Page 37 of Forced By the Bratva King
Chapter 14 – Artem
“He insists that his people had nothing to do with the cyberattack on our database,” Yuri’s voice came through the phone held over my ear.
I pressed my thumb and index finger against the bridge of my nose as I stood in the living room downstairs. In a neatly tailored black suit, I was all dressed up, ready for the evening gala that I’d been invited to. It was an invite that I would’ve normally passed on, but I didn’t because even though I wasn’t feeling the whole fancy gala thing, it was an opportunity to show off my wife.
Still listening to Yuri talk about our little prisoner, Jacob, I glanced at the Rolex wrapped around my wrist, wondering what was taking my wife so long to get ready. Women would always be women, anyway.
“Do you believe him?” I asked Yuri, using this conversation as an excuse to keep my mind occupied with something other than Sierra.
“I don’t know,Pakhan,” he said. “I’ve used every trick in the book—tried every technique—but the Irishman wouldn’t break.”
The frustration in his voice was subtle, but I could sense it. Yuri’s methods always yielded results, so his displeasure with this situation was understandable.
“We need to be sure, Yuri,” I said, gently scratching my forehead as my mind flooded with different possibilities on that matter. “We can’t afford to make a mistake with him.”
“I know that,” he replied. “But trust me, I’ve never seen anyone hold out like this before—at least not in a long time. So, it’s either he’s tougher than I gave him credit for, or he’s actually telling the truth.”
I exhaled slowly, dragging a palm across my mouth. I was buying time to think as I weighed my next move. Jacob was a tough nut to crack, but since Yuri thought that there was a possibility of the Irish being innocent of this cyberattack, then it was worth considering. Niall Donovan was an impulsive man; he wouldn’t mind going to extreme lengths over this. We needed to play it smart.
“I can’t believe I’m saying this,Pakhan.” Yuri heaved a sigh over the phone, like the next words he’d utter would go against everything he stood for. “But what if we’re looking at this from the wrong angle?” He paused and continued. “Because if we are, if we’re wrong, and anything happens to Jacob on our watch, then things could get ugly really fast.”
“Since when has that been a problem for you?” I scoffed, knitting my brows.
“Since you now have a wife—a family of your own. The last thing you need right now,Pakhan, is an all-out war, and if we keep Jacob here much longer, Niall will not hesitate to respond,” he gave the most sensible reply I’d heard from him all week.
A smirk played on my lips as I stood there, impressed by his words. I couldn’t believe that he was capable of thinking from another point of view, and it was rather refreshing—a little awkward coming from him, but refreshing. He was starting to pick up a thing or two from me. Usually, his first instinct in situations like this was drastic, and he never cared about the consequences. This was a pleasant surprise, an improvement in his personality.
“You’re right,” I said. “Donovan will stop at nothing until he gets his right-hand man back, and he won’t care who gets caught in the crossfire.”
“What do you want me to do?” he asked after a moment of silence on both ends.
The click of Sierra’s heels coupled with the sweet fragrance of her perfume announced her arrival, and I turned to face her, my gaze meeting hers as she lingered on the top step.
“Let him go,” I said to Yuri, my voice calm yet firm and my eyes never leaving the damsel in my sight. “And don’t forget to mess him up a little bit to send a message.”
“Understood.”
I ended the call and lowered my phone as she gracefully walked down the steps in an elegant red gown that hugged her curves like a second skin, accentuating her figure and cinched waist. She had on a pair of impossible heels that sold her out as a model. Her dark hair was styled in loose, sultry waves, cascading down her back in a manner that framed her face and illuminated her pale skin.
As she descended the stairs like a pageant queen, her green eyes glimmered like polished jade, smooth and radiant with a depth that drew me in. I was enamored by her beauty, and while her pretty smile warmed my stone-cold heart, the daring slit up her dress revealed glimpses of her alluring legs that had my cock rising in my pants.
The air was filled with her perfume as she halted in front of me, a beautiful smile spreading across her face. The light makeup she wore seemed to naturally blend with her pale skin—nothing flashy, just simple and unique.
“You look like you’ve seen a ghost,” she said, her tone low and seductive.
“No, I look like I’ve seen a goddess,” I replied with a cocky grin.
Her cheeks flushed, and her eyes lit up, sparkling like emeralds in the lights.
Everything about her was turning me on right now, and I wanted so badly to act on my feelings, to lift her up and fuck her on the couch, against the wall, and even on the stairs. Ienvisioned that for a moment, and it felt good,awesome. My cock was swelling up at the thought of the things that I could do to her this instant, but I was fighting to remain in control.
She was shy, subtly looking away from my gaze with that sweet innocence coloring her eyes. “You don’t look so bad yourself.”
“Really?” I stepped forward, casting a flirty grin at her.
She nodded, and I took her hand, pulling her to me. Sierra let out a soft gasp, her eyes widening upon feeling my erection.
“Don’t look at me like that,” I said, leaning closer. “You caused it.”