All Chapters of Arranged To The Bravta King: Chapter 71 - Chapter 80

MariaI only came downstairs for a glass of water, having been in my room all morning and most of the afternoon. I didn't intend to spy, but I heard a man's voice, and curiosity made me brave.Drawing nearer, I recognize Mikhail's low, smooth tone speaking to Larissa. Their voices echo around the walls and then it turns ugly. My feet refuse to move, and my ears can't shut out their hateful words.There's a small alcove near the family room where I can't be seen from the rest of the hallway. Hidden, I brace myself against the wall as my legs go weak."Is it really worth sacrificing everything?" Larissa almost shouts. "Is it worth losing everyone who loves you?""I love you, Lara." His voice is gentle. "But this isn't about love."My stomach churns, and I breathe in large, gulping breaths. This isn't about love. Their argument hurts more than if he had said it to my face. But when Mikhail talks about me to Larissa in private ... it must be the truth. Heavy footsteps move into the hallwa

MariaThe room has neither light nor air conditioning. I didn't expect another penthouse or mansion, but this is brutal. I'm a captive and being treated like one, sitting in a hard chair for what feels like hours. I strain my eyes in the dark, hoping nothing lives in here.My mouth is dry. I'm tired and thinking about my discomfort doesn't make me feel better. I lean against the back of the chair and close my eyes, trying to relax and imagine how I will feel when this is over.Suddenly, footsteps approach the door, and keys jingle in the lock. I open my eyes, sit up straight, and pretend like none of this bothers me. The lights come on, and the two brigadiers enter the room.Where's the third one? I haven't seen him at all.Gunsyn stares at me with an unfeeling expression that makes him look like the rabid dog he is."Your life will be spared," Gunsyn states matter-of-factly. "Because of the child you carry."My breath catches, and I cough. "Who told you?" I ask, my voice trembling sl

MikhailThe ninth floor is kept vacant of tenants, but it's always filled with my people. Rows of desks covered in fake wood veneer run the length of the space from window to window. Laptops connected to widescreen monitors on each desk survey accounts and videos of anyone involved with the Bratva. There is a constant hum of voices as information is given and received over burner phones as the darker side of our business is conducted daily. But today, the floor has been transformed into a command center for our operation to take out Zakhar Budanov.I take a sip of water from a plastic bottle as I stare at the cityscape out the window. The view isn't much down here, but it helps me think. I'm still trying to make sense of everything that's happened in the last few daysI can't deny my attraction to Maria. I can't deny I still want her, and not just for her body. I want her soul and her heart. I want to claim Maria again. I want her to belong to me ... to the Bratva. But I have to prote

MikhailIn silence, Pavel drives us down a gutted road toward an almost identical concrete building enclosed by lush, tall weeds. I look at each utility pole lining the way and wonder which one Ippolit shot. It's impossible to tell when the scenery looks the same. Instead of fighting over castles and mansions, we fight over these blighted industrial areas—an odd mixture of the sinister and the banal. The only thing I know for certain is that the brigadiers will continue to defy my authority.The only thing that will change that is death."Ippolit was a good man." Pavel's voice interrupts my own dark thoughts. "Damn good shot too." Pavel looks at me in the mirror. "He taught me how to shoot. He didn't have to, but he did.""And look where that got him." I sigh."Stubborn bastard almost made it to old age," Pavel scoffs. "What a waste."I'm surprised I have it in me to laugh. But the conversation stops when the SUV reaches a nondescript door. No signs of any kind, and I wonder if it's a

MariaI hate him. I have to if I want to survive. I don't dare look at Mikhail or I'll weaken. If I do, I'll try to find something decent in him worth hanging on to. My mind will spin his bad behavior into something good. I'll argue his savage behavior is evidence that he really does love me. I can't do that. I have to keep my head together and ignore my own fickle feelings. Fucking baby hormones.Mikhail lets me go and I rub my wrist, though it doesn't hurt. Maybe it's childish, but I want to rub the feeling of him off me. I toss the phone onto the desk, ashamed when I stare at the desktop, and instantly, I remember what we did there as if seeing it all again.I'm still reeling from everything that happened. The gunshot and then my dad's voice."Ippolit is dead, and I'm coming for you."The relief when I heard his voice was immense, but it quickly turned to dread. As long as I'm captive, my dad will retaliate against Mikhail and the Ivanov Bratva. And I know there's only one way it c