Page 4 of Plus-Size Bratva Bride

He parked his car on the other side of the building just in case we needed an escape from that side. But we’ve all been waiting together in my car because we can see the front of the restaurant from here.

“They’ll be here. It was a trusted informant who gave me the info.”

“We’ve been waiting for almost an hour,” Roman complains from the backseat, where he is sitting with Renat, clicking the safety on and off on his handgun.

I roll my eyes, not responding. My younger brothers need to learn patience.

We’ve been parked in a hidden area outside a restaurant on the edge of the docks where one of the rival gangs is supposed to be meeting this evening. We’re waiting for them to arrive.

My eyes are locked onto the large glass entrance doors, standing open. The restaurant is quiet, too quiet. Almost as though they purposefully turned customers away to prepare for a specific meeting. The meeting with the Enzo brothers.

I look at the dashboard of the car and the time blinks back at me in red letters. It has been a long time though. I don’t blame my brothers for getting fidgety.

Just as I am beginning to wonder if this was bad info, or if the Enzo gang caught wind of us knowing about it and changed locations, I see two cars pull up at the side of the building.

“They’re here,” I say, stiffening my back. “Get ready.” My blood begins to pump faster as adrenalin kicks in.

My brothers hustle quickly, excited to finally be on the move.

We get out of the car quietly, checking our Kevlar vests and flicking the safety off each of our weapons.

I tap my left leg to double-check that my lucky knife is strapped against my calf. It is.

I hold my hand up to indicate for my brothers to hold their positions just across the way from the entrance of the restaurant. Ducked behind a parked car we stare towards the neon blue lights declaringTony Aroma.The A in aroma is not working as well as the other lights so every now and then it fades to nothing and the sign just says Tony roma.

It’s not part of our territory. We left this area to the lower families, the less respected ones.

My brothers wait in silence, watching the Enzo clan climb out of their cars, greeting each other happily, not paying any attention to what might be lurking in the shadows around them.

But they are all packing. I can see the bulge of their handguns beneath their suits. Always prepared. It’s just the way of life when you are involved in the Bratva world.

I’ve never liked them.Anyof them. The entire family is filled with arrogant, sneaky, underhanded assholes.

Two weeks ago they interfered with a very large shipment of mine and caused me to lose over a million dollars’ worth of product. I’m pissed off and they need to learn that we don’t take that kind of shit lightly.

People need to learn to respect us as much as they respect the Dubrovs.

The Enzo brothers walk towards the restaurant. I’d rather sort this out in the parking lot, instead of shooting up some random guy's establishment for no good reason. I nod. “Now,” I mutter and we rush forward, firing our first few shots before they get a chance to dive to safety behind the entrance doors.

The glass of one of the windows shatters inwards.

All of the Enzo brothers spin around to face the gunfire, ducking behind whatever is closest to them and drawing their guns to return fire.

But just as the chaos breaks out I hear a young woman screaming. It’s ear-piercing and filled with pure terror.

She is walking out of the restaurant clutching a leather bag to her chest like a shield. Loud gunshots have her flinching, and she ducks low against the ground.

I wince each time bullets skim near her. Smacking into the ground in front of her or along the wall behind her.

Dammit.

An innocent bystander was not part of my plan.

The Enzo brothers are hardly paying a fucking second of attention towards her. Why the hell would they not care about hitting her in the crossfire? I guess it’s obvious. They care about nothing and no one but themselves.

“Who’s the fucking chick?” Ruvim yells over the gunfire, loud snaps of sharp, piercing sounds that spark in the air around us.

“I have no fucking clue!” I yell back, agitated and distracted with worry about her safety.

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