Page 84 of Plus-Size Bratva Bride

Chapter 25 - Jade

Climbing into that taxi is so much harder than I think it will be.

I duck into the open door and slide myself onto the seat. It’s like someone has a taut rope tied between Radmir and I and the moment this taxi starts driving, they are going to cut it. And I will never see him again.

I want to cry and scream and beg him to forgive me before I leave.

But I can’t.

I have to do something to redeem myself first. I have to save Ruvim.

The taxi driver, oblivious to the extreme tension, smiles and asks me where I’m going. “For now you can head into town. I just need to make a phone call then I’ll let you know,” I say tightly.

My eyes drag towards Radmir and Renat, standing at the top of the stairs near the front door. They are both watching me. Like laser beams digging into my soul.

I pull the taxi door shut and flick my phone unlocked to call Andrei.

The taxi pulls away from Radmir’s home and I swallow away the tears of regret and pain and guilt.

Andrei is at Marat Enzos house. He is the oldest of three. They have one younger sister, Eva. Marat took over the family business when his father died two years ago. I don’t particularly like or dislike him, but his sister is sweet.

Marat was more attentive to me since my brother died. But I realize now it was all a part of his plan.

He went from disinterested to pretending to care. To feeding me information via Andrei.

At the events I’ve been to with Andrei and my own brothers, events where the Enzo family is also in attendance, I’ve never sensed that they intended me any harm. But clearly their willingness to destroy my life in order to get to the Kuznetsovs—it was something I underestimated about them.

Thinking about all the time I spent around them—it burns rage deep inside me. And Andrei. How could he do this? Grigor was his best friend.

The taxi stops outside Marat’s house. For a moment, I can’t move. I can’t bring myself to climb out.

I’m terrified. What if they know that I’ve switched sides? But the thought of helping Radmir get his brother back pushes me forward.

Andrei hurries over to me and hugs me as Marat’s security guy opens the front door.

“Jade. You fucking did it,” he says, excited. “You fucking got that killer’s brother and now… Well—” he smiles triumphantly.

“Hi,” I say, grinning, forcing the anger I feel towards him down, deep inside me where they won’t sense it. But it’s there.

Marat walks over to me, cool and suave. His dark eyes and Cheshire cat grin are rich with confidence.

“Jade, welcome back, you did a brilliant job,” he says, wrapping his arm around my shoulders.

He had my brother killed.

I smile.

“Thanks.”

He tricked me into ruining my life for his own sick, fucked up goals.

“Are you hungry?” he asks, leading me into the dining room where they’ve been having lunch. Just a casual day, sitting with his family and Andrei, enjoying some food.

“Hi Jade,” Eva says happily, standing up and hurrying over to me to hug me. “They told me what you did. I’m so impressed you could handle all of that. I would have been terrified,” she gasps. “But you must be… Happy, at least to have that peace of mind, I mean for Grigor,” she says his name softly, also hurt by his death.

Whether this is an act or not—I can’t tell.

“I’m relieved to be out of there,” I say, letting out a deep breath to emphasize it.

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