Page 49 of Pregnant Bratva Possession

Knowing my brother, the answer to that question was a solid, “Fuck, yes.”And if anyone tried to argue, he’d make sure that was the last time you used your tongue. Good thing I wasn’t just anyone.

He narrowed his eyes at me. “Do you have a problem cooperating to save our asses?”

Cooperating to save our asses the stress of three wars in a span of three years? No. I would do that in a heartbeat. But things had gotten far more complicated after a certain feisty silver-haired woman bet her way into my world. Now, thoughts of that brown-eyedfemme fatalehaunted my mind, day, and night, and I found myself more drawn to her with every minute we spent together, and every moment far from her. I wanted—No,neededmore. I craved her presence, her touch, her smell... even the sound of her voice did things to me I couldn’t explain.

How could I comfortably get married to another, whenshe was all I thought about? So, cooperating to save our asses, at the cost of never seeing her again? I wasn’t so sure.

“Don’t start with me, brother.”

“Vlad.” Maxim’s deep voice boomed, a silent warning not to disrespect thePakhan.I disregarded the caution and pushed my chair back.

“Where the fuck do you think you’re going?” Sergey growled. “We are not done.”

“Ah!” I smacked my lips and simpered. “I thought we were making silent decisions now.”

“Vlad, now is not the time for our crazy shit, alright?” came Nikolai’s admonishing. “This is serious. We’re talking about a war here, and the Bratva is not ready for one now. It’s fucked up, but we’re not in the best position to go against the Outfit.

They are on a rampage. Two weeks ago, they burned down our warehouse and thrashed a casino. Who knows what they’re coming for next? We need backup. That’s the only assurance we have to successfully get out of the shit. And your marriage to Sophia will give us the extra hand we need.”

“Sorry, one second.” I frowned. “Did I miss something? I thought I was the fucking groom!” I kicked the chair I’d occupied and pushed it roughly against the table. “Don’t fucking talk to me like I’m an idiot, Nikolai. I fucking know how this shit works. I know they’ve got us digging our heads in Vincent’s fucking ass. But that does not cover the shit Sergey just pulled, okay?”

Moving up the wedding like he’s the one that has to fuck Russo’s brat.But I did not dare say that aloud. My head would have rolled off my shoulders in a split second.

“What the fuck is your problem anyway?” Maxim bitched. “It’s a fucking arrangement. It’s... It’s work.”

I rolled my eyes and snatched my motorcycle keys off the table. Yeah, to his single ass, getting married was work. But Sergey and Nikolai knew it was way more than that. They didn’t know, but I’d caught them on several occasions giving their wivesthelook. The one that showed they treasured them.The one that said they meant a lot more thanworkdid.I found myself wanting what they had; and with Mariana in the picture, it seemed within reach.

If I ever gave Sophia a look, it meant I probably wanted to strangle her or flick her off like I would an annoying pest. The thought angered me and I turned away.

“Vlad...”

“I’m getting out of here before I shoot something.”

“It doesn’t matter, dear brother. Shoot whatever or whomever you want,” Sergey snarled. “One of the reasons I called for this meeting was to break the news to you. I’ve already had a chat with Vincent, and he doesn’t mind. In fact, his daughter is thrilled. I heard she’s already begun distributing the invitation to the wedding. My advice: copy the woman’s enthusiasm. The sooner you accept this arrangement, the better for you, Vlad.”

I slammed the door.

The breeze whipped my hair and flapped my jacket. I wrapped my hand around the hand clutch and pressed the throttle, launching the motorcycle further down the winding road. I glanced at the side-view mirror. The road was empty. I lifted my eyes and plunged even faster and further, enjoying the sound of the wind in my ears. A fraction of the tension in my shoulders faded until a picture flashed through my mind’s eye.

It was the night at the park. We’d held hands and I watched her cry and laugh at the same time. For a moment then, neither of us had said anything, just lounging in the silence and basking in the warmth of our bodies. She’d placed her head on my chest and heard my heart beat fast.

I groped her thigh and she’d let me touch her further. Further up, past her curvy hips, and to her waist. She allowed me to smell her hair and kiss her neck. And that was it. Our lips didn’t touch that night, and neither of us stripped. But I swearI experienced different bursts of emotions and heat rushing through my veins. It was beyond passion.

What we had that night, I later realized, was pure intimacy.

I parked the motorcycle at the side of the road and slipped out a cigarette from the pocket inside my jacket. My heart thrummed as the lighter sparked under the stick. I sucked in and exhaled a puff.

With her, I was a thousand times happier than I’d been. With her, the world looked different. I was used to black and white; kill or be killed, conquer, or be conquered. But Mariana was like a fucking rainbow in my dark world, bringing so many colors with her. Between the lines of kill or be killed, she almost convinced me that it was possible to just live.

I wanted her to be mine. The thought of letting her slip through my fingers or seeing her happy with another man, made my blood boil.

But my brothers were also right; and they were important to me. If I chose Mariana and did not marry Sophia, the chances of overpowering the Outfit were slimmer than a thread. Was I willing to put my family at risk for the sake of my satisfaction?

The butt of the cigar dropped to the ground and I squashed with the heels of my boots, gripping the hand clutch.

The Vadims had kept true to one thing over the years: We never turned our back on family.

Chapter 19 - Mariana

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