Page 32 of The Bratva's Bride

“Eh, if it’s time then I’m pretty sure he’ll send one of his people to snag us. Just loosen up, drink some more, dance some more.” Bao said with a dismissive wave of his hand.

“Ugh I’m getting too old for this shit.” Greg groaned before downing the rest of his drink.

“Greg, you’re younger than Nikolai, so shut up, you don’t get to complain.” I laughed softly with a roll of my eyes. Greg wasn’t too much younger than Nikolai, about two or so years, but I had to make a jab.

The four of us sat there a moment drinking and laughing, talking about the fun memories we’ve had throughout the years together. They were definitely enjoying the unlimited alcohol, courtesy of Nikolai. I didn’t indulge much though, not going beyond a buzz because I wanted to keep a clear mind for later. Everyone else though, they were drunk.

A bathroom break was finally needed after a shit ton of drinks. The two males took off first while Hanna took a phone call. So, I was left there in the lounge area with Hanna turned around away from me in a corner on her phone.

“Excuse, miss.” A waitress leaned down to me, presenting a tray to me with a drink on it, “The gentleman over there wanted you to have this.” Her head nodded towards someone in a sectioned off VIP area a little ways from us.

Looking over, I caught the man’s eyes, not like that was hard to do because he stared right at me with a predatory gaze. With a polite smile, I took the glass off the tray and tipped it at the man before taking a small sip. No surprise the drink was smooth like butter.

God, I hope it wasn’t drugged. Why didn’t I think about that before drinking it?!

Fuck. Well, I don’t feel funny, yet.

Getting up, I made my way over to the roped off area, nodding at the guard who stood at the entrance. “Mrs. Angel, is there something I can help you with?” The guard greeted me with a curt nod.

“Not at the moment, no. Just coming over to thank our guest here who bought me a drink. Although, don’t give me away quite yet.” I smiled kindly at the guard as he let me through.

Smiling, I approached the middle-aged man, “Thank you, you really didn’t have to spoil me with such a delicious drink.” My eyes gave the glass in my hand a quick glance as I tipped it at him. “I appreciate the kind gesture though.” I was honestly being polite. Although, now that I stood before him, my gut told me this was a bad idea.

There was an accent to his voice, similar to Nikolai’s. “Only the best for an angel like you. You look stunning in that outfit by the way.” His compliment wasn’t what made my skin crawl, it was his crooked smile with this bad edge to his eyes. A bug getting caught in a spider’s net, that’s what this felt like. Sadly, I was the bug in this situation.

“Thank you, you seem rather generous tonight.” I gestured at the various bottles of expensive drinks at the table along with the people around him—who were mostly women—with my head.

“I am a generous man my dear. I love to give to receive.” I have to get out of here before he strikes and things get ugly. “Why don’t you come a little closer and see what more I have to give.” He leaned towards me and took my wrist into his sweaty hand.

Struggling to maintain my smile, I took a step back and yanked myself away from him. “That’s fine, I’ve gotten plenty from you. Thank you again for the drink, it was really nice.” I spun around and tried to quickly exit the area, but I didn’t even make it a step before my body was pulled backwards.

A small grunt left me when I felt myself land against someone. Then goosebumps crawled along my body when I felt an arm anchor itself around my waist and a hand grabbing my chin. “I wasn’t asking my dear.” His gravelly voice made me shrink in disgust as I wrench my face from him.

Throwing my elbow back, I caught his face and stunned him enough to where his arm around me slackened so I could escape. Freeing myself from him, I spun around to face him and threw my drink in his face before setting the glass down on the table and turning to leave.

Once again, I didn’t get far before I was grabbed again. My body was spun around this time, and I was met with a backhand to the face which threw my head to the side. “Stupid bitch, do you know who I am?” The alcohol reeked from his breath as he seethed inches from my face.

Scrunching my face up in disgust, I glared at him before giving him an open-handed hit to his pudgy neck. I watched as he stumbled backwards and fell into his seat while clutching at his throat. “I don’t give a single fuck. I don’t care if you’re the fucking president, no one is allowed to touch me without permission let alone hit me. You fucked with the wrong bitch. I suggest you fuck off before you make it worse for yourself.”

As I turned around to leave, the man shouted something in Russian and the guard turned around, hesitating. “What are you waiting for, grab her and throw her out!”

Unable to help it, I let out a small laugh as I turned back around and strutted up to the man. Crossing my arms, I leaned down towards him with a smirk, “Wow, can’t even be man enough to take care of a little bitch like me? Pathetic.” Straightening back up, I stared down at him for another moment before turning away and looking back at him. “Also, you can’t kick me out, I belong here.”

“We’ll see about that.” He was angry, which meant it was time for me to fully take my leave now.

Unfortunately, the plan of escaping went out the window the moment he grabbed my upper arm and started to drag me out of the VIP area and up another flight of stairs.

Now, I could have easily escaped him, and maybe thrown him down the stairs, but once I saw where we were headed, I decided to let this play out. The hallway he dragged me down was all too familiar at this point. I watched as we passed each door until we were at the end of the hallway.

This is where he fucked up.

He didn’t even bother knocking on the door, just barging through the guards and through the door as if he wasthatimportant. I had to bite my tongue to keep myself from saying something snarky when I saw it was a full-blown meeting he interrupted along with one pissed off Nikolai.

“You need to better control your staff Nikolai, this bitch just assaulted me.” The man threw me forward, keeping his deathly grip on my arm as he presented me like some wanted criminal before a judge.

“Take your fucking hands off my wife. Now!”

Oh shit, he’s beyond pissed.

---