Page 8 of Pregnant Bratva Possession

Walking a cup of hot latte to me, Christy leaned on the kitchen island. “You passed out after hours of being in his office. I even saw him kick his bodyguard out.” She narrowed her eyes on me with concern. “Seriously, Mari, did he hurt you? Did he drug your drink?”

I avoided her eyes, sipping from the hot latte. How was I supposed to tell her I’d lost my virginity to a complete stranger? I knew nothing about him except that he owned the casino and he was a deliciously looking guy with a villain aura.

“Um—Christy?” I tucked my hair behind my ear, looking like a guilty teenager. “I think I kind of lost my virginity to him last night?”

Christy smiled, her face all frozen. She was trying to pass it off as a joke. “You’re joking, right?”

Palming the cup of coffee with my two hands to heat myself up, I shook my head. “I’m not,” I answered quietly.

Her smile faltered, the denial on her face transforming to shock. “You did not.”

I sat there, looking at her. “I kind of did.”

“Goddamn it, Mari. Did you or did you not? What does‘I kind of did’even mean?”

“It means I did. I slept with him in the office yesterday.” My stomach churned, my veins twitching nervously. “I was attracted to him and I was tipsy so I made a move on him. I basically forced myself on him.”

“How could you?”

“How could I not? You’re the one who has always talked about me being a virgin at twenty-six as if it was some type of crime.”

Christy exhaled, lowering her gaze to the top of the kitchen island and thinking for a moment. When she raised her head again, she no longer had the angry sting to her tone. “You’re misunderstanding me, Mari. I’m not mad that you lost your virginity. I’m mad that you lost it to him.”

“What’s wrong with him?” I asked. I mean, other than the fact that he owned an illegal business and had tattoos on his neck, he didn’t seem like he was a bad person. He was fun to be around and I did enjoy sex with him.

I’d been a good girl ever since my dad died. Working hard to grow my business and take care of my mother. What was wrong with letting lose for once in a long while and doing something dangerous?

“He owns an illegal casino. Doesn’t that tell you all you need to know?” She was angry again, almost yelling now.

“Why is that problem?” I crossed my arms over my chest. “You know, talking about him owning a casino sounds rich coming from you, considering how you go on and on about a one-night stand with a guy at the club. They could be murderers, rapists, kidnappers, and God knows what. Owning an illegal casino is nothing compared to all of those.”

“The man you slept with last night was Vlad Vadim and worse than any of the things you’ve mentioned.”

“What?” I propped an elbow on the island, resting my head on it. “You even know his name?”

“Yes. Found out while you were inside having the time of your life.” She paused, running her fingers through her brown hair. “The Vadims own most of the businesses in Chicago. These include both legal and illegal businesses. And what’s worse, they’re not a regular family.”

“A family that owns most of the establishments in Chicago wouldn’t be considered a regular family, would they? Also, why does it matter? I’m pretty certain he and I won’t be running into each other again, I don’t plan on going back to that casino.”

Christy let out a frustrated groan, balling her hands into fists. “You’re clueless.” She leans forward, whispering as if we aren’t the only ones in the apartment. “I heard from someone at the casino that he was the youngest son of the Vadim family—a mafia family.”

Could it be… No way it was the same Sergey Vadim I looked up to as a business tycoon. Though if I was being honest with myself, Vlad shares the same striking features with Sergey. Same blue eyes, tall muscular body.

And that Russian accent I heard every time Sergey appeared on TV. So they were brothers?

Sergey was part of the mafia all along? No way!

I took another sip of my coffee and laughed, waving her off. “A lot of men in Chicago are part of one crime organization or the other if we’re being honest. Plus he has his own business, so I suppose he’s not that deep into the mafia.”

“You don’t get it, Mari.” Christy sighed. “He is not just part of the mafia.”

She was confusing me. “Is he or is he not part of the mafia.”

“His family runs the Russian mafia. His oldest brother is the boss of the Bratva.” She paused, looking me in the eyes. “And he is an enforcer for the Bratva.”

Chapter 4 - Vlad

“What’s wrong with you tonight, kiddo?”

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