Page 25 of Cruel Russian Monster (Safin Bratva #2)

I was curled up in the armchair in my room.

After Artyom brought me to the mansion, he told the guards he’d kill anyone who let me leave the compound.

He took my handbag and smirked as he explained that his tech guys had disabled the car’s tracker and erased all logs from the day.

The car was now hidden in the garage; leaving it out on the street would’ve raised suspicion.

I regretted leaving the house. I should’ve waited for Jaroslav to come home. Leaning my head back, I closed my eyes as the room spun. My stomach churned as dread coiled in the pit of it.

I was worried about what Artyom might do to me, what he might do to Jaroslav, and what Jaroslav would do once he realized where I was.

Earlier, Yegor had snuck in to ask how the hell Artyom got me to return.

I told him about the threat. He said he'd make sure that there were no explosives in the building. Then I admitted that I loved Jaroslav. I begged Yegor to keep Jaroslav safe. I had no idea what Artyom was planning, but I knew it wouldn’t end well if someone didn’t stop him.

Yegor promised he’d try, and I believed him.

The creak of my door turned my attention to it. Kira slipped in and closed the door behind her. With tears in her eyes, she hurried over to me. She hugged me, and I gripped her, and we sank to the floor in each other's arms.

“I'm so sorry, Vera,” Kira whispered. “This isn't right. God! How could Artyom be so cruel?”

“If he catches you in here, you'll be in trouble,” I sniffed as Kira gently rocked me in her arms.

“Zahkar is looking out for me. He'll send me a text when I have to leave.”

“I’ve never hated Artyom before,” I whispered. “He's my brother. But he's making it very hard not to.”

“I know. But to him, that's not how marriages work. If a man wants you, he has to approach Artyom.”

“But I want him. I want Jaroslav. Am I wrong for loving who I love?” I asked, looking into Kira's eyes.

She brushed away my tears. “You aren't. Being a Bratva woman sucks. But together, we will fight this. Artyom took my phone, but if I know Katya and the others, they'll figure out where you are soon.”

As much as I wanted nothing more than to leave this wretched mansion, I now worried about Kira. How would Artyom treat her if I did leave again?

“Kira, I'm worried about you. If the others come for me, Artyom might take it out on you.”

Kira's brown eyes darkened. “I'm a lot stronger than you think. Don't you dare give up your chance to be loved because you're worried about me.”

“How could I not? You're my younger sister.”

“And you're my older sister.” Her eyes softened. “You'll do anything for me. You've proven that over the years. I want you to do this for you.”

A sob caught in my throat as she continued, “Zahkar and Yegor might never admit it, or can't, but they aren't happy with how Artyom is running the faction. And definitely not happy about the ongoing war with the Safin faction.”

I nodded slowly. Artyom hadn't always been like this, but with each passing year, he got more and more controlling.

“I love you, Kira. I don't know what I'd do without you.”

Kira squeezed me tightly.

“And I love you, too. Don't think you're in this alone. And when we get through this, you'd better promise that if I find a man even half as good as Jaroslav, that you'll help me keep him.”

I smiled and chuckled despite myself. “I pray that you find a man that's better than he is.”

I wanted nothing more than for Kira to marry a man who loved her, who'd worship the ground she walked on and protect her from everything evil in this world.

Then the tears were back, and Kira pulled me into another hug.

We stayed like that for a few minutes. Kira's phone buzzed, and she checked it.

“It's Zahkar. I have to leave. But, we're here. All of us. We've got you.”

She helped me to my feet and pulled me into a quick hug before slipping out the door again.

I sat once again in the armchair and pulled my feet to my chest. My thoughts drifted back to the time I spent with him, in Florida, in the library, in his bed.

He wasn't the man I had loved three years ago. He had grown, evolved as I did. But at his core…he was the same.

Commanding. Strategic. Possessive. Protective. Ruthless.

Everything I'd ever wanted in a man. I’d thought that over time I’d fall out of love with him, but I didn't. That love lingered. And once he dragged me back into his life, something sparked, ignited, and then…exploded.

There was no going back from the silver-eyed man who stepped in at the bar to protect me. There were no upgrades from him. My heart belonged to him. I'd never give it to another.

My eyes misted.

I missed Jaroslav. I needed him. And deep down, I knew that if I couldn’t convince Artyom to accept the marriage and let me go, I might never see him again. Artyom wouldn’t care that I was married; he’d probably force me to marry someone else just to prove I had no right to choose the enemy.

I was scared.

Scared for myself.

Scared for Jaroslav.

Scared for our unborn child.

I placed a trembling hand on my stomach. I had to keep pretending I was okay, that the nausea and weakness weren’t getting worse with every passing minute.

But if I didn’t talk to Artyom now, then when? Waiting wouldn't make it easier.

I took a deep breath, pushed up from the chair, and went in search of him.

I found him in the lounge, sitting by the bar. His lips curled into a wicked smile when I walked in.

“Ah, Vera, just the person I want to see,” he grinned. “Do you want a glass of wine?”

Artyom was never nice. The fact that he was trying to tell me he already had a plan.

“I don't want any wine,” I said, as firmly as I could. “I wanted us to talk.”

He grabbed his glass and motioned for us to sit on the sofa.

Once seated, he said, “Usually I'd let you go first. However, I think the situation at hand demands that I go first. Do you mind?”

I shook my head. As much as I wanted to yell and demand that he let me go, I knew it was important to hear what he had to say.

He smiled. “You've always been such an obedient little sister. Are you also an obedient little wife?” His tone was cold.

Shivers ran down my spine. I clenched my fists in my lap and forced myself to meet his gaze, but I didn't respond. I didn’t think he wanted me to.

“I saw some of the messages on your phone. And the pictures.”

I froze. A rush of bile cleared my throat. I swallowed hard, forcing it back down.

He continued, “You've created quite the friendship with Jaroslav’s sisters. What are their names, again?”

His eyes darkened as he looked at me. I inhaled deeply and tried to steady my nerves.

“Mariya and Ninel,” I said, in an unbothered tone, though I was far from feeling that way.

“Yes, Ninel and Mariya. Very pretty names, for very pretty women. You see, once I've kidnapped them, I've arranged for them to have a little bit of fun.”

“W-what do you mean by fun?” my voice croaked.

“Did you know that there are shows where men go to pay to see men have sex with women? There's a stage and everything. And get this,” he took a sip of his drink. “It's not just one man. It's actually multiple men at a time.”

“You can't! You have sisters! Why would you want to do that to someone else's?” I shot up off the sofa and blurted out furiously before I could stop it.

Artyom went on, ignoring my outburst. “Relax, Vera. Sex is a normal occurrence in life. And guess what? I'll even tape it and send a copy to Lev. Fuck, I might even upload it to social media. That would be a kicker.”

He smiled and leaned back, draining the last of his drink before placing it on the coffee table.

I felt as though something slammed into my skull.

This couldn't be happening. This was all my fault.

I should have just married Lev. How could I have thought there wouldn't be consequences?

I loved Ninel and Mariya like my own. If anything happened to them, I'd never forgive myself.

I sank into the sofa opposite Artyom, my head in my hands.

“And after those men are done with them”—I looked up at him as he smirked—“I'll sell them to the cartel, and they'll live the rest of their lives flat on their backs.”

“Artyom, please. You don't need to do this,” my voice cracked.

“First, Lev went out and married Katya when he gave his word that he'd marry you, and now Jaroslav pulls this bullshit?” Artyom roared. “Do you fucking know what you've done, Vera? How are people going to look at me after hearing what you've done? That you're fucking the enemy?”

I knew I had to be careful with the next words that came out of my mouth.

“Artyom,” I said softly. “I married Jaroslav because I wanted to,” I lied.

“We both want the war between our factions to end.

Katya lives there; she's our sister, and she has a son, your nephew. People would see the marriage between Jaroslav and me as a truce. Both factions came together to solve their issues. It could be a win-win for everyone.”

Artyom laughed darkly. “A fucking truce? After Lev betrayed me, and now you? My own flesh and blood?”

“But Katya is our blood! Where is your loyalty to her?”

“She's a fucking bastard child! Some stray birthed because Dad didn't fuck some whore with a condom! She hasn't done anything to deserve my loyalty!”

“But…”

“But nothing, Vera!” Artyom cut me off sharply. “If you refuse to tell Jaroslav that your marriage is over, every single thing that I said I'll do to Ninel and Mariya will come to pass. You have one hour, then my men move in.”

Artyom walked out, and the tears began to fall. God! It didn't matter which choice I made, my heart would still be broken into a million pieces.

If I had known this morning would be the last time I kissed Jaroslav, I would've kissed him a little longer.

If I had known when I called him earlier that it would've been the last time I spoke to him, I would've spoken to him a little longer.

I would've told him what I had wanted to tell him these past weeks—that I loved him.

And now he'd never know.

I curled into a ball and cried myself to sleep.

I'm not sure how long I'd been asleep when I was forcefully yanked from the sofa by one arm. I stumbled and gasped as a wave of nausea hit me.

“Seems like Jaroslav has a death wish. What the fuck does he think this is? Some Disney movie where he could storm in and whisk his bride away?”

“W-what did you do?” I asked.

I tried to yank my arm away, but Artyom gripped me tighter, and I winced.

“I haven't done anything…yet,” he snarled. “But since he has presented himself to us, you will go outside and tell him that your marriage is over. We'll deliver the annulment papers for him to sign. If you don't, you'll never see Ninel and Mariya again.”

I nodded stiffly as tears ran down my face. Artyom walked behind me, pushing me to go faster. What had I done in this lifetime to deserve this? To lose Jaroslav again.

When we stepped into the yard, Jaroslav was surrounded by about eight guards, pistols trained on him. Yegor and Zahkar stood close behind.

My stomach dropped, and I froze. Our gazes locked, and for the first time, I saw fear in Jaroslav’s eyes. This man, who was larger than life, this man who ate thugs for breakfast, stood in front of me, and I felt fear radiating from him.

I almost crumbled from the pain of being torn apart.

God! Help me!

I wanted to be held by him.

To be kissed by him.

To be loved…by him.

The tears cascaded down my cheeks, and I couldn't stop them if I tried.

Artyom grabbed my face and forced me to face him. “Remember what we agreed upon.”

I nodded.

“Good. Now let's get this over and done with.”

When we had reached about ten feet away, Artyom forced me to a stop. Jaroslav took one step forward, and the men surrounding him did as well.

My heart lurched.

I knew I had to save Ninel and Mariya, but I needed to let Jaroslav know how much I loved him. I inhaled deeply to push back another wave of nausea as I struggled to keep my balance.

“Jaroslav…” my voice cracked. “I love you…so much…”

God! The expression on his face at the recognition of my love was pure and innocent. One I'd remember forever.

I just hoped he'd forgive me for breaking his heart a second time.

I opened my mouth to speak again, but my words slurred, my knees buckled, and darkness swallowed me whole.