The thought was annoying, but really, what the hell was I doing?
“What’s Bratva?” I finally found my voice, as Radmir drove smoothly through the gate in his black Mercedes Gelenvagen, which reminded me of a tank. It was probably even bulletproof, since the doors were massive and I couldn't open them myself, not that Radmir let me. The rest of his people rode in two separate side-by-side Jeeps behind us, like security or something straight from the movies.
Radmir’s hands tightened on the steering wheel till his knuckles became white. Soon, he smoothly stopped the car, got out of it, still silent, and opened the door for me, giving me a hand to hop down, which wasn't easy in the brown pencil skirt, stilettos, and white camisole shirt. Dominic and Yuri gazed at Radmir expectantly, and he moved his head in the direction of the mansion. With a nod, all the men carried heavy bags inside, leaving us alone on this weird-as-hell street.
A little fear rushed through me, because I was trapped between the car and the handsome stranger who rested his arm above me while our eyes held one another’s.
“The Bratva is a brotherhood in Russia. Organized crime.”
Blinking a few times, I tried to process this information. I repeated faintly, “Organized crime.”
“Yes.” Did he think his words required no further explanation?
Wait a minute.
Bratva.
Crime Organization.
A memory of a Russian TV series my father used to watch a few years ago flashed through my mind. What was it called?Brigada. The men there used to be best friends until they had no choice but to form a brotherhood of guns and death and blood.
Oh my God!
As in the freaking mafia? I stepped back only to be reminded about my trap, and when I pushed his chest away, he didn't even budge, standing there as hard as a brick wall. “Let me go. I’m so stupid.” I hit his chest a few times, all the while wondering how the hell I would get out of this mess, considering there was not a living soul in the distance who could help me. He cursed in Russian and grabbed my hands, pulling them apart until our chests brushed against each other.
“You are safe,” he said huskily, and I laughed although it lacked any humor.
“You are a criminal!” They all must have thought I was stupid with my comments. Maybe my father was right after all. I didn't know my own mind and had no clue how to survive in this world if I foolishly followed him here.
And based on what? Just a stupid spark that ran between us.
“Yes,” he answered, and I opened my mouth to say something hurtful when it dawned on me; he wasn't even apologetic or trying to hide the fact.
“And you are proud of that or something?”
As he pushed me harder against the car, I felt his every muscle as we both breathed heavily. Self-disgust laced his voice as he replied, “Proud? No,moya krasivoglazaya, I’m not proud. But I’m not going to stand here and be ashamed of my upbringing in a life you don’t understand. It doesn't matter.”
“Doesn’t matter?” I repeated like a damn parrot.
“It doesn't change what’s going on between you and me.”
My cheeks heated at his assumption. “It changes everything. I’m a stupid girl who followed a mafia member into his headquarters. I didn't even think.”
“No, you are a woman who is tired of living by her daddy’s rules, and I fit the profile.”
Did he even listen to himself?
“So are you supposed to be my bad-boy fantasy?” He chuckled, biting my chin, igniting my desire again. Apparently, my body and heart didn't want to hear common sense. “Hate to break it to you, but I’m not a virgin.” While I wasn't a wild child, I did have three serious boyfriends in my twenty-three years.
Although none of them could even hold a candle to him, or the emotions he evoked in me.
Something unrecognizable flashed in his eyes as he gripped my hair in one hand as the other one wrapped possessively around my exposed neck, as if he wanted to choke me, but the touch was gentle. “Do not talk about other men and you ever again.” He sucked on my lower lip, earning a moan from me.
“This is insane.”
“Maybe.” He shifted lower, nipping my chin. “Do you refuse to see where it leads?”
The answer was simple.
