Page 10 of Stolen By the Bratva

My throat went dry. Words couldn’t come. As a matter of fact, I have heard, asshole. I was expected to be a key player in this union, but the more I thought about how bad my life would become as Andrey Valkov’s wife, the harder I wished for something else.

It didn’t matter that the clock was ticking away. Deep down, I clung to the fantasy that my marriage might not go through. If these men assumed the engagement would happen, it looked like I had to give up on that farfetched hope.

I replayed Alex’s taunt in my mind again, though, leaning heavier on how he’d said it. We’re about to be united. I could vividly imagine it. Uniting as one with this cocky Valkov. Sliding against him and taking his dick inside me until we were joined in the most intimate, deepest way possible.

Once more, he dragged his attention over me. His stare sparked with more than annoyance at my talking back. He checked me out with a raw hunger that almost excited me.

“We’ve come under the orders from Pavel Valkov,” Nik said, trying for a more diplomatic but still stern tone.

I nodded, but caught myself and shook my head. “That may be so, but there is no one here to meet with you.”

“Your father?” Alek guessed.

I shook my head.

“Your superior?” he tried again.

“It’s just me here.”

He huffed, rolling his eyes. “Well,” he said as he turned slightly to face Nik, “she can’t be The Doc.”

Again, that reference to something in the emails. This was the bratva, not some rough MC gang. We didn’t use road names or aliases like that. Maybe the Valkovs did, but I wasn’t informed of anything they might be here for.

“Regardless, you need to leave.” I pointed at the door, proud that my finger didn’t tremble.

“You always this bossy?” Alek retorted.

“Until any marriage takes place between our families?—”

“Sounds like it’s a done deal.” Alek shoved his hands in his pockets.

I pressed my lips together, exhaling hard through my nose. I didn’t want to believe it yet. Until I was walked down that aisle, I had to believe something else was in store for my life.

“Until anything can bring our families together, you need to leave. No Valkovs can come lurking around here. Wait outside for whoever you think you’re here to meet.” I pointed again, aiming my finger at the window, indicating that they could go toward the street.

I was alone here, but I was no dainty fool. I had to be firm with these men. Especially the rugged man who continued to stare at me so closely, so heatedly that his focus felt like a naughty caress over my skin.

Nik’s phone rang, and he frowned down at it. When he moved the device to his ear, he nodded once, dipping his chin at me. He sighed and headed for the door, elbowing Alek on the way. “Come on.”

He didn’t move. Lingering right there, boring me with his dark-brown gaze, he seemed to struggle with the need to leave.

Finally, with an expression full of suspicion and doubt, he turned and followed Nik back outside.

I didn’t hurry to lock the door after it closed. Instead, I stared at the small monitor on my desk that showed me they were leaving as I’d demanded.

Alek turned, though, glancing up into the cameras once more, almost as though he had to have the last look, one final act of being a rebel and not hurrying away.

I sighed then bit on my lip as I considered the chance I could see him again once I married into his family. Would that flame of desire rise again? Could my husband be just as sexy, luring me with that immediate magnetism like Alek had?

Would this instant lust die out so I could please my husband instead?

Shaking my head, I sat. Then I dropped my face into my hands. I wasn’t sure what to make of their visit.

All I knew was that I wasn’t ready to get married despite the minutes ticking by to bring me closer and closer to that exact fate.

5

ALEK

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