Page 21 of Forced By the Bratva King
The door shut after the last person had left, and Yuri turned to me, hands folded across his chest. Kostya was balanced in his chair, a fist under his chin as he looked in my direction.
“It’s her, isn’t it?” Yuri asked.
Without a word, I nodded subtly.
“Herwho?” Kostya asked. “I’m in the dark here.”
“Not that I’m against it, but why her?” Yuri asked, his eyes fixed on me. “I don’t understand why you suddenly decided to marry the girl.”
“Again, what girl? ‘Cause I’m not following,” Kostya complained.
“You’re trying to save her life,” Yuri continued. “I just don’t understand why.”
“Still not following,” Kostya blurted out, his eyes shifting between us.
“Your brother has a prisoner in his house, and she’s the one he intends to marry,” Yuri said to him.
“Prisoner?” Kostya replied with raised brows. “Okay, now you’ve lost me completely.”
“She’s an eyewitness to the death of Nelson McCall,” Yuri explained. “We all know the rules, the law; all witnesses must be killed.” He faced me.
Kostya adjusted in his chair. “Well, if that is the case, making her wife of thePakhanwould make her untouchable, and that’s obviously my brother’s plan.”
Kostya always had my back, and I admired him for that. He always had faith in me, always trusted my judgment, and believed in me more than anyone else. And he was right. Thatwasthe plan: to make Sierra untouchable. Marrying her would mean she was part of the family, and family members were not considered threats to the Bratva.
“I want the girl,” I said with finality. “And I’ll have her.”
Sierra had unlocked something in me the first time we met. She was a very interesting person, a sweet soul with the prettiest smile I’d seen in a long time. She was gorgeous in every way.
I’d made the decision to marry her so I’d redeem myself of a mistake I made years ago with another young woman. Plus, I liked Sierra and thought she was a suitable wife.
Yuri exhaled sharply, pinching the bridge of his nose. “You know best,Pakhan.” He nodded subtly and excused himself.
Once he’d exited the room, Kostya wasted no time turning to me. “This girl…she reminds you of her, doesn’t she?”
Jade’s image flashed in my head that instant: her beautiful face with a radiant smile playing on her cherry lips. In my head, her laughter echoed, and memories of our time together came rushing to mind.
I could still feel the touch of her skin against mine, and even now, the fragrance of her perfume lingered in my nostrils.
Jade had been a very beautiful blonde with a captivating persona, a slender figure, and a lively spirit.
When we’d met fifteen years ago, I was somewhat soft and so in love with this woman that I forgot who I was—the heir to the Tarasov Bratva. I got sloppy and let my guard down, blinded by my emotions.
Being a Tarasov meant that I had a whole lot of enemies, outside and within. Unfortunately, word about my relationship with this girl had gotten out, and one of my enemies took it upon themselves to make me suffer: Martinez Gonzalez. I’d never forget the bastard who claimed her life.
Thinking about her now sent me traveling down memory lane.
“Chocolate or vanilla?” Jade asked me with a smile as we stood in front of the ice cream shop in the streets.
“You know I don’t eat these things,” I replied.
“Come on, try it. You just might like it.” She chuckled.
I thought for a moment; she wouldn't stop until I picked one anyway. “Chocolate.”
“Nice choice.”
Police sirens wailed in the distance as we stood under the distant stars, placing our order.