Page 38 of Bound to the Bratva
I release him and feel my heart racing, trying to calm myself down. The air feels heavy with tension and I struggle to catch my breath.
My father straightens his collar, his eyes hardening as he speaks with authority in his tone, “You’d better remember who it is that you’re talking to, boy.”
I can’t help but snicker, “A man who can’t seem to keep his son, or his new daughter-in-law safe, it seems.”
Aria’s father, Nikolai, notices the scuffle between my father and I and inserts himself into the conversation. His imposing figure looms over us as he speaks, “Today was beautiful, despite the danger that came with it. Maxim, I think you should get out of here. Aria will need you by her side while your father and I look into things. Rest assured, we will get to the bottom of this.”
But I know better. I don't trust Aria’s father as far as I can throw him.
Taking a deep breath, I ground myself and turn to face Aria’s father.
“You’re right, I should get back to Aria.”
I quickly make my way out of the church, feeling eyes following me as I flag down a cab. The city streets blur past me as I head toward the new condo I purchased for us.
Hopefully, Aria is there with her brother and friends by now, safe from whatever danger may be lurking around us. But even as I try to reassure myself with these thoughts, a sense of unease lingers in the back of my mind.
Who would do such a thing?
As I approach the towering building that houses our condo, I smile at the familiar doorman who greets me with a nod. The polished lobby is filled with the chatter of people coming and going, but I make my way through easily toward the elevators.
After inputting the key code, I push open the door to our condo and step inside. The open-concept living area is bright and airy, with Aria sitting in the center of the couch surrounded by her friends. Her brother lounges in one of the armchairs nearby.
“Did you encounter any issues on your way here?” I ask, scanning each person for any signs of trouble.
Sasha clears his throat before answering, “No, everything went smoothly enough. The ladies were a bit shaken though.”
I glance over at Aria and notice her hands are trembling. I slowly make my way toward her, a surprising bit of anxiety coursing through me. I don’t like seeing her upset like this…and I realize that somehow she’s managed to get under my skin.
Kneeling down in front of her, I take her shaky hands in mine. “You’re safe now, Aria,” I reassure her.
She licks her lips nervously, causing me to wonder if she’s ever been through such a traumatic experience before. I highly doubt it. The most traumatic thing she’s probably gone through is when her father and stepmother kidnapped her mother as collateral for our impending nuptials.
Malia stands up gracefully and smooths out the wrinkles in her dress. “Perhaps we should leave you two alone for a while. Today has been quite overwhelming.”
I give her a small smile before suggesting, “Actually, it might be best for everyone to stay here tonight until things settle down. We still don’t know who did this and there’s a chance we could be followed or watched. We have five bedrooms, so there’s plenty of space for all of us. It’s also fully furnished as well."
Aria looks surprised by my offer of hospitality and comments, “That's very kind of you.”
The tension between us was palpable, a reminder of our rocky start. I’ll do whatever I need to convince her that our marriage won’t be the prison she fears it to be.
My gaze flicks around the group of people gathered in our living room, all now aware of the dangers that come with our lifestyle. Sure, Sasha knew…but who knows about the others.
I doubt they’re accustomed to this world and need them to understand the risks involved. Aria’s friends, Malia and Lori, nodded in understanding while Malia tries to hide her nerves with a yawn. But one of her friends, Emily, remains silent and visibly shaken by the events of the day.
Aria voices her concern, “Are you all comfortable being my friend amidst all this chaos? I wouldn't blame you if you wanted some distance from me. At least for a while.”
Lori lets out a cackle, “You’ll have to do more than that to get rid of me.”
Malia speaks up next, “We’re friends, no matter what happens. This may be scary, but we've got each other’s backs.”
But it’s Emily who catches my attention with her nervous fidgeting and lack of words. It’s understandable for her to feel rattled.
Aria attempts to reassure her, “Don’t worry, it won’t last forever. We’ll make sure of that.” Yet even as she speaks, uncertainty crept into her gaze as she averts her eyes in my direction.
The cruel truth is, we don’t know if this enemy is going to disappear once found, or if they’re going to continue to haunt us until they get their point across.
They could want something from us, or merely want us dead. I’m going to bet it’s the latter.
