Forced to Marry the Russian (Nikolai Bratva Brides #2)

Chapter 11 - Zia

It’d been two hours since Lev walked out of the house, two hours since Zia sat on the very first stair, looking at the black Amex as if it was some sort of Alien that had just landed on Earth.

She’d never seen one before, but she knew no ordinary person could own one—only someone who was absurdly rich like Lev.

He’d said she could use it; he’d even dared her to impress him with how much she could spend. But she couldn’t tell whether it was a trap or if he was being serious.

Sure, she knew him enough to know he wasn’t the time to bluff. He’d actually meant every word he said to her since they met, regardless of how unhinged some of them sounded, and she needed clothes, so getting some wasn’t up for negotiation.

The front door roared open, and two shadows prowled toward her, and then Sasha gingerly walked into the foyer. Konstantin walked in behind her.

Sasha’s eyes lit up when they met Zia’s. “Good morning, Ma’am.”

Ma’am.

Zia almost laughed. Just two days ago she was homeless, and now she was the lady of a mansion. She had doubts she would ever get used to any of this. Waking up to a soft, king-sized bed that was just hers, coming down to breakfast that was the size of a feast, being addressed so formally.

Her stomach churned. This was all too new. She’d been comfortable in the apartment she shared with her ex-boyfriend, but even the size of her bedroom now was three times the size of the entire apartment.

“I’d prefer if you could call me Zia,” she said, brushing her thumb over the black Amex. “It’ll be more comfortable for me that way.”

Sasha smiled, her blue eyes crinkling. “I’m sorry, Ma—” She caught herself before she could finish. “I mean, Zia.”

Zia smiled at her. “Thank you.” Her eyes floated to Konstantin.

His face was an emotionless as a rock. If anything, he looked bored to death. Right, he was supposed to take her shopping, and she’d kept him waiting while she tried to decide if Lev was toying with her or not.

“Hi, Konstantin.” His name came out strained. The glare he gave her sent a shiver down her spine. He didn’t like her for some reason; she was going to ask him why when they were alone later. “Do you have time to drive me to the mall? I won’t stay long.”

“I’m here to serve you,” he simply said—no smile, no softening expressions, and definitely not an explanation.

That was enough for Zia. She got to her feet and went upstairs. She brushed her hair and allowed it to fall over her shoulders, then she wore some perfume and put on a red lipstick she always had in her bag.

She found Konstantin pacing the foyer when she joined him downstairs.

He stopped pacing when he noticed her come down and looked at her. “You ready?”

She nodded.

“Let’s go.” Apparently, the phrase “ladies first” didn’t apply to him as he walked out of the door without bothering to hold it open for her or wait to see if she was tagging along.

Arrogant ass!

If she were going to be with Lev, she would have to be around Konstantin, too, and God knows she couldn’t stand grumpy, snobbish men. Her patience for them was delicate and hanging by an edge.

It took just one misstep on their part, and she would explode. She needed to tackle it once and for all.

She followed him to the parking lot and her eyes widened at all the flashy cars parked in it. They were all the latest versions of expensive car brands. Rolls-Royce, Porche, Mercedes, Bugatti, Bentley.

Did Lev have an obsession with collecting expensive cars or something? She knew he was rich, but this was… a lot.

Konstantin led her to a black SUV. Opening the car, he slid into the driver’s seat, and she sensibly climbed into the backseat. The last thing she wanted was to sit next to a grumpy man for minutes or even an hour, depending on how far away the shopping mall was from here.

The engine came alive, and Konstantin steered into motion, driving out of the long driveway and into the quiet road.

The first couple of minutes were awkward and painfully quiet. Her gaze and Konstantin’s collided in the rearview mirror a couple of times, but he didn’t say a word to her.

When it happened for the seventh time, anger flared in her chest, and she decided she’d had enough. “Is there a problem?”

“I don’t know. Should there be?” Konstantin asked with a gruff voice.

So he wasn’t just grumpy, he was also the annoying time. “How about you tell me? You’ve been glaring at me like I did something wrong since the very first time we met. Do you hate me? If so, why?”

He sighed and navigated the car to the road by the left. “I don’t hate you. I have no reason to. Not yet, at least.”

Her face scrunched up. “What does that even mean?”

“You and Lev coincidentally met on the same night we were attacked. He saved you, and now you’re married to him. I don’t know what to make of it.”

Zia snorted in derision. “You don’t know what to make of it?” Did he think Lev was somehow the victim here and she was the bad guy? She hoped not. He’d be a fool even to think that. “You know what is funny? I’m twenty-two and I meet this thirty-eight-year-old man in a club. There’s a shoot-out; he protects me, and I follow him home. We have sex and the next thing he’s forcing me into a marriage. I’m sure you know Lev better than anyone else. Don’t act like he’s a child who had no idea what he was doing.”

“I know him well enough, and that is why I’m worried about him. He trusts you, and he shouldn’t trust you. Who knows if you work for the enemy and have some plan to hurt him?”

“Trust me, if I had such plans, you’d be the first person I’d kill. You’re getting on my last nerves,” she shot at him, clearly exasperated. He could suspect her all he wanted; she didn’t owe him any explanation as to why she was entangled in this mess. She admired Konstantin’s loyalty to Lev, though.

She must’ve imagined the smile that flickered on his face. His eyes softened now, and somehow, he no longer looked like he might push her off a cliff if he got the chance.

What was the sudden shift in his expression?

“You have a sharp tongue for someone so tiny,” he mused. She didn’t imagine the smile this time.

“I’m not tiny, Big K,” she teased, resting back and shamelessly staring at him through the rearview mirror. “What kind of man is Lev?”

Konstantin looked into the rearview mirror. “What do you want to know about him, Tiny?”

“Anything. I’m married to a stranger; I should at least know something about him.” She drew in a breath, thinking of a way to explain herself without sounding desperate. “I know he’s cruel and all, but that’s that.”

She didn’t add that he was good at bed or that the way he teased her awakened flames in her veins.

“I think he would have been a good guy if he wasn’t born into the mafia. He’s good at heart, and he’s never been this obsessed with a woman before he met you.”

“Obsessed?”

“For Lev, it’s always been one-night stands. But he married you, and he went against his brother doing so. I can’t call it love, but I hope it turns into something like that for the two of you—if you don’t betray him, that is.”

“I won’t make promises to you, Big K, if that’s what you’re aiming for.” Although she knew she wouldn’t betray Lev for anything, she would leave him if she got the chance. After all, this wasn’t what she wanted; she was forced into it.

“I don’t expect you to, but he’s like a brother to me, and I don’t want him getting hurt. He’s been through enough.” He paused as if weighing his decision before deciding to tell her. “Rival mafia families murdered his parents. Lev couldn’t live with himself for it and moved away from Chicago. He only came back after his brother took a break to be with his family.”

Oh… I didn’t know that.” Zia felt a pang of pity for Lev. His story was similar to hers, except she’d never met her father, and she didn’t have the power to find his killers.

During breakfast, she’d considered asking Lev to help her find out how her father really died. All her mother told her was that he’d been investigating an Irish mafia family before his death. He was framed and murdered afterward. She needed to get justice for him, but she had no idea how.

She had to bring it up to Lev, somehow—but at dinner tonight.

They continued the rest of the drive to the mall in silence. Zia rested her head on the window, occupied by her own thoughts, until Konstantin pulled the car to a curb in front of the mall building almost an hour later.

“We’re here,” he said, calling her attention.

Zia looked up to see the imposing building of the largest shopping mall in Chicago looming above her. She hadn’t been here before, but she’d heard the shops here only sold designer items, nothing more. “Are you sure we’re in the right place?”

“Chief asked me to bring you here. He made a reservation for you.” He unbuckled his seatbelt, opened his door, and slid out of the car. He didn’t walk away this time; he rounded the car and opened the door in the backseat for Zia. “Come on.”

Zia got out of the car and smiled at him. “Thank you.”

Konstantin only tsked and led the way inside. He knew everywhere so well, as if he’d been there several times before. Of course, he had; Lev must’ve always had his flings shop here; there was no other explanation.

As much as she itched to ask and complain, she just wanted to get some clothes and leave. She wasn’t in love with Lev. She was only attracted to him; why would she care what he did before she met him?

Konstantin stopped in front of a store that sold women’s bags, shoes, and clothes. It was enormous, and the quality of the dresses hanging on the mannequins was blinding. She could tell even from afar how expensive they would be.

A woman in her forties hurried out with two assistants behind her. She had a wide smile on her face as her gaze bounced from Konstantin to Zia and then back to Konstantin. They exchanged greetings in Russia.

Zia didn’t speak Russia, so she didn’t bother to try and understand whatever it was they were saying. She fed her eyes instead, squinting to see the price tag that caught her attention from a shelf several feet away from her.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Nikolai,” the woman said excitedly.

Zia turned to her. It took a moment for her to register that she was Mrs. Nikolai now, no longer Ms. Kincaid. She immediately smiled back at the woman. “It’s a pleasure to meet you too…”

“Olivia,” the woman helped her complete. “You’re so beautiful. You could actually be a model if you wanted.”

Zia flushed. “Thank you. You’re so pretty, too.”

“That’s kind of you,” the woman, Olivia, said. “Come, I’ll show you some of our latest collection of dresses. Fortunately, everything will go perfectly on your skin tone.”

For some reason, Zia found herself spinning around to ask Konstantin if it was okay to go inside. He nodded, and she followed Olivia inside.

Three hours later, she was exhausted, hungry, and had spent thousands of dollars on the clothes. Her gut twinged with guilt at how much she’d spent. She wondered if Lev would be impressed or angry when he got the debit.

Angry was more likely, but he’d told her to spend as much as she wanted. He couldn’t blame her if she’d taken it that far.

Konstantin helped her carry some of the bag—most of it actually.

A jewelry shop for men caught Zai’s attention just as they were leaving the shop. Since she’d spent so much of Lev’s money, it would only make sense for her to get something for him.

“Um—Big K?”

Konstantin stopped and turned around to face her. He looked annoyed, which was understandable considering how long he waited for her.

“Can you hold up a minute? I forgot something.” She pouted, giving him that sad puppy look that always worked with men. At least, it used to, until she found out her asshole ex had been cheating on her.

Konstantin sighed. He shook his head. “Well, hurry up.”

She grimaced. “Thank you.” She shoved the bags she was holding onto him and padded to the store.

“Good afternoon, Ma’am,” the store attendant greeted as she entered inside. “How may I help you?”

“I need a gift for a man.” She exhaled. The next words were heavy on the tip of her tongue. “My husband.”

“Do you have a brand in mind?” the attendant asked.

Zia thought for a moment. She’d seen Lev wearing a Patek Philip at least twice, which meant it was his favorite brand. He’d be happy if she got him a new limited edition, but she had another plan, and making him happy wasn’t her priority. Pissing him off in a way he couldn’t complain about was what she wanted. “The cheapest brand you have. And a nice cufflink, too.”

The attendant smiled and gestured for Zia to follow her. “I’ll show you what we have.”

One watch caught Zia’s attention. It was a silver watch with tiny crusts of diamond around it. It didn’t cost much, but it was beautiful. She pointed at it. “I’ll take that.”

“Would you like to see the cufflinks?”

“Just pick out one.” The cufflinks were for Konstantin. It was her way of thanking him for waiting without being bitchy about it. Her ex-boyfriend would rather swing from a pole than wait for her to pick up something from a store.

Being treated with respect wasn’t something she was used to. Konstantin, despite being a grump, was nice to her in his own way.

The store attendant picked out a cufflink and billed her for the items she could. Zia paid and hurried out to meet Konstantin in the hallway. She took three of her shopping bags from him and smiled. “Let’s go.”

Konstantin loaded the bags in the trunk of the car while Zia waited for him to finish in the back seat. When he joined her in the car minutes later, she held out the cufflinks to him. “I got this for you.”

“What’s inside?” he asked. Surprise laced his voice, but he didn’t sound impressed.

“It’s a gift. Open it,” she replied.

Konstantin’s eyes narrowed on her suspiciously. He took the bag from her, shaking it close to his ear before tearing the packaging open. “A cufflink?”

She nodded. “You waited for me to shop. I thought I’d get you something in return.”

His lips curled with a faint smile. “You’re Lev’s wife, which means I work for you too. I’ll lay my life for you if need be, but you don’t have to get me gifts each time.”

“Okay, I won’t.” She suddenly remembered she’d left some important things in the Airbnb. Her parent’s photo albums, some of her, and some other things she couldn’t just leave behind. “Can you drive me to my Airbnb? I have some things I need to get.”

“Lev didn’t tell me to take you there,” Konstantin said, twisting his neck to look at her.

“Didn’t you say you work for me too?” She cocked her brow. It felt good using his own words against him. “Please?”

“I’ll take you, but you get whatever it is you need, and we’re out of there.”

“Sure.” She told him the address, and he plunged the car forward.

Konstantin remained in the car when they got to the Airbnb moments later, while Zia hurried inside the near-depilated building. The elevator whisked her up to the second floor, and that was when she remembered she hadn’t taken the key. She’d lost it that night at the club.

She swiped her hand over her hair and bit her lips. Fuck, what the hell was she supposed to do now.

“Ms. Kincaid.”

She turned around to see the building’s owner smiling at her. The heavens were definitely on her side because she could ask him for the spare keys. “Hello, I need to get my stuff and I forgot the key. Think you can help me with the spare?”

“Sure, the door is open. Your fiancé came in a while ago and—”

Bitterness coated her tongue. “My fiancé?” She instantly knew who it was. Lev was too obsessed with her being his wife that he wouldn’t introduce himself as her fiancé. There was only one person stupid enough to do that. “You mean Owen?”

“I didn’t ask his name, but he’s still in there.”

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

Zia ran to her apartment at the end of the hall. The door was slightly open, and the sound coming from inside proved someone was in there. Closing one eye, she leaned against the door and peeked inside.

Owen sat at the edge of the too-small in the room, drinking a can of beer. She didn’t have time to stock up the fridge, so the beer was certainly not hers.

What the hell was he doing here? Looking so comfortable in her room after the way he hurt her?

Her chest constricted, and her stomach flipped endlessly. She pushed the door open, causing him to startle.

“Zia,” he said, his blue eyes dilating as they met hers. “You’re back.”

She stepped inside and closed the door only halfway through. She didn’t think he could hurt her, but he was acting really strange coming to her and lying that he was her fiancé. “What the hell do you want, Owen?”

“Why? Am I not allowed to see my girl?” he asks. His grin sent shivers down her spine. He looked crazy and drunk.

“I am not your girlfriend, Owen,” she snapped. “How did you even find me? Have you been stalking me?”

“Stalking?” he scoffed. “You’re broke, and you always spoke about checking in here if you ever had to leave our apartment. I guessed you were here, and I was right.”

That made sense, what didn’t make sense was why he would come here without asking. His reasons didn’t matter; just being in the same space as him made her insides twist with rage. She wanted him gone, and she never wanted to see him again. “Leave before I call the cops.”

“Stop being dramatic, baby.” He gulped down the rest of the beer, squeezed the can, and threw it inside the trashcan in a corner close to him. “I missed you, and I regretted the way things ended between us.”

Zia held herself back from laughing. He had to be joking. No way he was being serious.

“Leave, Owen. I’m not in the mood for this bullshit, and never come back here or try to look for me ever again.”

“Why are you being so mean? I know you love me.” He nodded as if trying to convince himself that he knew her that well. “It’s been just a few days. There’s no way you moved on from loving me that quickly.”

Had she stopped loving him? Maybe not.

She’d spent years loving him and dreaming of a future together with him. But all she felt for him right now was nothing but pure disgust and anger.

And angry people hurt other people, which was why a dark smile curled her lips. She raised her hand, the one with the diamond rock, and she waved it at him. “News flash, asshole. I’m married, and I don’t give a shit about you.”

His eyes darkened. He looked mad, but not in an angry way. He looked manic, like she imagined a psychopath would look when annoyed. “That better be fake.”

“The only fake thing in this room is your and your fake soberness.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “Now leave!”

Owen stood up from the bed and prowled toward her. His eyes were red, and his face hardened with a frown. “Who is the bastard?”

“Mind how you speak about my husband.”

He grabbed her wrist and pushed her between himself and the wall. “Were you cheating on me? You refused to sleep with me, but you were whoring yourself to another man?”

Her back ached from pressing so hard against the wall. Flattening her hands on his chest, she tried to push him away, but he was too strong.

Panic flared in her chest, and the back of her throat burned with tears. She was stupid. She shouldn’t have confronted him. She should have called Konstantin for help. “Owen, stop. Don’t do this, please.”

“What the hell are you going to do?” He grabbed the hem of her dress and pulled it up. She struggled, writhing against his grip on her. “I’m only taking what’s mine, Darling. I’ll show you what it means to have a man. I’m sure the bastard you’re married to can’t make love to you.”

Her head went blank. The adrenaline coursing through her veins should have made her fight and flee, but she froze instead. All she could do was beg. “Please.”

The door whispered open, but she didn’t look to see who it was. She didn’t want to give herself hope that someone was coming to save her. She closed her eyes, expecting the worse and wanting the nightmare to be over.

“Hey buddy,” a deep voice said—Konstantin’s voice. “How about you leave the lady and pick on someone your own size?”

Owen’s hands paused. He turned around and chuckled when he saw Konstantin. “You must be the asshole she’s married to.”

In a split second, Konstantin strode toward them. The next second, Owen was being flung across the room. Just one punch from Konstantin was all it took for him to lose consciousness.