Page 66 of Cruel Russian King
“I…I wanted to talk.”
“Talk?” he scoffed. “Unlike you, who gets to lounge around all day, I don’t have the privilege. And honestly? I don’t want to talk to you.”
“Artyom, please…think of the baby,” I pleaded.
He laughed, but it was mocking and hurtful. “The baby? The one you didn’t tell me about? For all I know, that baby could belong to any guard on this estate.”
I gasped and shouted, “Fuck you! This is your baby, and you know it! How dare you?!”
Artyom stepped toward me, anger flashing in his eyes, but then he stopped himself. Without a word, he turned and strode into his office.
Tears streamed down my face for the thousandth time that day. My sisters’ marriages may have worked out, but luck clearly wasn’t on my side.
With a heavy heart, I trudged to the bed. I needed to find a way out of this marriage. If not for my sake, for the sake of my unborn child.
And I knew the only way Artyom would let me go is if I disappeared for good.
But, could I live without ever seeing my family again?
Chapter 19 - Artyom
I glared across the table at Lev, Jaroslav, and Marten. Yegor was on my left, Zahkar on my right. Even though I had married Ninel, tradition dictated that I negotiate with them for her hand. Without this negotiation complete, I risked appearing rebellious to the founding leaders, which could further undermine my authority as faction leader.
“You’re fucking kidding, right?”
Lev smirked. “You and I both know that I don’t kid when it comes to business.”
“So what you’re saying is the only negotiation you’ll accept is total access to my information brokerage system and ten percent of my Bratva’s monthly drug revenue?”
“That is correct,” Jaroslav stated coldly. “You had no problem asking for ten percent of ours when we negotiated for your sisters. We figured you wouldn’t mind the same treatment.”
I laughed dryly. “The only way you’re getting access to that is over my dead body.”
“That can be arranged,” Marten grunted.
My fists slammed against the table. I stood, and Yegor and Zahkar rose with me, while Ninel’s brothers did the same.
“Are you threatening me?”
“No. I’m merely stating that arrangements can be made to your liking,” Marten said bluntly.
I pointed at the three of them, a cold, malicious smile curving my lips. “You do realize Ninel is in my house…in my bed, right?”
The tension in the room increased one hundred fold.
“Yegor, Zahkar, remove your shirts and turn your backs to these Bratva bastards.”
Hesitantly, Yegor and Zahkar obeyed. Lev, Jaroslav, and Marten swore under their breaths as they saw the scars crisscrossing their backs from years of punishments.
“These are my brothers,” I said, letting my gaze sweep the table. “And as you can see, not even they escape punishment. Ninel is my wife. As my wife, she’s bound to obey me, but she wasn’t raised that way, was she? She speaks out. She takes up space. She lives on her terms. Very unlady-like…if you ask me.”
I turned to Yegor and Zahkar. “Put your shirts on.”
Then I turned my attention back to the Safin bastards standing in front of me.
“So, this is what I’m offering in exchange for Ninel’s hand: exclusive access to two of my restaurants for laundering, smuggled pharmaceuticals that you don't have access to, and a secured smuggling route from New Jersey to Shanghai. Refuse, and that bubbly little sister you love so much will be returned broken and scarred. Have a great day, gentlemen.”
I walked past them without a second glance and out of their headquarters.
