Page 65 of Plus-Size Bratva Bride

Radmir is pacing on the spot. Rocking back and forth.

He hates this.

I saw him watching Renat when he had full confidence in his brother’s ability in the cage. There wasn’t a flicker of doubt over Renat’s safety, but with Ruvim he is a shredded wreck. Myheart aches for him a little because I don’t want to see him this stressed.

The ref slams the cage door shut and Radmir visibly flinches.

The fight starts.

I glance between Ruvim and Radmir and puzzle pieces click together in my mind. Ruvim is the youngest brother, just like Grigor was. Ruvim is the baby, the most protected one, the one everyone worries about.

I reach up and fidget with the ruby hanging around my neck.

Ruvim is Radmir’s weak point.

His kryptonite.

If I take his brother away from him, it will destroy him. The same way it destroyed my family. It will cause the same pain, the same anguish, it will give him nightmares and have him crying in the dark, lonely hours of the morning. I know, because that is what I went through. I know the pain.

And I know Radmir’s weakness.

If I knew this information a month ago I would have been ecstatic. I would have reveled in the fact that I found what I came here to find.

But knowing this, understanding this now—all it does it make me feel sick, right to the pit of my stomach.

It’s been so easy to be relaxed because I hadn’t found anything to use against Radmir. But now I know, and I have to make a choice.

A choice I pretended didn’t need to be made.

I swallow hard and turn my face away from Radmir because it hurts just to look at him.

I’m fighting tears that I don’t want anyone to see.

I stare straight ahead, into the cage, where two men appear to be of equal strength and both putting up a brilliant fight. Ruvim is doing well. He is holding his ground and fighting just as hard as his opponent.

But now, watching Ruvim, I realize that knowing he is Radmir’s weakness means he would need to die for the plan to be effective.

I know him.

I have spoken to him.

I’ve laughed with him and spent time with him.

How can I pass on information that will lead to the ending of his life?

Grigor’s face flashes through my mind and I squeeze my eyes shut. Would my brother even want this? Would he ask this of me?

Anyone would say yes, right? Anyone would immediately agree that their own killer deserved to suffer.

If someone murders you, you want revenge against them and you would expect your family to carry it out for you.

Ruvim’s body slams against the cage and Radmir takes a sharp, visible breath in. His fingers are gripped so tightly around the beer bottle I fear he might smash the glass.

I tentatively reach out towards him, but then pull my hand back. How can I comfort him over his fear about losing his brother when I am standing here trying to figure out if I can go ahead with something that will cause Ruvim’sdeath.

I set my mouth tight and let a wave of determination wash over me.

But it’s fake. It’s forced. It’s not working.

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