Arranged Bratva Love

Twenty-four Hours Later

I don’t know what happened. One moment Leo and I were driving back home after going to the shelter, and the next moment, our car was being forced off the road. Tears flood my eyes as I recalled what happened next.

Leo had gotten out of the wreck first, and then helped me. The seat belt had been stuck, and I’d been upside down. He’d warned me that the moment he cut the belt, I was going to fall and I had to break it somehow, which I did. Again, it was all a bit fuzzy. He’d pulled me from the wreck, but the danger hadn’t ceased. We’d been forced off the road for a reason. They’d shot Leo, four times. His body jerked with each bullet and I’d screamed. He’d tried to protect, ordered me to run, which I had done without question.

I had so much guilt when it came to him, that to disobey him just didn’t sit well with me. So I ran, until someone shoved me to the earth, pulling my arms behind my back, and then forcing my head down. His hand had covered my mouth, preventing my screams. I couldn’t recall a time I’d been so afraid before. Even my wedding night hadn’t left me like this.Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

Bound up, stuffed in the back of a truck, I scented the oil and gas that surrounded me. No one was in the back with me. I was alone. They’d put a gag in my mouth, and a horrible bag that smelled like rotten fish on my head. My heart raced and the urge to vomit came over me multiple times. I couldn’t believe this was happening.

Just last night I thought about how peaceful it was. How much I wanted to stay within our tight little bubble where nothing would go wrong, and now I’m with an enemy of Andrei’s. Or was it Andrei?

I didn’t know anymore.

I curled up into a tighter ball, trying to control my fear. I wasn’t just a random woman off the streets. My life, my name, I’m connected to the most feared Bratva in the country, and I wouldn’t let my husband down by showing fear.

Letting the tears dry, I attempted to calm myself by deep breathing, by trying to convince myself that everything was going to be okay. Andrei would come and find me, but why would he? If I was with his enemy, he’d be able to get rid of me.

Ignoring the horrible thoughts running through my head, I attempted to focus on the now. On listening to the van as it moved.

“I’m going to be fine. I’m going to be fine.”

I didn’t believe a word I was saying. How could I? We’d been traveling for a long time. I wasn’t a fool. The longer we traveled, the further from home I got.

What about Leo? Was he alive or dead? He fought so hard for me, ordering me to leave so that I could be safe. Did they mean to harm him, or was I the target? I had so many questions. No answers. Andrei had warned me that I’d become the enemy, and people would want to hurt me just because I was associated with him. I had believed him, but I figured it wasn’t important. It was now.

Why hadn’t I thought about defending myself? Why did I have to be weak? I hated myself in that moment. I was so damn tired of being like this. If I made it out alive, I’d make sure I found the means to protect myself.

Closing my eyes, I waited for the journey to end, hoping I’d understand what was going on and why I was taken. Part of me hoped Andrei was doing this as a test, to show me that I could be hurt at a moment’s notice. If so, I was going to be pissed with him.

The van came to a slow stop. The small jerk of the vehicle let me know the hand brake had been applied. Fear raced down my spine and threatened to cause me a panic attack. I couldn’t allow that to happen. I needed to be calm. I felt anything but calm.

I heard voices and then the door to the van slid open, and I was pulled out of it. Their grip was so tight, there would be bruises. I was pushed to the floor and then the hood that bound my head was removed. Keeping my gaze on the floor, I clenched my hands into fists. No one within the Bratva showed weakness or fear. I wasn’t going to let Andrei down now, and slowly I lifted my head.

I became aware of three things. One, my very best friend Nathan was hung from a chain. Two cuffs were wrapped around his wrists, another his neck, and he was bleeding. There were marks all over his body and I didn’t know what could have caused it. The second, my sister, looking like a queen. She had this smug smile on her face that usually meant there was going to be trouble. Three, a man I vaguely remember being at my wedding. I think he was one of the brigadiers, but I didn’t know which one. There was a similar tattoo that Andrei had across his knuckles, but this man had it around his neck.

“What’s the matter, sis? Shocked?”

Ignoring Bethany, I focused on the man by her side.

“So this is the woman that will bring Andrei in line?” he said, coming a bit closer. I didn’t like the way he looked at me, almost assessing in his gaze, as if he saw something he didn’t like.

The closer he got, the stronger the impulse to hurt him became. If my sister was involved, this couldn’t be good.

“You’ve not had any work done,” he said.

“Oleg, enough, please, she’s not worth your time, other than to get Andrei here. Trust me, she is the key.”

Oleg Pavlov, one of Ivan’s brigadiers. I don’t know his story or why my sister is working for or with him, but either way I knew this was bad. So fucking bad.

“What lies has my sister told you?” I asked.

He laughed. “So she does speak.”

“Whatever she has told you, trust me, it won’t end well for you.”

“Shut your fucking mouth,” Bethany said, advancing toward me.

“What is it you want now?” I asked. “Money? Drugs? A place as a brigadier’s wife? You threw all of that away in a goddamn orgy.”

Bethany went to attack me but Oleg stopped her, shoving her back. “Enough.”

My sister obeyed, which was a shock to me. She never did anything for anyone. He’d denied her the pleasure of hurting me, which told me something even more terrifying was in store.

“Be strong, Adelaide,” Nathan said.

My gaze jerked to his and I cried out as someone struck a whip right across his body.

“You don’t like that, do you?” Bethany said. “The same is going to happen to you.”

“Let him go,” I said, ignoring Bethany, pleading with Oleg. “I don’t know why he’s here. Why are you doing this?”

Oleg tutted and came closer. “No, I don’t suppose you do know anything about this. Thrown into this world because your sister couldn’t keep her legs shut.” He held his hand up as Bethany attempted to yell at him. “You’re a slut and don’t even pretend to be anything but.” He turned to glare and snap at her, before bringing his attention back to me. “But you, now you have been a bit of a mystery. Andrei has never shown a single moment of weakness, until you.”

“I’m nothing,” I said.

He laughed again.

“If you think you can use me to get Andrei to bow down to you, or give you what you want, you’re mistaken. I’m nothing to him. He was forced to marry me.”

“Trust me, it took some convincing, but I have known Andrei Belov for many years. The moment you walked into a room, his gaze was on you. At your wedding, you were never out of his sight, and then of course was the rumor that he wouldn’t even allow a guard to get close to you. I can see why.” His gaze roamed down my body.

“She’s a fat fucking bitch. Don’t you look at her like that!”

Oleg stood and backhanded my sister. “Do not ever disrespect me again. Your place is to be silent, or I will send you to sleep with my dogs, understood?”

Blood seeped at the corner of Bethany’s mouth, and I kept my gaze on Oleg. I didn’t know what the hell was going to happen. Leo was hurt badly. Nathan, I don’t even know why he was here, but he was also bleeding. This was a trap. Andrei wasn’t going to come and save me. He had his whole territory to think about.

“I think it’s time for us to send a message to Andrei,” he said.

He clicked his fingers to a soldier and ordered him to come closer.

I didn’t like this.

Nathan started to thrash in his binds and I watched as they covered his mouth, landing blows to his body. This couldn’t be good. My hands were still tied. I couldn’t fight back.

Oleg moved behind me and pulled me to my feet by my hair. A scream left my lips, and then he hit me hard, sending me to the floor, dazed. He wasn’t done with me as he pulled me to my feet once again. I couldn’t stop the yelp as he pulled at my hair again.

“Andrei, I’ve got your pretty little wife. I suggest you come and get her, because she’s just too tempting to ignore.” His hand ran down the front of my body, and this time I did scream. I didn’t stop, trying to fight against him, begging him to stop.

I hated myself, especially when he threw me to the floor, and then he was on top of me. Keeping my legs together, I looked at him with fear. His hands went to my neck and he started to choke me. I struggled against him, fighting with all my might, desperate for him to let me go, and when he did, I sucked oxygen into my mouth. Deep and hard, and desperate.

“He’s not going to come,” I said between pants. “Andrei will never come for me. He won’t.”

“We will see.”