Page 1 of The Bratva's Auctioned Bride
Chapter 1 - Diomid
My arm swings, the muscles of my shoulder and bicep rippling as my fist connects with the guy’s upper cheek, and I hear the loud, satisfying crack of bone. He grunts in shock and pain. Air pushes from my lungs at the same time, expelled by the force of my effort.
The guy drops like a sack of stones. His head clips against the pavement, and he yelps in pain again, rolling and clutching at his wounds. Blood gushes from the cut over his brow. Broken cheekbone and a deep gash over his brow—two shots in one.Nicely done, Diomid.I smile triumphantly.
Blood oozes over his eye, and he blinks as his vision blurs while he scampers backward, trying to escape the next blow he thinks is coming from me. But I’m done with him, and with his friends. They aren’t worth the effort I’ve already wasted on them. Although I won’t lie and say it wasn’t fun.
“Tell your owners to keep you on a shorter leash,” I snarl, standing up and wiping the back of my hand over my face. I check to see if I’m bleeding, but I’m not. These assholes punch like girls. I hate it when my rivals are too scared to face me themselves and they send their bitches to sort it out for them. Hired guards who need way more training before they’re strong enough to step into this world.My world. I hope this is a reminder for them.
Surveying the street, I snort in disapproval as my eyes trace over the groaning, pained movements of three men lying on the tarred road. My chin tilts up in defiance, and I grab the edges of my collared jacket and give it a sharp tug to straighten it.
“Fucking amateurs.”
No one replies; they all keep their heads down and stay on the ground. A good choice on their part.
Walking away, I spit onto the pavement, furious, worked up, agitated. My adrenaline is pumping after taking down three armed idiots. They actually thought they could jump me. The arrogance.
This is not how I wanted my night to start. I worked late. Got shit done. Thought I would grab a steak on the way home and, for achange, get an early night.
It’s not often I’m in the mood to just chill. But tonight I was.
Not anymore, though.
My blood is pumping through me like demon blood on fire.
My skin is burning, my jaw is clenched tight, and I need to do something to get rid of this angry, internal mess of emotions.
Something that doesn’t involve any more violence.
In the past, my usual response would be to look for another fight. And another. And another. Until I’ve fought myself into a calmer state, but apparently this pisses my family off, and they’ve begged me to slow down and keep a low profile—or at least try.
I can’t be so reckless and impulsive anymore, even if it is my default reaction.
It’s who I am.
My brothers want me to try and be someone or something else.
Guilt washes over me when I think about how many times I’ve put my family in a tight spot because I was impulsive. Yeah. Maybe I should try something else.
I didn’t start the fight this evening. But I guess I ended it pretty well.
I glance over my shoulder at the shadows of men behind me, finally staggering to their feet, leaning on whatever is closest to them. The sight makes me laugh.
“Morons,” I smirk.
I could do with a drink.
Definitely not in the mood for a steak anymore. If I can’t fight, I want to fuck.
It’s the best way to expend my energy. Make someone scream my name in pleasure.
When I brush my hand over the cuff of my jacket, I notice the tear on the sleeve. Those fuckers. This jacket was tailor made and it’s one of my favorites.Whatever. I shrug it off and toss it over the bricks of a low wall I’m walking past. Some homeless person is going to find it, and he won’t even know he’s wearing one of the most luxurious items in the city. He’ll look damn fine, though.
As I walk toward the busiest street in the city, I roll up the cuffs of my black shirt sleeves a few times, straightening each turn of the fabric so it sits flush against my taut forearms.
Flexing my fist, I test for pain, but those guys went down easily. I don’t even think I bruised a knuckle. The tendons on my forearm ripple beneath my skin, and nothing hurts.
Good.
