Page 18 of Forced & Owned By the Bratva Boss

Igor demanded marriage, which means soon enough, I’ll be Mrs. Nazarov.

Dark warmth spreads across my chest and creeps its way up to my face until I catch my reflection in the glass wall smiling back at me. Rising to my feet, I make my way to the side of the office that overlooks the rest of the club.

Despite being launched only a few nights ago, Velour has already become the city’s hottest new power center, packed with politicians, celebrities, CEOs, and some of the deadliest yet wealthiest criminals from the city and beyond.

It’s Igor’s biggest establishment so far, and I’ve had my eyes on it ever since whispers of his grand comeback started spreading through Miami.

From where I stand, I let my gaze drift across the club, taking in every detail—every security standpoint, CCTV camera, every entrance and exit. And most importantly, I observe every VIP escorted upstairs, surrounded by yet another entourage of armed security.

It’s almost surprising how much Igor has built back from ashes of what should have destroyed him, though I admit he’s not the type of man who can be taken down easily.

I’m…impressed.

Almost enough to make me want to put my plan on hold for a moment longer, because he has no idea everything he has now is standing on borrowed time.

The memory of him standing so dangerously close and tenderly stroking my face sneaks into my mind, distracting me for a moment.

My heartbeat betrays me, quickening against my ribs, and I force the memory back into the dark, where it belongs.

No.

I can’t make that mistake twice.

Not now, not ever again.

I’ve tried to get over everything—the betrayal, how he rejected me like I was nothing after making me believe he loved me.

Back then I was too young, and lashed out in desperation just to hurt him. I’d been naïve, so I underestimated him, and my pain became nothing more than a temporary inconvenience.

But I’m no longer that eighteen-year-old who cried her way out of his hotel room.

This time I’m driven by something more than that. And I won’t merely bruise this empire he’s worked so hard to build. I’ll dismantle it piece by piece, until there’s nothing left for him to rule.

And this time, I’m not fighting alone.

***

It’s been five days since Igor told me we were getting married, and I didn’t expect to be walking down the aisle so quickly.

The wedding is everything the city would expect from a man like Igor Nazarov.

It’s extravagant, and our guests are some of the most distinguished people in Miami. I must admit that not everyone here looks happy. A lot of the guests look confused as hell.

At the altar, right behind Igor, stands a man who looks a lot like him. It’s his younger brother, Ruslan. I’ve seen him a few times at the club, and though we’ve never spoken, the look he gives me sends a shiver down my spine.

He doesn’t seem to like me or the idea of me marrying his brother, but he doesn’t need to. All that matters is that I’m closer to my goal.

Among the crowd of criminals and politicians stands Sergei, who despite not looking excited, manages to wear a blank mask as he scans the environment for any threats.

I’ve done background checks on both Ruslan and Sergei. They’ll be a bit of a problem for sure, but I’ll come up with a way to get them to lower their guards around me. Especially Ruslan.

When I reach the altar, Igor’s gaze moves slowly from my face, pausing at my cleavage for a moment before dipping to the curve of the wedding grown around my waist. When he raises his head to meet my gaze again, his eyes are dark with desire.

The same desire I’ve seen in them countless times before, and I can feel a slow throb awakening inside of me.

My wedding dress is a simple, elegant gown made of expensive silk and cut with the purpose of seducing rather than being virtuous, showing just enough of my cleavage to grab Igor’s attention and fitting tightly around my curves, but leaving everything else to the imagination.

I chose it with one single purpose: to lure Igor into my web. And so far, with the way his throat bobs repeatedly, it seems to be working.