Page 47 of Bound to the Bratva
I know all too well that my husband isn’t as bad as I thought, but I’ve only come to learn that with time.
I softly smile, “Thank you, brother.”
As they turn to leave, I can’t help but get a deep, intense worrying feeling in the pit of my stomach. Being associated with the Bratva is a dangerous thing, and while I’m trying to embrace it, I’m afraid. I’d be a fool to not admit that.
Dmitri pauses at the door, glancing back at me. “There’s one more thing you should know.”
I straighten, bracing myself. “What is it?”
“The woman Maxim was in a relationship with. Her name is Natalya Andreev. Her family is powerful within the Bratva. They’re well-connected, which means she has those same connections. I think she’ll stop at nothing to tear you and Maxim apart.”
My breath catches in my throat. I've heard the name Andreev before, whispered in the shadows at some of the events I was made to attend.
“Why now?” I ask, my voice barely above a whisper. “Why wouldn’t she go to Maxim and plead her case, try to get him to elope with her, any of it…unless he didn’t want her.”
Dmitri’s expression is grave. “I wish I could answer that for you. You’re a threat to her, sister. Maxim chose you, and that’s the entire reason she wants to eradicate you. I will get you more information as soon as I have it. Until then, be careful.”
I feel a chill run down my spine. Being part of the Bratva is as dangerous as anything, full of enemies who will stop at nothing. And now, it seems, I have one more to add to the list.
“I will. My guard is up.”
Dmitri nods, a flicker of approval in his eyes. “Good. You’ll need it.”
As they slip out the door, I’m left with a sense of nervousness. The battle lines have been drawn, and I know that the stakes have never been higher. I have to be strong. The last thing I want to look like right now is weak, especially in front of the enemies who are watching us closely.
Natalya Andreev might be the one who we’re focusing on the most…but I know there are others watching our every move.
I take a deep, steadying breath, trying to process all that Dmitri and my father have just told me. A jealous ex-girlfriend, a powerful family hell-bent on destroying my marriage to Maxim—it’s enough to make my head spin.
But I don’t have time to dwell on it. Not when I have patients depending on me. I push the personal drama to the back of my mind and focus on the task at hand, diving deep into the medical files on my computer.
Still, the revelation weighs heavily on me. I can’t help but wonder what this Natalya woman is capable of. Is she truly a threat? And how far is she willing to go to get Maxim back and take my place? I mean, it seems to me like she’s going to do whatever she can to get to where I am.
I’m in my office for a couple of hours, looking over medical files, reviewing updates on testing, and briefing myself on a couple of new appointments I have tomorrow. I always like to make sure I run through my upcoming patients’ histories before they come in.
I don’t even realize it’s past seven in the evening until the door to my office suddenly bursts open.
I’m about to reprimand whoever the hell thought they could walk in here like they own the place, until I realize it’s my husband.
His brows are furrowed with concern, “A little birdy told me your father and Dmitri stopped by.”
I swallow hard and crane my neck to the side. “A little birdy? I wonder who that could have been.” I quip.
He takes in a deep breath and makes his way over to my desk, taking a seat on the other side. “What happened? Did either of them bother you?”
I shake my head, trying to reassure him. “I’m fine, Maxim. It’s just...” I trail off, unsure of how I should even have this conversation with him.
My entire mind is jumbled with stress from work, and then all of the additional stress I’m experiencing from being his wife. If I wasn’t married to him, I know I wouldn’t be dealing with half of this shit.
Though, that stress isn’t his fault, but I feel like he’ll believe it is. This stress is thrown in with our bloodlines if you really think about it. Neither of us were given the opportunity to choose the families we were born into, and this is a sad result of that.
He reaches across the desk, taking my hand in his. “It’s okay, you can tell me anything.” he says, his thumb tracing soothing circles on my skin.
I take a deep breath. “Natalya. Your ex-girlfriend, or whatever the hell I should call her. They think she or her family is behind the attack at our wedding. Dmitri thinks she’s working alone, whereas my father doesn’t know if she was doing this all by herself. I just . . . I really think she won’t stop until she tears us apart, or until I’m dead.”
Maxim’s jaw tightens, and I can see the rage simmering in his eyes. “I’m not going to let her succeed,” he says, his voice laced with determination. “You’re my wife, Aria. Sure, our marriage wasn’t something that happened out of love, but my duty is to you above all else, even the Bratva. Nothing will ever come between us, and I will knock down anyone who tries to harm you.”
I want to believe him, I really do. But sometimes anxiety roars through my body. We barely know each other, and even though we’ve been through some traumatic shit together . . . I do wonder if our trauma is the reason we’re so close.
