Page 86 of Plus-Size Bratva Bride

He blinks a few times.

“Uh… Yeah, yeah I can stand,” he says, his throat dry and his words rough.

I search around us for something to break the lock. This place is a torture chamber of tools and horrible-looking things. I need something to cut the bolt or something to—

“The keys are hanging on the wall,” he says weakly.

“Oh my word, thank goodness,” I sigh in relief as I stand on my tiptoes to grab them.

Ruvim wraps his arm around my shoulders as we climb the stairs. I do my best to support his weight. He is clutching his hand against his side and wincing in pain with each step.

We get out into the office upstairs and he is taking sharp breaths.

“Are you ok? Do you want to rest for a moment?” I ask quietly, glancing nervously around us.

“I want to get the fuck out of here,” he replies, leaning against the wall.

“Ok, lean on me again. The guards are all playing poker or something by the entrance. I think… I mean, if you can walk a little quieter and move a little quicker, I think we can get out without being seen.” I bite my lip, realizing it won’t be anywhere near as easy to get out as it was to get in.

“It’s fine. I can walk fine when we get there.” He nods.

We head out into the main section of the warehouse and my heart sinks. Right to the pit of my stomach, drowning in fear.

Standing in front of me is the man who killed my brother. John Grecko. His lifeless cold eyes drag slowly over Ruvim and I.

“Where are you two going?” he chuckles.

“What are you doing here?” I snap back at him, trying to come up with a good story, but there isn’t one.

Marat walks into the warehouse.

We’re fucked.

We’re caught and there is nowhere to run. Not that Ruvim could run even if we had an escape route.

Ruvim stands taller, pushing his shoulders back despite the pain he’s in. He glares at Marat.

Marat chuckles and shakes his head.

“Oh dear, Jade. What is going on here?” he says smoothly.

“I know what you did, Marat. You hired Grecko to kill my brother. You used me.Why?” I demand, fiercely.

“Ah. I see. Well, Jade, your brother got himself into some trouble and I saw an opportunity.”

“What trouble?” I snap.

“He thought he was smarter than he was. He made a deal and talked the talk and in the end he lost me millions.”

“Money? You killed him over a deal that went badly?”

“I had no choice. He had to serve as an example to anyone else who thought they could get away with that type of behavior. Besides, I saw another opportunity in his death that would allow me to take down a very strong enemy.”

“Radmir?” I mumble, my anger growing.

“Yes, all of the Kuznetsovs.”

“And Andrei was happy to kill his best friend?” I ask, tears glittering in my eyes. Tears that I don’t want Marat to see. I don’t want him to take any satisfaction in my pain.

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