Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 92133 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92133 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
Ivan laughed. “I don’t have time for dates when I can enjoy the pleasure of your lovely wives.”
Andrei’s hand gripped me a little tighter. He let me go so I could take a seat.
A chocolate mousse waited for me.
“I hope you don’t mind, Adelaide, the vegan mousse here is simply to die for.”
On the outside Ivan may seem like a good guy, however, I got this sense that he was anything but. He was the head of the Volkov Bratva, the man my husband swore loyalty to, and took his orders from. It was because of him that I was now married. He wouldn’t listen to my father’s concerns that I wasn’t the kind of woman destined to be a brigadier’s wife.
Anyone else should have felt shame because of their family’s constant put-downs, but not me. I was used to it, and I’d been able to build a very strong wall around myself. Their nasty comments no longer bothered me.
“Have a taste.”
I swept my spoon through the dark mixture and took a bite. The moment the mousse hit my tongue, my mouth watered. There was no denying it was a delicious mix.
“Yum,” I said.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Andrei shake his head. Have I embarrassed him? I don’t know the proper protocol for a brigadier’s wife. I’m surrounded by men who do bad things, but no one is telling me what the rules are.
Aurora seemed content to be silent and allow whatever was happening to go on. I’m not like that. Without knowing the rules, I fuck up. It’s inevitable. All my father told me to do was follow my husband’s orders, to not make waves, and under no circumstances was I to ever go to the police.
My family were not pillars of the community. They were not good people. I’d seen a great deal of crap at their parties—drugs, orgies—I was very much aware of it. I’m a virgin in body but not in mind.
“I’m glad you approve.”
I didn’t want to eat the mousse. The dress felt too tight all of a sudden and my throat felt like it was on fire. My time alone was way too short. Panic filled my lungs and threatened to burst.
“Just breathe. Whenever it feels like it’s getting too much and you have no way out, practice your breathing. Slowly take it all in, and then hold it, and then release, slowly, with control. No one controls your breath, Adelaide, only you do.” Miss Nicole’s words were a security blanket to me.
At a time like this, I was the one in control. My father had taken my future, as had Ivan and Andrei. I was at the Bratva’s mercy, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t have control over my body or the way I reacted.
Andrei may be embarrassed over me now, but I’d learn. I would find a way to fit into this way of life. There was no way Bethany would be right about this. I wouldn’t die at my husband’s hands. I could live through this.
We finished dessert, had some coffee, and then Ivan made his excuses. He was the first to leave, and I noticed the four men that followed him out. I hadn’t even noticed them waiting for the boss. They blended into the scenery so easily.
Slavik was next to go with Aurora. There was politeness, but nothing else. There was no warm welcome between the two.
Finally, Andrei and I left. He put his hand at the base of my back, leading me out to where Leo waited with the doors open. Andrei waited for me to enter before he climbed in beside me.
Trapped, alone in the car, I had to wonder if Andrei was telling the truth. Would he let me leave the penthouse if I kissed him? Why would he want a kiss from me? None of this made any sense.
The dinner had been far too stressful. The food had tasted delicious. I’d enjoyed it, but everything else had been a challenge. I wasn’t used to Bratva politics.
I don’t fit in. And I had a horrible feeling I never would.
****
Andrei
Screams filled the air and it was such a pleasing sound to me. Pulling out the fingernails of the piece of shit rat that squealed was satisfying to me. He’d worked in the finance department at one of my casinos. It was one of the places I used to help work the cash through to get it clean.
It made the most sense, seeing as a whole lot of cash could be won, and there weren’t a whole lot of eyes on it. It was one of the many areas we worked. I’m a businessman, with a lot of businesses under my belt, some of them not even associated with the Bratva name, which was how Ivan liked it. Last night I got a call from one of my informants within law enforcement, and he gave me details of a meeting between this little rat and one of the cops determined to bring the Bratva down. It was not going to happen. The truth was, I was in the mood for torture, especially after the dinner I had the other night with Ivan.