Page 79 of Plus-Size Bratva Bride

Everything I’ve believe for the past year crumbles away beneath my feet.

The payment is dated the same day as my brother’s death. Just a few hours after his murder.Job well done. Here’s your money.

“John Grecko was hired to kill your brother, Jade. He was hired by the Enzos, who then tricked you into thinking it was Radmir so that they could use you to infiltrate our family and help them take us down.”

“No,” I say so quietly it’s hardly audible. “I—“ I know there is no other thing that makes sense. They did this. They killed my brother. They had me believe it was Radmir. But it hurts so deep inside to know how intimately I have been betrayed. And that they spent months edging at my grief to push me towards the idea of seeking revenge for my brother's death.

They used my pain—pain that they first created, and then twisted and guided me towards their own goals.

“Why—why did they have to kill him?” I look up at Renat, tears streaming down my cheeks. I know there is no answer hecan give me that will bring Grigor back. I just had to ask. And he doesn’t answer.

Renat stands next to me, looking uncomfortable.

“Can you take me to see Radmir?” I ask, assuming he will refuse.

“Yeah. Come on,” he says, turning to walk out of the office.

I can’t believe it. He said yes.

My feet trip me up as I scramble from the chair to follow him.

I look like shit, I feel like shit, and I have no idea what I’m going to say to him, but I have to see Radmir.

The car ride feels like an infinite loop of tension.

All the way there I am picking at my nail varnish, biting my lip and fighting tears.

How will I make this right?

I’ve been made such a fool of and used so badly, but I still have to own the choices I made that resulted in Ruvim being taken.

Renat parks inside the security fencing at Radmir’s house and climbs out of the car.

He walks towards the door without waiting for me and again I’m scrambling to catch up.

The moment I step into Radmir’s home I want to collapse to the floor and cry. Every memory I shared with him comes flooding into me and I realize that this is the first place, in the entire world, where I have felt most welcome, most at ease, and the most loved.

I follow stiffly behind Renat as he leads me through to the living room where Radmir is sitting on the sofa.

“Rad,” he says as we walk in.

“What is she doing here?” he says coldly.

“She asked to speak to you. I will be in the kitchen.”

Renat turns to walk out and I’m suddenly alone with Radmir.

“What do you want,Jade?” he says my name as though it were a toxic slime he wants to scrape from his tongue.

“I want to help.” I fumble my words. My tongue feels thick and isn’t moving easily. I’m so dizzy with anxiety. Just being in front of him again, I can barely see straight.

He laughs. Not the sound I know. It’s dry and cold and malicious.

“You want to help, right? How sweet. What would you like to do? Invite the Enzos over for dinner and have them take me in my sleep?” He flicks dirt from under his nail, not looking at me, treating me like the scum he thinks I am.

His actions are breaking me down. I don’t know what I expected… I guess I had hoped that he would at least hear me out.

“Rad—“ I try again.

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