Page 88 of Plus-Size Bratva Bride

My heart clenches.

A few moments later Marat’s men are surrendering. They set their guns down and stand with their hands in the air.

Marat snarls, displeased and looking sour.

I pull my face mask off and walk across the warehouse floor towards him.

“Did you honestly think you could take on the Kuznetsovs and the Dubrovs?” I ask coldly.

He clenches his jaw and shrugs.

Rodion and Renat run over to the blue crate to lift Ruvim. He groans loudly as he stands.

“My ribs are broken,” he complains. He looks like shit, but he’s alive. A tidal wave of relief washes through me when I see him, and Jade, walking towards me.

Marat sneers at Jade.

“Don’t even look at her,” I warn him. “It turns out that I don’t need to kill you to settle this little issue you’ve created.”

“You should kill me,” Marat chuckles darkly.

“Roman?” I glance over my shoulder and my younger brother steps forward. He reaches inside his Kevlar and pulls out a flash drive. A small USB stick.

Marat catches it when he tosses it towards him.

“What is this?”

“That is some very sensitive footage of you. Videos I am very sure you do not want leaked in any way. Both your enemies and the authorities would love to get their hands on that. But especially your enemies,” I smirk, as cold as ice.

Marat’s mouth goes tight.

“Stay away from us, and away from Jade, and that footage won’t be leaked,” I warn him, ensuring that there is no miscommunication whatsoever.

My brothers and the Dubrovs file out of the warehouse, I watch Marat for a moment, but he is looking defeated and broken. Still angry, but not willing to risk moving. He watches us leave.

Outside, we help Ruvim into the back of Rodion’s car and Jade stands to the side, looking lost and unsure what she should be doing.

“Get in,” I say sternly.

She hesitates.

“I’m not going to hurt you, Jade,” I sigh.

She pulls open the passenger door and climbs inside.

“Rodion,” I shout to my brother. “I’m going to stop at home and then come see Ruvim.”

Rodion throws me the thumbs up as he climbs into his own car.

The drive back to my place is so heavy with silence that I keep shifting uncomfortably in my seat. All the words I want to say to her are stuck in my throat again. She saved my brother, but it was only to redeem herself. Everything between us, everything I believed in—it was fake. Manipulation at its finest.

Jade climbs out of the car quietly, walking with her head low as she climbs the steps to my front door. I tug it open and gesture for her to go inside.

“I’m going to see Ruvim. You should be safe in there until I get back,” I say, numb and distant.

She nods.

My phone rings, and I tug it from my pocket.

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