Page 85 of Plus-Size Bratva Bride

“Come sit with us.” She takes my hand and pulls me towards the table. Her wavy blonde hair flowing down her slender back, her bright blue eyes welcoming and friendly. If I was to guess, I’d say she doesn’t know. But I’m done guessing. I’m done letting people have the benefit of the doubt. If I’m ever going to trust someone they need to prove it to me.

I guess, that’s what Radmir is waiting for now—for me to prove myself to him.

I know he won’t forgive me. But at least, if I get Ruvim back to him, I can forgive myself. I hope.

Marat and Andrei sit down again too, and they dish up some food for me while they ask questions about what it was like living with the enemy. I chat, keeping my answers short, but letting them feel confident that I hated it.

“So, where is he?” I ask, about an hour into our lunch.

“That scum—” Marat hisses. “He fought back pretty hard when we took him. He fucked up two of my guards. But yeah, we have him locked away at the warehouse on the docks in an underground area. Even if his brothers found the location, they would never find the hidden entrance to the basement. It looks like a stainless filing cabinet in my office.” He chuckles, stabbing his fork into a piece of meat on the bowl in the center of the table.

“Oh, that’s clever. So, there’s no chance of him escaping,” I reply, acting as though I’m impressed.

After another thirty minutes, lunch comes to an end and I yawn, making a bit of a show of it.

“Guys, I’m exhausted. It’s been a long while since I had a relaxing shower in my own place. I’m going to head home.”

Andrei perks up. “I had them bring your car here,” he says with a smile. “Thought it would be easier for you.”

“Thank you,” I say warmly.

But of course, as soon as I’m in my car and away from those savages, I head straight towards their warehouse on the docks. I’m doing what I promised. I’m going to help Ruvim get out of there.

Parking around the corner, out of sight from the main cameras on the front of the building, I quickly message Radmir to let him know I am seventy percent sure his brother is here, but I’m going to head inside to check and will confirm.

He doesn’t reply. I see him come online, read my message, and go offline again.

My heart aches. But I can’t bother about that now. I need to focus.

Getting into Marat’s office is easier than I thought it would be. The guards are playing poker at a small table just outside the warehouse, engrossed in the game and not doing their job.

I manage to slip past easily.

Inside the warehouse it’s relatively quiet, being a weekend, most of the workers aren’t here.

I hurry up to Marat’s office, searching around for the right filing cabinet because one wall of his office is made up of rows of the damn things. I tug at one and the metal door opens. Files.

More files.

A drawer of files.

Shelves of files.

Yes. I finally found the secret door. It looks just like the rest of the cabinets but when I open this one I’m staring down a long dark passage instead of at rows of brown files.

My heart leaps wildly as I duck low to walk through the metal doorway. It’s dark as I descend the stairs into a basement.

My eyes adjust the deeper I go, until I turn a corner on the winding stairway and my heart clenches tightly.

Ruvim is chained to the wall, looking miserable and exhausted. His face is bruised, and his head is hanging.

I run over to him.

“Ruvim?” I whisper, lifting his face in my hands. His eyes flicker open.

“Jade?” he mumbles.

“Can you stand?” I whisper.

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