Page 42 of Bossed Around By the Bratva

“So,” Alexandr started. “They slept together. I’m positive it was a mutual interaction. She is not a young child anymore, and I’m sure she can and did give consent.”

Iosif pushed and swung at Anton. He almost broke through my brother’s grasp. As our eyes met, he huffed. “You took advantage of my weak and soft sister. She is a child, a helpless one, and you used that against her to get into her pants. You are a disgrace and a scum bag of a man.”

I could take him insulting me, by all means. But the way he spoke of Zhenya, I couldn’t let that stand. I was shocked, realizing how much they looked down on her. They had no respect for her and couldn’t see her capabilities.

I couldn’t take it if he spat out another inaccurate lie about her. I would lose my mind. Stepping closer, I spoke up on her behalf. No man had the right to paint such an awful picture of who she was. “Your sister is an amazing woman. She can look after herself and is one of the hardest-working people I have ever met! She is dedicated and has a brilliant mind.”

It looked like I had smacked Iosif in the face. The room went silent as everyone stared at me. I could see the anger Iosif was holding back. His fists were tightly clenched at his sides. Our eyes were locked, and I would give him what was coming if he dared talk ill of her again.

Alexandr was the first to snap out of the apparent trans my words had brought over the room. He stepped up to my side, facing Iosif. “The ball’s in your court,” he said calmly.

Iosif pulled free and stepped closer. His brothers also appeared to have gotten through the door as they lined up next to him. The tension in the room had skyrocketed. Both sides were gearing up to defend their stance.

“You had no right!” Iosif screamed at me.

“No, you’re wrong,” I spat back. “You’ve got no right!”

As things were really heating up, Zhenya strolled through the open door. She looked like an angel coming to save us. She wore a white dress that had a slit up the one side exposing her leg. It hugged her figure perfectly, and with the sun behind her back, she appeared to be shining.

I felt my heart fluttering, and my anger instantly blissed. She was the image of perfection. I wasn’t going to allow anyone to bring her down. Just seeing her reminded me of how much I still wanted her.

Despite everything she had put me through, I wanted to be with Zhenya. Her silky-smooth voice rang through the air as she spoke. “Stop this nonsense! All of this and everything else is my fault. I was the mastermind, and Akim had nothing to do with it! Hell, he didn’t even know.”

A deadly silence filled the air. It was so quiet we could hear each other breathing. Yosif and Avgust glared at her as if battling to process her words. I was stunned and didn’t know what to say. It took me a second or two to adjust.

Chapter 22 - Zhenya

All eyes were on me. I had burst in and declared that I was the mastermind. Now, I had to confess my sins before so many strangers. What was I thinking? Oh, yes, I know, I wasn’t thinking. All I knew at the moment was that I had to prevent them from killing each other.

I swallowed hard, trying to get rid of the ball of peanut butter stuck in my throat. I felt guilty, and my heart was still bleeding. Turning my gaze to the floor, I spoke softly. “I had not meant for things to get so completely out of hand. I am truly sorry.”

Glancing from Iosif to Akim, I continued. “I am sorry for all that I have done. I lied to my family and tricked Akim and all the employees involved in this. I did all of it to get what I wanted without considering others. To prove my worth.”

Wiping the single tear that ran down my cheek, I looked at Iosif. His intense stare felt like it was penetrating every inch of me, even down to the bone. For the first time in my life, I felt scared of him.

“Iosif,” I said. I knew my voice had dropped a couple of notes and was barely audible. But fear had gripped me, and it felt like it was strangling me. “I truly didn’t mean for things to go so wrong. I only wanted to prove I was also part of the family. That I could do something. That I was worth more than merely running errands.”

Looking back at Akim, I felt my heart sinking to my feet. My skin felt cold as sweat accumulated on my brow. “I’m so very sorry for hurting you. I am responsible for the affair we started and would understand if you want nothing more to do with me.”

As the words left my mouth, I glanced at his brothers and then back at mine. I could feel the tears stinging behind my eyes. I was on the verge of exploding. But I knew I had to keep it in. They were angry, all of them, and knowing my brothers, someone had to be punished.

“Akim had nothing to do with any of this. He shouldn’t be punished for something he did without knowing all the facts.” I swallowed hard. “He didn’t know who I was. But I can’t keep quiet any longer. I am glad for everything we shared. I will not fight my feelings for him.”

I braced myself for my brother's wrath and scolding. Especially Iosif’s. I pulled my shoulders up, lowering my head as I closed my eyes. This had to happen, I told myself. “There is nothing more I can say than sorry for everything,” I added, wishing the earth would swallow me.

The room was silent for a moment. Opening my eyes slowly, I wondered why Iosif wasn’t saying anything. Looking at him, my breath was caught in my throat. He was staring at me, his head slightly tilted. Something in him changed. He looked at me like he didn’t know who I was. This was even more disturbing than having him yell at me.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Akim stepping up to my side. “No,” he spat. “I will not allow Zhenya to take all the blame by herself. What happened between us was as much my responsibility as hers. Let it now be known that I’ll be damned if anyone calls what we had a fling”

I looked at Akim in awe as he defended me. I had never seen anyone stand up to Iosif. “Look,” Akim continued. “Zhenya has had a big impact on the company. She has achieved so much. She handled most of the projects we did with exceptional grace.Plus, she was the lead on them. She possesses a quality that makes her uniquely qualified for this business.”

Akim looked at me and smiled. I felt my legs wobble and my heart skip. “She’s the opposite of weak or helpless. She has amazing marketing and management skills. She has a way with clients that none of you would ever understand.”

I could see the shock in Iosif’s eyes. No one has ever stood up to Iosif like Akim had, especially not on my behalf. The heaps of praise overwhelmed me. I bit my lower lip, holding back the waterfall of tears.

Akim wasn’t even going to allow my brothers to put me down. He was sharing the blame with me. Butterflies fluttered around in my stomach, and my heart swelled as I realized that this was love.

There was no more doubt. I loved this man. He was so different from any other I had ever met. Even my brothers couldn’t compare. Staring at him, I knew my sisters' stories about the Dubow men couldn’t be true.

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