"It's up to you to decide. I listed the options in my message. Territory. A piece of your business. A fuck load of money… "
"You're asking a lot," Matvei huffs.
"What is her life worth to you?" he asks, gripping the back of my neck with his long fingers and pushing me forward to dangle me in front of them like bait.
I try to escape his grasp, but he pulls me close again.
"You're a fucking savage," Diomid snaps.
"And you're a brainwashing monster who spreads lies," Bardil snaps back.
"I'll kill you, Bardil," Diomid says, taking a step toward us.
"Na ah ah," Bardil shakes his head, glancing at the windows. "Keep your distance, boy," he warns my brother. "If you haven't decided what you want to trade yet, then our business here is done. Contact me when you've made up your mind. In the meantime, I'm taking this little rabbit with me to play at home. If anyone follows… she dies."
Diomid's face is taut with anger. He steps back and clenches his fists.
Bardil pulls me with him as he walks backward toward the door. He grins and cocks his head to the side, enjoying the distress on my brothers' faces.
I'm speechless, shocked, and hurt. I'm confused and in disbelief.
Bardil drags me to the car and opens the door, pushing me inside.
My head is racing with a thousand questions. A thousand hateful remarks. But I don't say anything. Silence falls over me like a heavy burden. It was all fake. He used me. He took advantage of me so that he could trick me and then taunt my family. I'm so ashamed I can't speak.
I'm so hurt that my chest is aching.
Chapter 15 - Bardil
It's been two days since we met her brothers at the restaurant.
I hate myself for it, but I had no choice.
My plan was in place long before the night I shared with her. It was always the way it was supposed to happen. I was going to use her to get what I wanted.
I'm angry that I ever strayed from that plan. I messed it up for myself. It wasn't supposed to happen this way.
I delayed it. I was distracted. I even considered not doing it at all. But Simon caught me. He figured everything out, and he came looking for me at the cabin. It was only a matter of time before they found me in the city, too.
Then, the morning I met up with them, I woke up before her and planned to make us breakfast in bed, but a message from my oldest brother stopped me in my tracks.
Marlen wrote to say he knew I had their sister, and he wouldn't tolerate it.
It was clear that I had limited time to make my move before they made theirs.
I had no choice. I had to arrange the meeting. I had to establish my power over them.
There were no snipers. She was and never will be in danger from me. All I needed was for them to believe that.
But still… I can't stop thinking about what happened with her at the club. In fact, it's driving me insane. I'm losing my mind over it.
Our bodies moving together.
That moment… that intimate, intense, perfect moment… it was never supposed to happen. I was supposed to control myself, to keep my hands to myself.But I couldn't.
Over and over again, I told myself it was just sex and meant nothing, but it's impossible to hide the truth frommyself. These emotions inside me are too overwhelming. Too real.
That was the most unforgettable experience I've ever had.
