Page 32 of A Bride for the Bratva Boss
The men exchange amused looks. One shrugs. “Technically he sold you to someone else. We intercepted.”
“Debt’s debt,” the leader says. “We don’t get involved in family business.”
My vision burns with tears that don’t fall. My father isn’t family. He’s a parasite wearing a familiar face. A man who’s always seen me as currency. But how did he know about the stabbing? I never told him.
“He guessed it was you,” the man on the floor with me says, answering my unasked question. “We knew Micky had been to the Meridian and that there had been some trouble with a server. When we put out your description, your father came to us.” He laughs. “And you just confirmed it.”
I pull air into my lungs. Slow. Careful.
I can’t let them think I’m helpless. Because I’m not.
I survived him, the man who calls himself my father. I survived what that man tried to do to me in the alley.
And I will survive this. No matter what they do to me, I will survive. I force my chin up, even though my hands are shaking.
The leader smirks. “Look at that backbone. Almost a shame we have to break you.”
The others laugh again.
I close my eyes for half a second. Just long enough to picture Danyl. His hands warm on my waist. His voice low in my ear. The way he looks at me like I matter.
Like I’m his. Like he would set the world on fire before letting anyone lay a hand on me.
And with that remembrance, certainty fills my mind. He’ll come for me.
I know he will. But will he get here in time? And if not, will Danyl want me after what they’ll do to me?
Can’t think about that now. Thatwillbreak me.
They’ve move me from the center of the garage to a chair in the corner and just leave me there. Hours pass. Or maybe minutes. Time has no meaning when terror rules you.
My shoulders ache from my wrists being tied behind my back. My cheek throbs from the hit.
The leader and two others are playing pool, occasionally glancing over at me like I’m some kind of pet they’re half-forgotten about. Another man is cleaning a gun piece by piece, metal glinting in the harsh lights.
I shiver in the cold room. My dress, my beautiful, expensive, elegant dress, feels ridiculous now. Like a costume.
I hear a motorcycle rev outside. Boots stomp in and another biker enters, tall, broad, and covered in road dust. “Boss,” he says. “We got word.”
The leader doesn’t look up from his pool cue. “Yeah?”
“Bratva is looking,” the man says. “Hard.”
My heart jumps. Danylislooking for me.
“He already showed up to her apartment,” the biker continues. “Nearly caught two of our watchers.”
Hope rise in my chest.
The leader finally glances at me. “Your boyfriend’s making a fuss.”
I keep my face blank and don’t bother correcting him. Inside, my heart beats fast. Myhusbandis looking for me.
The biker cleaning his gun laughs. “Bratva will meet their end today, finally. We have the upper hand on our turf.”
Ice floods my veins. What if they hurt Danyl? Even a strong fighter will be brought down by a bullet.
Suddenly, the leader stops mid-game.
