Page 16 of The Bratva's Auctioned Bride
“No,” I mutter, still angry. “Are you going to tell me, or is it some big secret? Don’t worry, I won’t stalk you on social media or anything,” I snap sarcastically.
“My name is Diomid Abashin.”
Oh.
It wasn’t until very recently that the Abashins went from being enemies to very tentative allies of my family. In the past, they have caused us a lot of trouble. So, all this time, I was actually hanging out with an Abashin. I thought he was justsome random stranger in a bar. Yes, most probably tied to the Bratva—but not an Abashin.
My eyes trace up and down his muscular shape. I hate the fact that I still find him so attractive when I’m so angry with him.
“Did you know who I was when we met at the bar?” I snap.
“Don’t be fucking stupid, Angelika. If I knew who you were at the bar, I would have turned around and walked the other way,” he hisses.
“Oh, because what? Shevchenkos aren’t your allies? We’re beneath you? Get off your high horse, Diomid!”
Diomid takes two steps toward me, and I squeal in fright and hurriedly step back, raising my hands to protect myself.
His face changes, a flash of confusion, then guilt, then anger again.
“I’m not going to hurt you, girl,” he says, defensively.
I sigh and hang my head. I’m utterly exhausted. Rubbing my hands over my face, tears of frustration spring to my eyes, and I beg myself not to cry. I plead and beg for the tears to stay where they are. And they do, but when I look up at him, my eyes are red and glittering.
“I’m.. Um… I wasn’t going to hurt you,” he mutters again.
“I’ve had a horrible day. And you’re being a total asshole right now. I get it, you don’t like us Shevchenkos, but you don’t have to treat me like scum. And you don’t have to blame me for what happened at the bar. I didn’t know who you were either.”
Pulling myself together, the threat of tears is replaced by my frustration, my annoyance toward Diomid for his coldnessafter everything I’ve been through. I can’t believe I actually thought he was rescuing me because he liked me.
Chapter 5 - Diomid
The glimmer of tears in her eyes gets blinked away, and now she’s glaring at me again.
Her arms are folded over her chest, and she’s giving me a look as though she wants to scold me.
I risked my life to rescue a Shev. She should have told me who she was the night we met.
Shaking my head, I turn away from her, slipping my hand into my pocket to pull out my phone as I walk to the other side of the living room. I should call Jaroslav and just get rid of her. Drop her at her family home and be done with her.
Turning back to face her, my eyes trace up and down her gorgeous figure. Still wearing the same dress she had danced in the night before. My heart clenches.She’s been through a lot.I would also be moody after a day like that. After someone tried to auction me off to dirty old men.
Let her go home to her family.
No, she was rude and ungrateful.
It’s not your problem.
No, it’s not my problem. But there is no reason she should get away with it.
Maybe I’ll teach her a little lesson. A lesson that maybe she shouldn’t backchat so much. A lesson about her attitude.
Dialing Jaroslav, I clear my throat gruffly and set my eyes right on Angelika.
She frowns, watching me closely.
A smirk teases the corner of my lip, and I look away, so she doesn’t see it.
“Diomid?” Jaroslav answers tensely. “Have you got any news for us?”
