Page 117 of Bratva Bride

I gave the cab driver the address and away we went. We had to get a maxi cab to fit us all in, plus my four huge suitcases.

I leaned back in my seat and closed my eyes, taking a deep breath. “Alrighty, you can do this. You’re just moving to a place where you have more enemies than friends. Ain’t no big deal. Easy peasy.” I spoke quietly to myself in the back of the cab, trying to reassure myself, but it wasn’t working. I was even more nervous at that moment than I was before I left.

“Relax,” Lukyan told me, taking a swig from his flask beside me. “You’re stressing over nothing.”

I glared and flicked him in the ear.

“Ow! Uncalled for.”

I rolled my eyes at his dramatics and stared out the window. Truth was, I was so fucking happy that he came with me, not that I’d ever tell the idiot that.

It was like a lifeline, someone to lean on from my old life, to remind me who I was when I got nervous and questioned myself, which I knew I would do.

“Your brother’s right, Illayana. You have nothing to worry about. You’re strong, smart and cunning. You’ll be able to hold your own amongst the Italians with ease,” Adrian said, eyes plastered to his phone. “And well, if you run into any trouble, you have us to back you up,” he winked.

We drove for at least thirty minutes, the beautiful sights of New York City flying by until eventually the cab slowed. We pulled up in front of large wrought iron gates and a man stepped out of the security booth, a hand raised in the air to halt us.

The driver lowered the window. “Just here to drop off a Mrs De Luca.”

The guard looked into the cab and I gave him a two-finger salute. He pursed his lips in what could only be perceived as dissatisfaction. He nodded to my three temporary guards and then flicked his eyes over Lukyan and Adrian.

“Who are they?” he asked, voice gruff.

“My brother and one of my guards.”

“Names?”

I narrowed my eyes. He was already starting to piss me off. “Lukyan and Adrian.”

He touched his earpiece and repeated the names. After a brief moment, he nodded. “Lukyan isn’t on the list.”

“That fucking bastard,” my brother hissed. “He did this on purpose.”

“Well, if you weren’t such an ass to him all the time, I’m sure he wouldn’t have.” I looked at the guard. “It’s fine. Just let us through.”

“Can’t do that. I’ll need to call the boss for verification.”

Anger blasted through me and I growled.

“Oh, no,” Adrian sighed.

I undid my seatbelt and opened the door, rounding the car until I was at the guard’s side. With zero hesitation, I kneed him in the balls.

A very ladylike shriek fell from his lips and he dropped to his knees, cupping his privates. The second guard in the booth came sprinting out, gun at the ready.

“Down! On your knees!” the guard barked at me.

I glared, unimpressed. “I only get on my knees for one man.”

Lukyan and Adrian jumped from the car, pointing their own guns at the guard. “Just give me the word,” Lukyan whispered darkly, cocking his gun.

“I said down! On the ground! Now!” the guard shouted

“You do realise you’re pointing a gun at your boss’s wife, right?”

The guard paled and lowered his weapon with a shaky hand.

“Better. Now, open the goddamn gates,” I demanded.

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