throbbed, tightening the longer I watched Joaquin laugh.
Control yourself, Rafael.
Control.
Control.
If I killed him here, I’d never be able to properly destroy his empire. And worse, outsiders were in this club. It would ruin everything the Bratva had ever worked for.
I feigned a smile at the fucker. “Well, Uncle and Matvey do sometimes hide things from me. But I assure you, I know everything I need to know about Jaxon Whitmore.”
Joaquin snorted, now rising to his feet. “Whatever sails your boat,amigo.”
He gestured to one of his men, whispering into his ear, and I quickly surveyed the area, sighing in relief when I saw that Arlette was no longer in the club.
“It was nice seeing you, Rafael. You were impeccable as always.”
He started walking out of the booth and then turned his head when he was a few feet away from me.
“And don’t forget to send my greetings to your wife. Enjoy fucking a Whitmore for as long as you can.”
He flashed his teeth at me, a daring smile on his face as he tipped his hat and walked away.
My nostrils flared in anger as I watched him leave, tempted to go after him and beat him to death for insulting my wife right in front of me. He was messing with me because he knew I had rules to abide by.
He knew I couldn’t kill him until my Pakhan approved of it.
