Page 52 of Forcibly Sold to the Bratva
Ilariy nods. “Viktor crossed lines that shouldn’t be crossed. He targeted families and children, even.”
I feel cold despite the warm evening air. “And my brothers? Where do they fall in all this?”
He’s quiet for a long moment, and I can see him wrestling with what to tell me. Part of me still wants to believe it’s all a misunderstanding, but the rational part of me knows better. I’ve seen too much now.
“Your brothers supported Viktor and let him get away with his cruelty,” he says finally. “They knew what he did. Now, whether they fully understood how cruel his actions were... that I don’t know.”
I take a large swallow of champagne, needing its burn. “I still can’t believe it.” My voice cracks slightly. “How could they be involved in… in all this?”
Ilariy looks at me with such tenderness that my heart cracks. “I don’t know, Arina.”
We sit there for a moment, all my thoughts swirling into a confusing mess, but I know I need to put an end to this back and forth between us. I need to know which version of my brother is real and which is a figment of my imagination.
Finally, I speak. “I need to know the truth, Ilariy. I know you believe you speak the truth, but I need to see it for myself. I need proof of what they’ve done.”
His jaw tightens slightly. “You may not like what you find.”
“Maybe not,” I admit. “But I can’t keep hiding my head in the sand. I need to know who my family really is.”
Ilariy nods slowly and gently flicks his thumb over my cheek. “I’ll show you. I promise. But for now, how about we head back in and enjoy the remainder of the night?
For some reason, I feel afraid of the proposition. Not because I’m not having a wonderful time, not because I don’t enjoy his family’s company, but because I’m afraid this is Ilariy’s gift to me.
I fear he knows something really bad, and that he wants me to have one last night of peace.
But then again, it could just be my imagination running wild. I nod and stand, taking his hand to pull him up. He inches closer and wraps his arms around me, his eyes watching me tenderly.
“Tomorrow then,” I whisper.
“Tomorrow,” he whispers back, before bringing his lips to mine.
Chapter 15 - Ilariy
I sit in a shadowy corner of the restaurant and pull my cap down lower. I can’t risk a single thing going wrong today. Arina asked for real, actual proof about her family three nights ago, and I made her a foolish promise when I told hertomorrow.
But that night, I went home and thought there would be no better proof than one of admission. That is why it’s taken me three whole days to hatch today’s plan. If anything goes wrong, the endless hours of research I’ve put in would be all for nothing.
Besides, I have Arina to answer to. I made her a promise, and when it comes to her, I hate not following up on what I say.
My body feels coiled tight, like a spring about to snap. Today, she won’t just hear what I have to say; she’ll see exactly who her brothers are. On one hand, I already predict and fear how the truth might destroy her, but Arina has changed.
In the two months she’s been by my side, I’ve seen a strength to her so strong, so rooted, that I know she’ll find her way out through the dark tunnel.
One of the men sitting at a table near the bar stands up to head to the restroom, and I quickly slink back into my seat to remain hidden. I’ve got my eye on the group, members of a small Bratva unit called the Morozovs.
There’s nothing to be afraid of as such. This group of men… they’re little children in a playground. Even if they see me, they wouldn’t dare attack. But it’s important they don’t, because I don’t want word getting out to anyone that I’m here at this café.
If it does, my plans will burn right in front of my eyes.
Just then, I receive a text from one of my men:They’re five minutes out.
I pull my cap lower and keep my head low as I walk past the bar to the window and look outside. For three whole nights and days, I’ve made call after call, thrown money in every direction that could bring me a possible lead, until last night one of my sources called back and said they’d be here meeting the Morozovs.Today.
They’ve been asking around about their sister, Arina. About my wife. And for some reason, they believe the Morozovs can help them.
I keep my eyes on a sharp lookout for Tikhon and his brothers, Andrei and Alexey. We’ve been hunting them for months, and just like that, they are moments away from being found. That is, if my intel is correct.
I turn around to glance at the curtain behind which Arina sits. When I invited her here, I didn’t want to tell her about my plans, in case they failed. She doesn’t know her brothers are coming and that my plan is for her to hear exactly what kind of men they are, straight from their own mouths.
