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CHAPTER FORTY
ZOEY
As I walked down the stairs, I spotted Alexei waiting at the bottom. His eyes widened in admiration, and a genuine smile graced his lips.
"You look gorgeous," he complimented.
His compliment warmed my heart, and I couldn't help but return the sentiment, "You look dashing too."
Hand in hand, we made our way to the garage and into the car. The drive to the party was surprisingly quiet, the anticipation hanging thick in the air. Nerves fluttered in my stomach, and I felt like a chaotic mess inside. We soon pulled up at the extravagant venue.
Alexei turned to me with a reassuring gaze. "Come on. Let's go. Remember to stay close to me, okay?"
I swallowed hard, my nerves bubbling, and nodded in agreement. "Okay."
As we entered the grand party, it was like stepping into another world. The venue was filled with influential figures from the Bratva world. Alexei's reminder echoed in my mind,
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