Page 11 of The Russian’s Forced Bride (Kamarov Bratva #2)
He wasn’t faking anything, and I guess that was a good thing. If Dad had raised him, I bet he would’ve been just like the rest of us—cold and unable to fully express himself without combusting.
“Just turned nineteen a month ago,” Brandon replied, and I nodded. He truly was just a child.
A genuine smile danced on my lips as I looked him over and said, “Welcome to the Whitmore family, Brandon. And you came just in time to see your big sister get married.”
My only regret was that we hadn’t met earlier. Now, I had one more life to worry about.
***
The sound of violins and other string instruments playing in the background in a romantic symphony felt like metal strings grating against my ears.
I had suggested an orchestra play at our wedding, but instead of being melodious and inciting a romantic atmosphere, it filled me with anticipation of dread.
I stood in front of Rafael, who was devilishly handsome and dressed in a navy-blue tuxedo that hugged his biceps gently and smartly.
Through my veil, I could see that he wasn’t even looking at me.
His expression was blank, almost like he couldn’t wait to get this all over with, and although I felt the same way, I wished he could at least pretend—for the sake of my friends and family who were present.
The priest’s voice sounded faint in the background and was drowned out by the terrible music playing around us.
The scenery was stunning. It was a vineyard—one of Rafael’s many vineyards—decorated with various breeds and arrangements of flowers along the interlocked floor.
Sky lanterns floated above us, casting a warm golden glow over the sky—like something out of a fairytale.
I could have enjoyed this wedding if I truly loved the man standing before me, but unfortunately, I despised him.
Aside from Eleanor and Lara, who stood as my maids of honor, the only other people present for me were Jacob, who had arrived a few minutes earlier, soaked in sweat, and my new half-brother, Brandon, who watched the scene from the sidelines, seated at the farthest end of the yard on one of the many scattered tables.
Alice wasn’t present. Not that I wanted her to be there.
Then there were Matvey, Oskar, and a few other Bratva men, all dressed in black, staring at me like a dove they couldn’t wait to keep locked up forever. Their eyes only regarded me with indifference that made my heart fall to the pit of my stomach.
I was then brought back to reality when the priest asked if I would take Rafael as my lawfully wedded husband, for better and for worse.
I wanted to say no, but I blurted out yes instead, peeking at Rafael through my veil. And after exchanging vows we didn’t mean, the old, fat-bellied priest said the words I had been dreading all evening:
“You may now kiss the bride.”
I was taken back to that cellar. Back to the feeling of Rafael’s tongue shoved deep into my mouth and his body pressed against mine, and my breath hitched in my throat at the thought of it.
I didn’t want to relive that feeling. This man didn’t give two flying fucks about me.
Gosh, I wanted to cry at how pathetic I felt.
Rafael lifted my veil, allowing me to see his eyes clearly. They were steeled, guarded, and full of hatred, and as I glared back into his eyes, I hoped it was able to convey that I felt that same loathing for him.
And then, without warning, he pressed his lips to mine—but this time, he didn’t linger. He pulled away as soon as our lips met, almost as if the thought of kissing me again disgusted him.
Claps erupted in the background, and the voices of people chattering around me started to make my heart beat faster. My friends seemed genuinely happy for me, but it felt like my heart was being torn in two.
Each clap made me feel like I was sinking into a void of despair.
I couldn’t run anymore. I couldn’t hide even if I wanted to. I had to go back to being the perfect lady Father had always trained me to be if I was going to survive living with Rafael.
***
The ride home was filled with a deafening silence. The air between Rafael and me, as we sat side by side in his Maybach, was stifling. My body ached, and my mind was overwhelmed by everything that had happened today.
After the wedding, a reception followed, where I was supposed to celebrate with everyone, but I was so tired of it all; time seemed to pass in a blur.
One moment, I was being congratulated by my friends, by Jacob, Matvey, and Oskar, and in another moment, I retired to the car, waiting until Rafael was done talking to his little Bratva cult.
I hadn’t even noticed when Jacob slipped away, unnoticed by everyone else. He had been like a spectator at the wedding—just watching—and everyone seemed too busy to notice him.
Once the chauffeur stopped in front of our new house—the Lake Forest house, which I was a bit surprised to learn Rafael had purchased—I stepped out of the car, not bothering to wait for Rafael, as I made my way inside by using my fingerprint on the biometric scanner to open the door.
My belongings had already been taken to the house yesterday, so there was no need to bring my bags along.
I could hear Rafael’s quiet footsteps behind me as I climbed the spiral staircase looking for my things, and I headed for the first room I saw right after walking down the hallway.
The room I stepped into was dimly lit by two table lamps and a spiral-shaped chandelier dangling from the ceiling.
The accented walls were decorated with textured vertical designs that gave the room a rather refined look that blended well with the bed, which was upholstered in a dark, plush, velvety fabric.
Roses were scattered around the bed with candles flickering sensually from the lampstands, and I scoffed out loud when I realized that this was the master bedroom.
I felt for the light switch on the wall and turned it on, flooding the room with harsh light instead of the supposed romantic atmosphere the candles and lamps were meant to create. Just then, I spotted my bags right by the walk-in closet at the far end of the room.
I hurried my steps to leave the room before Rafael entered, but I wasn’t quick enough, and the door creaked open, revealing him.
I ignored him and grabbed one of my boxes, rolling it across the room to where he stood, blocking the door’s entrance.
“Where do you think you’re going?” His deep voice resounded in the room.
I fixed my gaze to the ground, avoiding his stare that burned holes through my head.
He wasn’t really expecting us to share a room, right?
“I’m leaving the room for you so you can have all the space and privacy you want,” I replied, trying to push past his form, but he suddenly grabbed my arm, his grip strong but not hurtful.
I gulped when he leaned his head toward my ear.
“You’re my wife now, kroshka . You stay with me.” His refined American accent seemed to disappear as the strength of his native accent took over—his tone filled with authority, urging me to obey.
But I didn’t want to. Couldn’t things just go my way for once?
“I don’t want to, Rafael.” I shook my head, inching away from him even though he still held me tightly.
He scoffed, lifting his head as he towered over my form, anger smoldering beneath his eyes.
“Just let me go! I don’t want to fucking sleep with you!” I yelled, pushing against his chest, but he wouldn’t budge.
He snorted in reply. “And what makes you think I want to fuck you? There’s nothing special about you, so stop being a bitch and—”
My free hand slammed into his face as my eyes burned with unshed tears. Though he barely flinched, he looked surprised, and the anger in his eyes grew stronger.
“Don’t you ever call me that.” I shook in anger. “If you want to sleep around like the manwhore you are, don’t lump me in the same category as you.”
He chuckled darkly, his grip on me tightening as his breathing grew ragged, as if he were trying to suppress the fury burning in his chest at my slap.
I’d expected him to hit me, but he just roughly let go of my arm, narrowing his gaze at me, and this time, I felt it deep in my soul when he spoke.
“Don’t ever do that again.”
I swallowed a lump in my throat as I nodded and hurried out of the room once he moved aside, letting me go.
The sound of my heart beating hard against my ribcage filled my ears as I walked down the hall to find another room.
It was scary seeing how he was letting a lot of things I did, but I knew I really had to keep my behavior in check someday.
We were now man and wife, and he could easily kill me without anyone batting an eye.