The Bratva's Forced Marriage : Enemies to Lovers Dark Mafia Romance (VARKOV BRATVA Book 6) by Rina Lawson

Author:Rina Lawson [Lawson, Rina]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-03-06T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11 – Juliana

Rule Three. Be a fighter.

Soft Russian classical music played in the background as we worked our way through the crowd, with me at his side, like a sugar doll who wanted to be anywhere but here, in this greenhouse, under beautiful yellow lights, surrounded by fragrant plants, greeting one relative or acquaintance after another.

Duress. I felt forced, choked, suffocated. My dress flowed behind me as we stopped at tables; Rafail, cool and collected as ever, and me with a stiff, fake smile plastered on my face. The upside was the women he introduced me to. They were nice and welcoming. But my heart ached. It felt hollow and empty as if a big void encapsulated me.

I couldn’t bring myself to enjoy their random talks about desserts or happy kids, or not being nosy in their husbands’ businesses. Nothing excited me. Not anymore.

I learned two new things about Rafail Varkov that warm, sunny afternoon. One: He was as professional and straightforward as he looked. Most of the conversations he had with his family members were strictly about business. No sentiments or easy talks like, “How have you been?”

I watched him, under a hooded gaze, and despite how much I hated his guts, a naïve, needy part of me—the one he’d heartlessly awakened that day—admired his purposeful strides; the confident way he spoke, the thick Russian accent that rolled off his tongue, and the broad lines of his shoulders.

I turned my head away before he could suck me in deeper.

Two: He had a large family. There were a lot of cousins and friends—he called allies. When I managed to challenge his cold-hearted approach to friendship, he’d said, “It costs more to have friends than to have enemies.” I closed my eyes and let it go.

The last person on the introduction panel was Rafail’s uncle. Oleg. Age has done nothing to diminish his brilliance. Energetic, fluent, and sharp-witted.

Even from his silver hair and wrinkled, pale skin, I could tell that he had once been a handsome man. Though he wasn't as tall as Rafail or any of the younger men I’d seen, his presence was just as dark and intimidating as theirs.

Of all the men I had met in the family, he was the liveliest. When he wasn't talking to me. Our acquaintance was cold and brief. He studied me with watchful blue eyes like a hawk and shook my hand with a firm grip.

I started to greet him. “Good afternoon—”

“She is a feast for the eyes,” he said to Rafail, his voice stiff and devoid of emotion. “I understand why you chose her. But she deserves worse than bouquets and a life spent with you forever as punishment.”

I withdrew my hand like I’d been burned.

Apprehension and a small flame of anger flared in me as he spoke as if I were not present. I knew why he was ignoring me, wishing me a life condemned to eternal damnation; it was the same reason Rafail had kidnapped me. Liam's alleged offenses.

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