Page 9 of Forced & Owned By the Bratva Boss

“I’m twice your age,” he says sternly, with an air of finality. “You’re a kid. You’re too young for me. Don’t start dreaming up Nazarov babies and stables in the countryside. We’ve had a good time, and that’s it.”

Seething, I march over to the bedside table to grab my things. My heart aches intensely and my head spins.

I glare at him with all the hatred I feel. “You’re an asshole.”

“Wouldn’t be the first time a girl’s called me that.”

I want to scream at the top of my lungs and cry my eyes out.

How could I have been so stupid?

“I’ll have one of my men drop you off at your place,” is the last thing I hear him say before I stomp into the bathroom and slam the door.

I’m changing my clothes with hot tears burning my eyes when I hear Igor’s low voice, muffled through the door. He doesn’t sound as angry as he did earlier, but whatever he’s talking about sounds shady.

I press my ear to the door, straining to make sense of the words, making out “shipment,” and “the feds.”

Whatever it is, I’m willing to bet my entire savings that it’s illegal.

And I’m not as naïve as he pegs me to be.

I’ve known for a while that my boss doesn’t have clean hands. He thinks he hides it very well, but I’ve seen the signs.

I storm out of the bathroom with his shirt bunched in my fist. “I don’t need you or any of your men to do anything for me,” I hiss.

Without delay, I aim for his head as I throw the rumpled fabric, but he dodges with an annoyed frown.

“And for your information, I quit Cascade!”

I don’t wait for his response. I’m out of the room and crossing through the hotel lobby in a heartbeat.

You’re too young for me. You’re a kid.

Regret gnaws at my chest. Bitterness clouds my mind until all I can think of is vengeance.

I’ll show him that he can’t break me.

Right there, as I put in my earbuds to drown out the noise from the busy street, I decide to wound the only thing I know he truly cares about: his power.

Acting impulsively, I pull out my phone and find a number I never thought I’d use.

I type in enough information to trigger an investigation and, in that rage-filled moment, I hit send.

Chapter Two

Igor

[PRESENT DAY]

The night is cold, dragging an icy breeze through my hair as I march toward the car in the private parking lot. I hear brisk footsteps just before Ruslan falls in step beside me, with creased brows and a deep frown on his face.

“We’ve gotten the situation under control. Most of the customers ran out after the raid, and I have things moving again like nothing happened. It’s also confirmed that someone tipped them off.” He tucks a burner phone into the pocket of his dress shirt. “And Joaquin—”

“Isn’t pleased,” I finish for him. “Yes, I know.”

Ruslan keeps his gaze on mine, silently communicating more than words can say. He looks as pissed as I am. “Igor, there are doubts. They’re second-guessing the alliance. And frankly, I have questions, too. It’s too much of a coincidence that this happened tonight.”

I take a moment to readjust the buttons on my suit jacket before I lift my eyes up to my brother’s.