Arranged Bratva Love

Andrei

Lottie made a lot of noise. She banged against the doors, cursing everyone out, and I have to say, I didn’t know the woman at all, but it even sounded like she wasn’t used to using those big words.

Ive shook his head. “You want me to take her?”

Ivan nodded. “Yes. It will keep things interesting.”

Ive looked ready to throw up. No one would believe he’d kept people prisoner before, torturing them.

All of Ivan’s brigadiers had a reputation. Ive was a deadly son of a bitch. I’m not sure where Ivan found him. There were always so many rumors surrounding our lives. There was rarely ever truth about us.

One of the rumors about my initiation was that Ivan found me on the street, bleeding, nearly at death, and I begged him to save me, to do anything to end my miserable existence. Then of course was the rumor that I went hunting for Ivan and turned on my father, to finally take over the family. All of it was bullshit. We all had our own stories to tell.

Ivan saw my potential as a brigadier, and I saw his as a Pakhan. The rest is history. There were a few more details, but they were pointless.

“What is it with you and keeping things interesting?” Ive asked. “You do know she’s the bastard daughter?”

“Yep,” Ivan said.

“And you want me to what? Kill her?”

“Not kill her. Keep her company until I give you other instructions.” Ivan smiled. “Trust me, you’re going to want her.”

Ivan was up to something and I had a feeling I would be glad I was already married.

The steel cage contained Lottie. The small window that had bars across it helped us to hear her, but the cell she was in was way too big. It was narrow but tall.

Ivan nodded at his men to open the door, and this time, Ive stepped forward. The food we had sent her the past couple of days had gone uneaten.

With the door pulled open, Lottie tried to make her escape, charging out of the room, but we all saw that coming, so Ive captured her in his arms. She struggled against him, but he easily had her arms pinned behind her, with a fistful of her hair, as he shoved her back into the room. He threw her onto the bed and she spun around, glaring at us.

“What the hell do you want?” she asked.

“Well, my dear, I have to say, we want you,” Ivan said.

She looked at all of us, and I noticed how her breathing deepened. “I don’t know what this is about, and I swear whatever is going on here, I can’t help you. If it has anything to do with my dad, then you’re looking at the wrong person. He will never help me.”

Fear sparked in her eyes, and it looked good on her. Her lip quivered. With every second that passed, she seemed to withdraw into herself, terrified.

Scaring young women did nothing for me. I had always been the kind of guy who went after men bigger than me. That was where the real pleasure came in.

Ivan took a step toward her and I watched as she visibly flinched, but I also noticed something else as well. She seemed to freeze. Her chest stopped moving. Her gaze was on Ivan, and her body looked rock solid, as if she was nothing more than a statue.

“Ivan?”

“Lottie?” He reached out and she merely closed her eyes, tensing up, as if expecting pain.

I didn’t like this.

Ivan pulled back and stared at her.

“Do you have anyone?” Ivan asked. “Anyone at your clubhouse we can call?”

“Please, just let me go.”

“Not happening, Princess.”

I looked toward Ive who merely shook his head. He’d not wanted to make the journey as he was still dealing with the Cartel issue. Ivan was well and truly alive, but there had been a ripple effect everywhere. We were still dealing with the repercussions. Just like I was handling the Evil Savages MC. It was a long process, but I was the one who held the power, and it wouldn’t be long until they fell in line. They wouldn’t have a choice.

“I’m not a princess,” she said, opening her eyes. “I’m nothing more than a piece of trash.”

“A piece of trash who is taken care of,” Ivan said. “Name of who I can call. It might save your life.”

Seconds passed.

“Rage.”

“Good.”

I didn’t see the syringe until he plunged it into her leg. She tried to fight him off, but it was no good. She was out before she had the chance to fight back.

“Fuck me,” Ive said. “What the fuck was that?”

“We’re moving her to your territory,” Ivan said.

He turned his gaze toward me.

“Do you know Rage?”

“He’s the current VP,” I said. “I haven’t talked to him but my informant told me he’s reasonable. He’s the only one that didn’t agree to strike out against you.”

“I like this,” Ivan said.

“That girl has already been through a lot,” I said.

“I know, which means she will be more than adequate to deal with what I have planned.”

There were times I thought Ivan was soft. Maybe a little too soft for being a Pakhan, but watching him now, I knew he was up to something, and he wasn’t going to allow Lottie’s reaction to hinder his plans.

I look toward Ive. He didn’t care either. If it hadn’t been for Adelaide, I doubted I would have cared. She was back at the penthouse with Terrance on the door, and Leo, well, he was by my side. I’d hired one of the women from the casino to take care of Adelaide. It was a fucked-up decision to do, but she had been a nurse at one point. She liked the money she got working for us. After her husband had left her with three kids to feed, she turned out to be more loyal than her husband. Anna was a sweet woman. The moment I approached her, she had been more than happy to help with Adelaide.

“Arrange a meeting with Rage,” Ivan said.

I nodded.

“Transport her tonight to your territory. No hiccups. I don’t want her dead, and you make sure she’s taken care of,” Ivan said, looking toward Ive.

“Consider it done.”

“Good.” Ivan snapped his fingers, bringing an end to the conversation, and then he walked away.

Ive looked back into the cell and I moved closer to him.

“What do you think?” I asked.

“I think she’s going to be a handful.” He ran a hand over his face. “How is married life treating you?”

“Fine.”

Ive looked at me with a raised brow. “Just fine?”

“Yeah, just fine.” It wasn’t just fine but I’m not the kind of guy who talks about his feelings with every person I meet. “Good luck.”

I have my suspicions about Ivan’s plans. I think he’s going to make Ive and Lottie marry. I don’t think he’s going to kill her, but then this is Ivan, he could change his mind at a moment’s notice.

Leaving the cell, I make my way outside where Leo is standing by the car. He hasn’t fucked up at all. I know he feels ashamed for being manipulated by my wife. Ignoring him, I climb into the back of the car and pull out my cell phone.

Clicking on the security app, I check in on my wife and find her sitting on the sofa, arms folded, looking a little pissed off. She didn’t like me hiring someone to take care of her. She also didn’t like that Leo wasn’t playing guard to her either. The moment the doctors had said she could go home, I’d made the necessary arrangements, but she didn’t understand why I wouldn’t allow Leo to take care of her.

I type a message to her.

Me: Cheer up.

I wait to hear back from her and I don’t have to wait long.

Adelaide: I’m bored. There’s a big surprise.

I can’t help but smile.

Me: I’m on my way home. What do you want for dinner?

Adelaide: Nothing.

Me: Attempting to starve yourself?

Adelaide: I just don’t feel very hungry.

Taking a deep breath, I don’t know what to say to that, so I pull up the image on the app and watch her.

Anna moved toward Adelaide, taking a seat on the coffee table. I didn’t turn up the volume, but I see my wife’s stiffness. Anna’s smiling, her usual sweet self. That’s why men kept returning to the tables. Not just to gamble away their money, but to be near her. I had to wonder if Anna would have made better money in one of my many brothels, but she had a knack for distracting customers and was damn good at math. I know she could have easily been married off multiple times, but she refused each offer, not wanting to be tied down to a man. Her husband had sure done a number on her.

I closed the app, sat back, and watched the city go by.

Bethany was still out there, not suffering. She hadn’t reached out yet, but this is all part of the plan. Nathan is already in Oleg’s territory, working the fighting circuit, gaining a reputation. He sent me regular updates of his progress. I still didn’t like him but Ivan was convinced we could use him. No good would come from him, I could guarantee it.

I tell Leo to head straight for the penthouse suite. I’m looking at houses to move Adelaide into. When she is fully recovered, I have every intention of getting her pregnant again. I’d not considered myself father material before, but thinking of having a child with her filled me with something close to yearning.

Rubbing at my eyes, I try to clear my mind, but the truth is, I need to kill. Taking out the shooter hadn’t quenched my thirst, and every day I’m with Adelaide makes me want to murder her sister even more. Whenever she asks about her parents, I get this sick feeling in the pit of my stomach that won’t go away, and it pisses me off more than anything.

All I want to do is protect her. With our enemies constantly looking for a weakness, the risk to her life is ever increasing.

Leo arrived at the parking lot, and I climb out of the car and head toward the private elevator. We still don’t speak as we ride up to my floor. Terrance is there, holding himself firm. I nod in his direction, relieving him. Leo would take over now.

I hear Anna’s laughter as I enter the apartment. This is why she’s so popular within the casino. She is pure seduction. She has this way about her that puts everyone at ease.

Entering the main sitting room, I can see Adelaide is not at ease. This is a surprise to me. My wife is so nice, she is so calm and collected, and yet here she was, showing no signs of easing up on Anna, who was just trying to be a friend to her.

“Mr. Belov,” Anna said. “Are you here to stay?”

“Yes.”

“I will get going then. Same time tomorrow, Adelaide.”

In response, she simply smiles, but it’s not an actual smile. Just a small widening of her lips.

I leave Adelaide and head toward the door to let Anna out. She’s pulling on a jacket.

“How is she?” I asked.

“Sad, mostly. She’s having a hard time, I think.”

“She will warm up to you.”

Anna put her hand on my arm. “She might not. Some wives don’t like it when men bring in other women to care for them. There’s a competition and jealousy, even when there’s no need to be.”

I stare at Anna and wonder if that’s how she sees herself, as competition. Her mask is in place, and I have to wonder if she still enjoys her job.

“Anna, do you have a problem?” I asked.

“Not at all. I’ll be back tomorrow.” She gives me a smile and I watch her leave.

Heading back into the main sitting room, Adelaide is sitting with her back to the main windows, and this is another reason I’m searching for a house. She hates heights.

“You’re being very rude to Anna,” I said. I came into the room and sat down beside her.

“I don’t need a babysitter.”

“I need someone to take care of you so I know you’re not overdoing it.”

“So, you pick someone from your casino, or is it really a brothel? Yeah, I know who she is.” She shook her head and shoved the blanket off her lap. “I can take care of myself.”

“You’re more than capable of taking care of yourself. I like having someone here when I’m not, and I can assure you, Anna doesn’t work in any of our brothels. She does work in the casino, and saves us quite a bit of money, I might add.”

“Then what about Leo?”

“No, not happening.”

“Why? What did he do?”

Her memory of the day still hadn’t returned, and for that, I was glad.

“Anna will continue to take care of you.”

“Are you fucking her?”

This made me pause. “What?”© 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

“You’re determined to have her take care of me. You’re both clearly close and I see the way she smiles at you. With her working in one of your casinos, I guess she’s close to you all the time. Knows what you like … intimately, huh?”

Her face was red and I saw the tears glinting in her eyes. I don’t know what caused this, but I had no attraction to Anna.

“I’m not having sex with Anna.”

“I don’t care if you are or aren’t. It’s none of my business.” She stood up and I noticed the small action made her wince.

The doctor had said her recovery would be based on her ability to rest and, well, Adelaide was proving to be a very difficult patient.

“You’re jealous,” I said.

“I’m not jealous at all.”

She tried to brush past me, but I capture her arms and stop her. I have no idea why I’m so happy, but I have a feeling it’s because Adelaide is feeling jealous, and that makes me very fucking glad.

“I need to use the bathroom.”

There’s more to be said, but for now, I simply drop a kiss onto her nose. There would be time later.