Forced By the Ruthless Bratva Beast (Tarasov Bratva #3)

Chapter 7 – Roman

Fingers rubbed over my eyeballs in a massaging motion as I sat in my car, parked outside Jupiter.

Don't do this. Just turn around and leave , I thought.

I'd been sitting in here for the past ten minutes, unable to make up my mind—go inside the club or leave. It was a simple decision, yet it wasn't easy. I'd never visited Jupiter twice in the same week because I never had any reason to.

This time, it was different.

Julia had managed to pique my curiosity, and all I wanted was to know her better. I needed to put together pieces of the mystery surrounding her. She was someone I couldn't read—I couldn't understand—and that was the most fascinating thing about her.

It had been ages since I thought about a woman more than once after sex. But here I was, struggling and constantly failing in all my attempts to get this one out of my mind. I simply couldn't. She had me hooked.

“Fuck,” I muttered, angling my head downward as I pinched the bridge of my nose.

No matter how hard I tried to dispel the thoughts of Julia, images of her face, her smile, and her sexy body kept flashing in my head. Even now, I could hear the sound of her delicious moans echoing in the back of my mind.

It wasn't so at first.

Initially, I was doing just fine after the sex, but as time went on, I found myself reminiscing on the events of that night. I'd tried to stop myself, but my efforts were futile.

This woman was living rent-free in my head, and it was both intriguing and concerning at the same time.

Something had snapped open in me that night, and it had been drawing me back to her ever since. Of course, I was stubborn and had resisted the urge to reach out again, but after Kostya asked me about her, it was like the walls I'd built around my heart came crumbling down.

I realized that I was more fascinated by this woman than I would admit. There simply was a lot about her that had caught my attention. She was beautiful, intelligent, and classy.

This woman, a VIP hostess at a nightclub, was able to hold up a reasonable conversation with four businessmen. Her ideas and insight on the concept of sustainable initiatives were mind-blowing and just downright amazing.

I’d always admired beautiful women, especially those with the ability to think outside the box, and she was on a whole different level. Julia had no idea that she'd provided us with a solution to a problem. With that big brain of hers, she was clearly an asset.

But she was also a wonder.

That night, one minute, she was all flirty and naughty; the next minute, she was an innocent little virgin. Like that wasn't enough drama already, she rejected my money with a demeaning scowl on her face and then walked out on me.

She fucking walked out on me.

Her guts, though.

The thought of that alone prompted a chuckle out of me, laced with disbelief, as I massaged my temple.

Everything about Julia was drawing me to her. My attraction to this woman was beyond the physical, beyond sex. She possessed something that kept pulling me in like a fucking moth to a flame.

I let out an exasperated groan, gripping the steering wheel with my chin against my chest. The struggle was real. Inside my mind was a tug of war: go in…don't go in. Both sides were pulling hard as if to rip my mind apart, and neither was willing to back down.

If I turned back now, this feeling of suspense, of being in the dark, would continue to plague me, and it would only be a matter of time before I came back. So why delay the inevitable?

I drew a deep breath.

This is a bad idea, but fuck it.

The door gave a soft click and opened.

I extended a foot out, then exited the vehicle, shutting the door as I headed into the club.

“Boss,” one of the heavily built bouncers at the entrance greeted me, his head slightly bowed in reverence.

My response was a subtle nod as I walked past him, a hand in my pocket.

Inside, I halted by the entrance, taking in the sight in front of me. It was a wild sea of writhing bodies, dancing to the music that thundered through the speakers in a frenzy, hands in the air.

Beams of vibrant colors sliced through the space, revealing glimpses of the dancers’ ecstatic faces—some dampened in sweat.

“Hey, handsome.” A feminine voice laced with a subtle allure stole my attention, and I turned in her direction. Instantly, the whispery charm on her face disappeared. Her brows arched, eyes widening at the realization of who I was. “Shit. I'm sorry, Boss. I had no idea it was you.” Her gaze shifted to the ground.

The woman, a tall blonde with a rose tattoo on her neck, was a hostess who'd mistaken me for a patron.

“Would you like me to be of service to you tonight?” she asked, jerking her eyes toward me.

She was pretty, but my interest was elsewhere, and with a straight face, I replied, “I'm good. Just came around to inspect a few things.”

Her lips pursed, hinting at the subtle gleam of disappointment that washed over her face. “Alright.” She forced a faint grin that barely concealed her dismay, and with that, she walked away.

My eyes darted across the space and soon settled on the bar. I recalled seeing Julia talking with the bartender the last time I was here. He was the perfect candidate to help me fish her out.

I glided over to the bar, taking a seat on a stool in front of the counter.

“Evening, Boss,” he greeted, recognizing me immediately.

I didn't always frequent this place, but all my staff already knew who I was, except for the new recruits who'd walk past me without acknowledging my presence.

“What can I get you?” the bartender asked, his eyes fixed on me as he expertly wiped a couple of glasses with a white towel.

“Julia, is she around?” I inquired, setting both arms on the countertop.

“Uh….” His brows knitted together in bewilderment. “Yeah. Yeah, she is.” He cleared his throat. “Would you like me to call her for you?”

I stared at him in silence, and he clearly got the message.

“I'll take that as a yes .” He stepped away, disappearing for about a minute.

She looked amazing tonight, her full-sleeved fitted dress highlighting her curves. Her hair was styled in loose, delicate ringlets that cascaded around her head like a halo of brown curls. However, as she approached me, I realized that her hazel eyes were devoid of the sparkle they held the last time.

“You wanted to see me?” she asked, her voice flat and casual as her eyes darted across the space.

She seemed off—avoiding my gaze with a stiff posture and furrowing brows. Her jaw was clenched, her feet constantly tapping against the floor. She was clearly upset about something.

My eyes narrowed as I wondered what exactly was going on. This wasn't the girl I’d met the last time.

“Sit down,” I said, my tone laced with a hint of dominance.

She shot a quick glare at me and hesitated for a moment before reluctantly sitting on the stool next to me.

I leaned forward, my gaze unwavering. “Look at me.”

“I don't want to,” she replied, her voice blunt, arms across her chest.

My brows arched at her response—her arrogance—and I felt a pang of vexation mixed with amusement. “What's with the attitude?” I asked, maintaining my composure.

Her lips pressed into a thin line, and her blazing eyes settled on me with a cold, empty stare.

What the fuck is going on here? I thought, leaning away from her, my back straightening. “Don't look at me like that. It's condescending.”

Her eyes narrowed, brows raising as she let out a dismissive laugh. “Condescending? That's rich coming from the man who tried to pay me off after taking my virginity.” She glared at me, the words tumbling out of her in a rush.

I scoffed, a sly grin playing on my lips. “So, that's what this is about?”

“I'm not one of your whores, Roman,” she blurted out, her cheeks flushed with anger.

My forehead creased at the way she said my name. I hated the disdain in her voice, and my jaw clenched subtly.

A flicker of irritation swelled up within me, and a scowl settled on my face, hinting at my displeasure.

Her tone was disrespectful, as was the pesky little frown on her face. Although her comments were bold, they were also rude. It was like she was nowhere close to being fascinated by me anymore, and I was starting to regret coming around.

“Okay, right off the top,” I began, my eyes narrowing slightly as I struggled to mask my anger, “I didn't give you that money as some sort of payment for your service ,” I said, air-quoting the word.

“Oh, yeah?” She squinted, her frown deepening as her tone dripped with sarcasm.

I ignored her infuriating attitude and continued. “I like to spoil the women I fancy, and trust me when I tell you I don't fancy many women.” My gaze locked on her face.

She rolled her eyes, tilting her head. Her palm flew to her chest in mock indignation. “Wow! I'm flattered.” Her tone was laced with amusement, and a hint of a smile appeared on her lips. “Thanks for clarifying. I was worried I might not be special enough.”

My chest heaved slowly at her attitude, and my brows furrowed. “You do realize who you're talking to, right?”

She was silent, her gaze dropping to the floor for a moment before flying back to my face. Her eyes were stern and cold.

I couldn't understand Julia tonight. She definitely knew the type of man I was; every other staff member did, and a vast majority of them feared me. Yet, she had the guts to get on my nerves with her sass.

My scowl deepened, creating more creases on my forehead as I glared at her, my jaw tightening. She was an arrogant little brat who'd just disrespected me without remorse and fearlessly had her eyes fixed on me despite the anger she saw in mine.

Many had died for far lesser offenses, yet there she was, casting her cold stare at me with her arms across her chest. Her nose wrinkled, her lips quivered, and her breathing was tense.

I couldn't sit there and have her disrespect me. I was her boss, and she was my employee—there ought to be some level of respect here. It didn't matter how angry she was; her attitude was unacceptable.

“You will apologize,” I stated, my voice stern and authoritative.

Her brows slowly rose at my words, hinting at her displeasure. “And if I don't?” She held my gaze, her stare empty.

I felt a flicker of irritation that made me grit my teeth. Her attitude and condescending expressions were driving me nuts, and my blood was boiling.

“I could fire you right now if you don't brittle that sharp tongue of yours,” I warned, my words low and threatening.

Her lips parted into a faint grin. “That won't be necessary.” She rose to her feet, unclipped her employee card from her dress, and leaned forward to whisper, “I quit.” Julia dropped the card on the countertop and walked away.

I swiped a palm over my mouth, watching her leave, her form disappearing in the crowd of dancers. An abrupt chuckle escaped my lips as I brushed my fingers against my forehead. She should've known that as an employee at Jupiter, she couldn't resign or quit without a two-week notice. Julia was a character.

I smiled subtly, intrigued by her drama.

And just like that, I felt my annoyance fading away, replaced by a feeling of fascination.