Page 51 of Used By the Merciless Bratva
I felt a ridiculous, desperate pain in my chest. He was a monster to me, a cold, unfeeling tyrant who only cared about control. But with her, he was soft. He was easy. He was the man I secretly wanted to be with me. And that was the cruelest part. Because despite all our issues, despite everything he had done, a part of me, a stubborn part of me, loved him. And the thought of him with someone else was unbearable.
“He punished me for laughing at a party with other men. But he gets to stand here, laughing with a woman who despises me?” The hypocrisy of it all was a sharp, burning wound. I shook my head, my mind made up.
“Kat, what are you doing?” Marielle asked, her eyes wide. “Don’t.”
I ignored her. My eyes never left them. “I’m not standing here anymore,” I said, my voice low and determined. “I’m going over there.”
I ignored Marielle’s frantic whispers and began my slow, deliberate walk toward them. The grass felt soft beneath my feet. I pulled off my flats and tucked them under my arm. If I wasgoing to fight, I was going to do it on my own terms. I was going to stand on my own two feet.
They saw me coming. Irene’s smile became a little too bright. Danil’s expression didn’t change, but his body went still. He knew, yes, he knew what was coming.
“Good morning,” I said, my voice sweet as sugar, but laced with a quiet fury. “Sorry, I’m late. I got so caught up with my mourning routine, I almost missed out.”
Irene’s eyes flickered, but her smile held. “Good morning, Katria. Danil and I were just enjoying the beautiful weather.”
“So, I see,” I said, my eyes locking with Danil’s.
Before I could say something snide, Sava appeared at my side, a partially eaten roll in hand.
“Hey,” he greeted, his eyes flickering between Danil, Irene, and me. “Sorry I left without you. I didn’t want to wake you, and I was hungry.”
In that moment, an idea struck me—aterribleidea—but I was overwhelmed by the rage curling in my stomach that I couldn’t help but ignore any rational thoughts.
“Can I have a bite?” I asked sweetly, gesturing toward Sava’s roll with a half-smile.
His brow rose, and as he went to tear a piece off, I shook my head.
“No,” I murmured, leaning in closer. Quiet enough for just him to hear, I muttered, “Play along,please.”
Sava was flirty enough to understand what was happening here, and though he clearly hesitated to give in, he eventually nodded, holding the warm roll closer to my lips.
Disregarding the crowd of people watching, I took a slow bite from the bread, chewing slowly while letting out a few pleased hums for added effect.
Internally, I knew I was digging Sava’s grave, but I was so jealous that I couldn’t bring myself to care.
Over Sava’s shoulder, Danil met my gaze with a burning stare that felt like both a curse and a twisted comfort. He was furious, and that was exactly what I wanted. But the victory felt hollow when I stood there, feeling the eyes of the other guests on me, whispering, judging.
After we finished our little act, Marielle came back to me, her expression a mix of concern and exasperation.
“Kat, what was that?” she whispered.
“I’m done with the games,” I bit out. “I’m done with her. I’m done with him.”
I walked back to the suite, the journey feeling endless. The elegance of the estate felt like a prison. I threw myself onto the sofa, brooding. What was the point of all this? I had tried to be defiant, to challenge him, to make him angry. And I had succeeded. But what had it gained me? More pain. More humiliation. He still controlled everything. He still had the upper hand.
The door of the suite opened, and I didn’t even look up. I knew it was him. The air in the room immediately grew heavy with his presence. He walked over me, and I felt the couch dip slightly as he sat beside me.
I didn’t look at him, but I felt his presence beside me, a heavy, suffocating weight. The couch filled as he sat down, and the air in the room felt thick with his silent judgment. I just stared at the wall, my mind replaying the humiliation of the last few days. The dress. The laughter. The punishment. The public taunting.
Finally, he spoke. “You have a lot to learn, Katria.” His voice was low, and dangerously calm. “Jealousy and revenge don’t look good on you.”
My head snapped toward him. “Jealousy?” I scoffed, the word a bitter taste in my mouth. “Don’t pretend you don’t knowwhy I was angry. I saw you. With her. You were laughing. You were charming. You were everything you refuse to be with me.”
He just looked at me, his face impressive. “I was conducting business. Maintaining a professional relationship.”
“Professional?” I scoffed again, a short, sharp sound. “You can’t be serious. She was draped all over you. And you just…let her.”
He sighed, a sound of profound exasperation. “Katria, that’s the way things are done in my world. You don’t understand the rules. You can’t. You try to play a game you don’t even know the rules to, and then you get angry when you lose.”
