Page 60 of The Russian's Forced Bride
I shut my eyes to ward off his tobacco-tainted breath.
My heart pounded fast beneath my chest with fear. Fear that he would kill my baby and me. Fear that I would never get to see Rafael again.
But at the same time, I was too stubborn to beg Joaquin for mercy. That was how much I resented him.
He yanked his hands away, almost knocking me over, and shakily, I opened my eyes to find him smiling brightly like a psychopath.
“Don’t worry, Arlette.” His voice was back to its leveled, smooth baritone. “Once I’ve taken everything from Rafael and completely destroyed the Bratva’s cash-flow empire, I’ll split your skull open and grant you the chance to see your parents again.”
The mental image made me shudder, but I kept my head high.
This wasn’t the time to be afraid.
Brandon.
I had to know he was safe.
“Where is he?” I asked, my voice wavering yet loud enough for him to hear.
Joaquin raised a brow.
“My brother. Where’s Brandon?”
And then another mocking laugh escaped from his mouth. This time, it sounded like he had heard a knee-slapping joke, and I could only keep in the scream building up in me.
“Brother?” Joaquin boomed, trying to catch his breath. “Oh, you poor child. I actually feel pity for you.”
Pity?
My brows furrowed in confusion as I watched him, unable to understand why asking after my brother was so funny to him.
My heart clenched.
Had he killed Brandon?
No. No.
If he did, that would’ve been the first thing he told me.
Just then, the metal door creaked open. My heart pounded in anticipation of who was behind it, relief flooding my system when Brandon appeared—his eyes searching the room in worry until they fell on me.
I chuckled as hope reignited in me.
He was safe. And I was sure he’d find a way to get us out of here.
Chapter 21 – Rafael
“You’re sure we’re heading to the right place?” Maxim asked, unsure, as the car zoomed fast across the street, his attention focused and his hands firmly gripping the steering wheel.
We were headed to one of the Kamarov properties that had long been abandoned, though not forgotten.
And I knew it sounded silly to Maxim when I asked that we drive to the property. It was the one not so far from the Lake Forest estate where Arlette and I lived.
At first, I had ordered Cassandra to prepare a jet to fly us to Ohio, thanks to the hints we had deciphered from the photo Joaquin had sent. While zooming in, there was a reflection in a full-length mirror. In that reflection was a car parked, a metallic grey shade, and then behind said car was a license plate with the nameOhiowritten on it.
But then, it was all too good to be true.
There was no way Joaquin would let us figure it out easily.
