Page 17 of Bratva Bride

We all turned back around, ignoring Maxim's outburst (for now) and focused back on the matter at hand.

"I'm proposing a blood oath between you and I, Dimitri. And a union of marriage between my son and your daughter," he said, inclining his head towards me.

My eyes locked onto Arturo's. His gaze roamed over my face, then my body, like he was taking inventory. A dark, predatory look crossed his face before he gave me a panty-melting smirk, one that made shivers dance over my skin. Looking at the man, you could just tell he would be amazing in bed. That he knew the way around a woman’s body, that he would give you a night you would never forget.

My body was frozen under Arturo's scrutiny. I couldn't move, couldn't think. My mind was like jello.Holy fuck.They really were suggesting a marriage! Before I could even think of a response, Father spoke.

"I see," he said, rising slowly from his chair. Aleksandr and I quickly followed. "Like I said, you've given me a lot to think about. I'll let you know my decision in two days." With a final nod in their direction, my father turned and headed for the door.

Aleksandr bowed slightly, before pivoting on his heels and walking away.

My eyes connected one more time with Arturo's as I made my way towards the exit.

Just as I reached the door, I heard his deep, seductive voice call out to me in Russian.

"Skoro uvidimsya kotenok,"See you soon, kitten.

ChapterSix

Arturo De Luca

Iwatched in awe as the tall Russian beauty walked out of the room, her long, black hair flowing behind her.

Illayana Volkov.

Even though we weren't formally introduced, I knew who she was. I knew who they all were.

The second she had first walked into the room, she had my undivided attention. I couldn't keep my eyes off her. Her gorgeous tan skin, her beautiful, piercing blue eyes and those enticing, full lips had me screaming in my head for a little taste.

Never in my life had any woman caught my attention the way she had. The way she moved. The way she talked. The way she walked into a room commanding your attention. It all called to me. She called to me.

I could tell straight away she wasn't anything like the other women I've dated. She was a fighter. A warrior. A soldier. Even though I could see she was armed, it still surprised the fuck out of me when she pulled a blade from her coat and threw it at Vin.

She reminded me of a kitten. A vicious little thing that, when threatened, would rip you to shreds with her teeth and claws. Oh, I had no doubt she was lethal, dangerous. The fact that she could throw a knife with such speed and precision proved that. But that’s what made her so captivating. All the women in thefamigliawere timid. Docile. Boring. None were anything like her. And I was supposed to marry one of them?

No. That’s not what I wanted. I didn’t give a fuck if it broke tradition, I didn’t want a weak wife. I wanted someone strong, who could match me. Challenge me. And I knew that woman was Illayana.

Her sweet, sexy voice as she spoke in Russian and Italian made me want to fuck her so hard that she screamed my name.

I could tell by the way she kept looking at me that she was as affected by my presence as I was in hers. She tried her best to hide it. To hide the lingering gazes and the blushes that crept onto her face, but I saw it. I saw it all.

Even that stupid fucker at the back, Maxim. I saw how he looked at her, with hunger and desire. His eyes never left her body the entire time we were in that fucking room and it took everything in me not to march over there and shove my gun down his throat. He might not have known it, but the second she walked into that room, she was mine.

Her brother, Aleksandr, was a quiet one. I kept an eye on him, even though the majority of my attention was on his gorgeous younger sister. He was a big guy, packed with muscle like a damn marine. I knew it would be in my best interest to avoid pissing that dude off. Not that I was worried I couldn't take him. I could. I just didn't really want to go toe to toe with the dude.

According to the information Vin acquired about their family, she had another two older brothers. Nikolai and Lukyan. I was hoping they would be here as well so I could assess them, but no matter. I'm sure there will be plenty of time to get to know my future brothers-in-law.

Vin let out a low, long whistle of surprise as the double doors slammed shut. "Damn," he breathed, running a hand through his thick, black hair. "She was somethin' huh?"

I turned around to look at my younger brother. To me, he looked exactly like our father, only a much younger version of him. His startling vivid green eyes were locked firmly on me as I stared him down.

"Don't even fucking think about it, Vin," I grumbled, shoving his shoulder as I walked past.

"What?" he asked innocently, arching an eyebrow. "The deal is to marry a De Luca son," he stated, walking forward, stretching out his arms and turning in a circle. "Uhm hello. . . that's me." He pointed his thumbs at his chest, a sly smile spread out over his dumb handsome face.

"It was my idea,stronza,asshole,therefore I'm the one marrying her."

"No fucking way! Just because you suggested it? Na-uh," Vin said, shaking his head aggressively. I swear sometimes you would think he's bloody five years old.

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