Page 21 of Forcibly Sold to the Bratva (Zolotov Bratva #14)

I sit in a shadowy corner of the restaurant and pull my cap down lower. I can’t risk a single thing going wrong today. Arina asked for real, actual proof about her family three nights ago, and I made her a foolish promise when I told her tomorrow.

But that night, I went home and thought there would be no better proof than one of admission. That is why it’s taken me three whole days to hatch today’s plan. If anything goes wrong, the endless hours of research I’ve put in would be all for nothing.

Besides, I have Arina to answer to. I made her a promise, and when it comes to her, I hate not following up on what I say.

My body feels coiled tight, like a spring about to snap. Today, she won’t just hear what I have to say; she’ll see exactly who her brothers are. On one hand, I already predict and fear how the truth might destroy her, but Arina has changed.

In the two months she’s been by my side, I’ve seen a strength to her so strong, so rooted, that I know she’ll find her way out through the dark tunnel.

One of the men sitting at a table near the bar stands up to head to the restroom, and I quickly slink back into my seat to remain hidden. I’ve got my eye on the group, members of a small Bratva unit called the Morozovs.

There’s nothing to be afraid of as such. This group of men… they’re little children in a playground. Even if they see me, they wouldn’t dare attack. But it’s important they don’t, because I don’t want word getting out to anyone that I’m here at this café.

If it does, my plans will burn right in front of my eyes.

Just then, I receive a text from one of my men: They’re five minutes out.

I pull my cap lower and keep my head low as I walk past the bar to the window and look outside.

For three whole nights and days, I’ve made call after call, thrown money in every direction that could bring me a possible lead, until last night one of my sources called back and said they’d be here meeting the Morozovs. Today.

They’ve been asking around about their sister, Arina. About my wife. And for some reason, they believe the Morozovs can help them.

I keep my eyes on a sharp lookout for Tikhon and his brothers, Andrei and Alexey. We’ve been hunting them for months, and just like that, they are moments away from being found. That is, if my intel is correct.

I turn around to glance at the curtain behind which Arina sits. When I invited her here, I didn’t want to tell her about my plans, in case they failed. She doesn’t know her brothers are coming and that my plan is for her to hear exactly what kind of men they are, straight from their own mouths.

Instead, I told her we’ll have lunch, but that I need her to hide out a while since another Bratva group is on the premises.

She’s waiting for the Morozovs to leave, while I wait for the Sokolovs to arrive.

My hands feel cold. I know this is cruel; it’s the proof I’m trying to offer her. But I think of it as ripping off a Band-Aid. I tried telling her the whitewashed version, which she didn’t believe. Now, she’s the one asking questions.

If I don’t show her now, then she’ll never know.

It’s a painful truth that must come to light. Too much has happened in Arina’s life for her to walk around with blinkers on.

Just then, three men step onto the sidewalk, and I notice it’s her brothers. I quickly move two steps right to position myself near the entrance, turning my back to the glass so they don’t notice me as they enter. They’ll have to pass me to get to their table, and that’s when I’ll have them.

I remind myself one final time that I’m not here for revenge. I’m here for Arina, not war. I’m here to give her the truth she wants and deserves. No matter what happens, I have to keep my cool.

The door opens, and they walk in. They take two steps when I rush forward and face them in their tracks.

“Tikhon,” I say, planting my hand on his chest, stopping him in his tracks. “I thought that was you.”

All three men freeze. Tikhon’s eyes narrow at the sight of me. I can see their fear as Andrei and Alexey look around the place, fearing this might be an ambush.

I know I have the upper hand here, and I smile. “This doesn’t have to get ugly. I just want to talk,” I gesture towards the quiet corner near the curtain, within earshot of Arina.

Tikhon pales as he silently exchanges glances with his brothers. Andrei nods, and Tikhon turns to face me with a grimace. “You alone?”

“In here, yes. But I’ve got back-up outside.” I level a warning glare.

“We have a meeting,” Andrei says, trying to move back.

“It can wait five minutes,” I say smoothly. “I just want to congratulate Tikhon on his new position. Word travels fast in our circle, and you’ve been difficult to get a hold of.”

I can feel Tikhon’s worry. This whole time, they’ve been in hiding from our alliance, and right about now, things can turn ugly real fast.

“You don’t want to cause a scene now, do you?” I hiss, knowing well that he understands. If he thinks talking to me is a risk, walking away is even a bigger one.

At last, he chooses to follow me to the corner. His brothers stand right beside him, not leaving his side.

“What do you want, Letvin?” Tikhon asks once we’re where I want us to be.

“I want to know where you’ve been, Tikhon,” I growl. “Hiding like fucking cowards.”

“We aren’t hiding,” Tikhon snaps back. “Especially not from you.”

I feel that same old fury roar through me. “You think we’ve forgotten? What you did to Lilibeth? To Nikandr. We nearly lost them both!” I clench my fists beside me.

Tikhon narrows his eyes. “Viktor was the one who did all that.”

I don’t believe that. Not one word. I know they were involved, too. Who the hell was helping Viktor all along? But I’m not here for my retribution.

“Whatever,” I say rather casually. “I’ve heard you’ve been expanding your territories. Building up from the ground. Taking over couldn’t have been easy.”

“We’re in three new territories now,” Alexei chimes in with a stupid, proud look on his face. I feel like punching his guts out, but I know I need to reel them in to make them talk.

So, I choose to praise. “Three territories expanded in what—two months? That’s impressive work.”

“The Sokolov family is stronger than ever,” Tikhon adds, forgetting to be cautious. “Viktor was weak, and he got sloppy, but we’re fixing his mistakes.”

“How so?” I ask.

Andrei shifts uncomfortably, but Tikhon just smiles coldly. “We’re showing people consequences for their disloyalty.”

“Ah, yes,” I mutter. “After Viktor died, some families deflected, didn’t they?”

“And they paid for it with blood!” Viktor sounds pissed. We made an example of them such that no one will ever cross us again. When the Abramovs refused to pay the Sokolov Bratva the protection money we hiked up, we gave them a chance to change their minds.”

“The old man’s been found dead,” I say, offering bait. “They say he had his throat slit in bed.”

“Who do you think did that?” Alexey laughs. “It was us.”

“He was a fool, that old man,” Tikhon says, his voice hardening. “He thought his age would protect him. But I made an example so strong that all those who defected are now returning to our ranks.”

Behind me, I hear the faintest rustle from the curtain. Arina is listening. My chest tightens, but I push on.

“And the nephew? The one who tried to run?”

Tikhon laughs. “Left pieces of him all the way from Brooklyn to Queens. No one runs from us anymore.”

I nod and act impressed. “And now you’re searching for your sister, I hear.”

His face darkens. “You know anything about that?”

“If I do?” I inquire.

“We’re going to cut off any hand that touched her,” Viktor growls. “Gouge their fucking eyes out for even looking in her direction. Tell me where she is. Now. Or I’ll kill you right here, you understand?”

Just then, I hear a small gasp from behind the curtain. So does Tikhon, because his head snaps up.

“What was that?” he demands.

Before I can answer, the curtain parts and Arina steps out. She’s trembling, her face is pale, and her eyes are wide with terror. Suddenly, I realize what she’s heard. The extent of her brothers’ violence—and I now wish I could turn back time.

“Arina?” Tikhon gasps, his eyes widening.

“Arina, thank God you’re alive! We’ve been looking everywhere for you,” Alexei tries to rush toward her, but she puts out her hands to keep him at bay, and cowers from them.

I notice the hurt on their faces.

She’s looking at them like she sees monsters, like she doesn’t recognize them, and for some reason, it breaks my heart. “Tikhon? What... what are you talking about? What did you do to those people?”

“Arina, look, about what you heard,” Tikhon tries to step forward, but she backs away even more. I take one step to the side, threatening to stop them in their tracks.

“Don’t come near me.” Her voice trembles from where she stands beside me. “I heard you. I heard what you said about... the Bratva and territories and killing people —” She breaks off, tears filling her eyes.

“Arina, you don’t understand,” Alexey tries again. “This isn’t what it sounds like.”

“Shut up!” she cuts him off. “This isn’t what it sounds like? You didn’t torture people? Murder families? Was that all a lie?”

Tikhon’s expression hardens as he turns to me. “You set this up. You brought her here to hear this.”

I don’t deny it. “She deserved to know the truth about her family.”

“You son of a bitch,” Andrei snarls, taking a step toward me. I straighten, ready for the fight.

“Stop!” Arina shouts, drawing the attention of nearby diners. “Just stop, all of you.”

Tikhon’s voice drops to a dangerous whisper. “Where have you been, Arina? What has he done to you?”

“He married me,” she says, her voice hollow. “Ilariy is my husband now.”

The shock on their faces would be satisfying if I weren’t too busy watching the devastation on Arina’s.

“That’s impossible,” Alexey says.

“Why?” I reply coolly. “Think you’re the only ones with power around here?”

“Arina,” Tikhon says, ignoring me now and focusing entirely on his sister. “Come with us. We’re leaving now. Whatever is going on between you it doesn’t count. He forced you, didn’t he? Come here.” He extends his hand toward me, but I step forward and smack it away.

“She’s not going anywhere with you,” I hiss.

“I’m not,” Arina’s voice, strong and firm, reconfirms what I just said.

Tikhon’s eyes blast open with panic. “Arina, whatever he’s told you about us—”

“He didn’t have to tell me anything,” she interrupts, and I turn to see tears falling down her face. “I just heard it from your own mouth. God, I was such a fool to believe you ran restaurants ,” she says with venom.

Tikhon’s expression softens with guilt. “Arina, please. You’re my sister. Let me explain.”

“I don’t want explanations,” she says, backing away until she’s standing right behind me, not wanting to see their faces.

Tikhon then turns to face me, his skin red with rage. “She’s coming home with us. Now.”

“No,” I say simply. “She’s not.”

Andrei steps forward. “She’s our sister.”

“And she’s my wife,” I counter. “Legally. Officially. And she’s staying with me.”

“Why?” Alexei chokes. “Why her?”

“Because of what you did to Nikandr. To Lilibeth,” I hiss.

Behind me, I feel Arina stiffen. Of course. She still doesn’t know. While she might have heard what she did, there are still details, gory and dark, that I’ve tried to keep her from.

Her heart is broken enough today. I don’t want to cause more misery.

I look at each brother as I speak. “I have two dozen men parked outside. If you try to take her or harm us, you won’t have a way out. Today, assholes, you aren’t walking away with what you want.”

With that, I turn and take Arina’s hands. She’s so shocked that she feels like a puppet. Blindly, she follows as I lead her out of the restaurant, leaving her brothers helpless and furious in the face of my threats.

Outside, Arina is silent beside me as we walk to my car. I open the door for her, and she slides in without a word.

I get in beside her and take a look at her face. I expected to feel differently, but the satisfaction I dreamt of feeling when the truth about her brothers aired dulls and dies in my chest.

I don’t feel satisfaction.

Her expression is empty, hollowed out, like someone has reached inside and scooped away any and all love she ever felt for her family.

And instead of feeling triumphant, I feel guilty and shattered at being the one to have delivered this pain to her.