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

Chapter 22 - Zia

Zia chuckled as Lev pressed his lips to her, her hands sliding inside his hair.

“Having fun, Malyshka?”

“I'm having a good time,” she smiled, kissing him again before he let go. “You're not done with work.”

Tonight came with a lot of surprises. First, she found out she was pregnant and then Lev told her he loved her. She could still feel the butterflies in her stomach. He loved her and he loved their child, all her worries had been for nothing.

But then he’d mentioned Amy. She hoped he’d found her friend, but it didn’t seem so. Zia just hoped Amy was alive and well where she was.”

“Not yet. Almost. Just concluding the fine details so I don't have to come back here in a hurry.”

They were in the VIP section of Club Noelle, one of Lev's recently opened establishments since the destruction. Music streamed out from the speakers overhead, and usually, in a club this large, all one could smell was alcohol and sweat, but since Zia was in the VIP section today, all she could smell was Lev's citrus cologne, even after he left the room.

Two guards were watching her every movement, including Konstantin, who she was now pulling smiles out of regularly.

“Oh, okay. You asked about Amy, is she fine?”

He grinned. “Let’s save that question for after tonight. I don’t want to ruin it for you.”

“And what's happening tonight?” Zia swooned teasingly.

“I'm gonna show you rather than tell you,” Lev winked.

A guard that Zia remembered being told to man the exterior of the door leading into the VIP lounge came up to them and whispered in Lev's ears.

“Is there a problem?” Zia asked with concern as the man left.

“No. Everything is fine. There's someone here to see you, actually.”

Zia looked toward the door as it opened again and literally flew out of her seat when she saw Amy walk into the lounge.

“Amy!”

“Zia!” Amy ran up to her and hugged her tightly. “I'm so glad you're okay.”

“I’m glad you’re okay, too,” Zia said, hugging Amy back. “I’ve been trying to find you since that night,” she pulled away. “I didn’t expect to see you here tonight.”

Zia turned behind her to see Lev sipping whiskey from a glass, staring at her.

“Is that…” Amy began, a small gasp escaping her mouth.

“Yes, It's Mr. Nikolai. Or should I say,” Zia continued, raising her hand so Amy could see her ring. “My husband.”

Amy's eyes were as big as saucers now, and even as they returned to the seat to join Lev, she couldn't stop staring.

Zia looked at Lev, grateful for the surprise. Thank you, she mouthed.

Lev’s reply was a smile as he stood to his feet. “I’ll leave you ladies to catch up.”

“You're married to Mr. Nikolai?” Amy resumed their earlier conversation once Lev was out of sight.

“I am. Can you believe it?” Zia laughed.

“Oh, I want to hear all about it—how it happened, where. Give me all the tea, Zia,” Amy persuaded as a waiter came over, carrying an ice bucket with glasses and a bottle of champagne. She wasn’t going to drink it, but she needed to put on a show for her and her baby’s safety.

Lev didn’t want anyone to know of the baby yet. He wanted to keep it a secret until the war was over, which meant she couldn’t tell Amy. He’d said anyone could betray them, and if Cillian knew she was pregnant, it would put a target on her back. She agreed with him.

The waiter served the wine and left.

“Honestly, Amy. Everything happened so fast,” she said, thinking back to the first time she met Lev. She’d detested him for forcing her into marrying him, but a lot had changed since then. She loved him now.

“I'll say,” Amy snorted. “You’re lucky. I can’t believe you bagged a billionaire after breaking up with the asshole you were dating. Boy, Owen's gonna be so shocked.”

Zia simply smiled, not revealing that Owen already knew or that he’d tried to rape her and Lev had tortured him.

“Do you love him, Zia?” Amy asked, her face creasing with concern.

“I do. He’s good to me.” I couldn’t ask for anything more.”

“Does he love you?”

Zia blushed. “I believe he does.” She would’ve loved to share more about her feelings, but she had to wait until after the mafia war. “Anyway, let’s cheer to reconnecting.”

She clinked glasses with Amy but then dropped her own glass, rather than take it to her lips.

“I mean, I knew Mr. Nikolai was wealthy, but damn,” Amy snickered excitedly, raising her glass to her lips again. “I didn’t know he was the type to be in a relationship for long or even get married.”

Amy reached out to pour herself a second helping of wine once the first glass was exhausted.

“We weren’t in a relationship. We just got married the day after the attack on the club. He kind of forced me to marry him so he could keep me safe,” Zia confessed.

Amy almost spat out the wine in her mouth but maintained decorum as Zia pouted at her.

“What?” she whisper-yelled. “Okay, Zia, that is… Oh my goodness… What? You barely knew the guy!”

“I'm learning about him every day now.” Zia shrugged. “To be honest, I don’t regret my decision to marry him.:

She was, in truth, discovering something about Lev every day.

“Zia, are you sure you’re okay? Does he hurt you?

Amy’s face marred with concern. “I can call the cops if you’re married to him against your wish.”

Zia understood Amy’s concern. She saw how weird that sounded to an outsider. “I’m fine.”

“You know, I don't really know how he made his wealth, Zia,” Amy whispered, leaning closer to Zia. “Back at the club before it was blown up, we had our theories about him being into something shady. But honey, the guy who was guarding the door to this VIP section had a freaking gun. And I can tell the others, even the ones in here, have guns, too. Honey, I'm not talking pistols. Dudes in the military don't have the kind of guns I saw the guy outside wielding. Someone who needs that many people with guns guarding him can't be making an honest living.”

Zia swallowed. She didn't know how much of Lev's business she was allowed to tell Amy and she didn't want to risk saying anything that would risk putting him or her in danger.

“Lev is fine, Amy. He just has some very dangerous people after him, which is why he tries to be one step ahead of them.” She smiled and reached for Amy’s hand. “I'm safe and happy. I wanted you to know and see that because I know you've been worrying about me. For now, let's talk about something else that doesn't involve us panicking. I want to enjoy this time with you.”

“Are you sure about this?” Amy asked again. “Are you really certain there is no reason for me to be concerned?”

“I'm safer than I've ever been. Trust me on this, Amy.”

“If you say so. Well then, here's to more time spent together and to a hot husband like Mr. Nikolai,” Amy cheered, pouring herself another glass of wine.

“You've emptied the bottle, Amy.” Zia laughed as she saw Amy shake out the last dregs of the wine.

“You're letting me drink all alone! It's not fair.”

“To be honest, I've already had my fair share of drinks. I'm honestly starting to feel nauseous.” Zia signaled for the waiter to bring another bottle.

When the waiter did, Zia and Amy cheered loudly when the bottle gave off a loud pop sound as the cork came off.

“All the girls back at the club would be jealous of you if they knew you got hitched to Nikolai,” Amy laughed and downed another glass of wine.

“Just call him Lev, Amy,” Zia said. “I'm sure he wouldn't mind.”

“Oh no, baby. I'm calling him 'Sir' until I'm convinced you're not lying to me about being safe.”

“Amy,” Zia laughed. “You gonna take me to court and have me swear under oath?”

“I have a feeling he probably owns whatever court I'll take you to.”

“And I have a feeling you just might be right about that.”

Zia was just about to tell her about Sasha and Polina when Amy dropped her glass of wine half-full.

“You tired?” Zia chuckled. “That's weird. You're usually not…”

Zia stopped talking instantly as Amy's eyes crept to hers and she saw how bloodshot they were. Amy's hands began to crawl up her throat and she started wheezing.

“Oh my God! Oh my God!” Zia exclaimed, drawing the attention of the guards around her.

“What happened to her?” Konstantin asked as soon as he saw Amy.

She had begun to jerk violently and was foaming at the mouth.

“I don't know! We were just drinking and talking,” Zia yelled out. “Please, let's get her to the hospital.”

One of the guards slid out his phone and called for a car to come around to the front of the club while another lifted Amy out of Zia's arms.

“What was the last thing she drank? Where's the bottle?” Konstantin asked Zia, stopping her from running after Amy.

“I don't know!” Zia exclaimed.

She pointed at the wine glass Amy had dropped.

“That's the glass she was drinking out of.”

“So this is the last wine she had, yes?” Konstantin asked, holding up the glass and matching it with the bottle.

“Yes,” she nodded and was about to run out when she saw Lev charge into the VIP section.

“What the hell is going on here?” Lev asked, striding to her and cupping her face with both hands. “Are you okay? Are you hurt?”

“I am fine. I want to go with her,” Zia cried, trying to wiggle free of Lev's grip. “I need to know that she is fine.”

“Kostya, go after the guys. Make sure Amy is taken care of,” Lev instructed, not letting Zia out of his grip.

Konstantin held up the glass and the bottle of wine Amy had been drinking.

“Someone spiked her drink, Chief.”

“What?” Lev took the glass from Konstantin and inhaled it. His eyes grew red with rage. “Did you drink that wine, Zia?” he asked, still cupping her face in his palm with one hand.

She shook her head tearfully and he let out a breath.

“Kostya, forget Amy. Take her home. Make sure the house is well-guarded. I’ll take care of things here.”

“No!” Zia protested. “I have to get to Amy, please.”

Lev ignored her pleas and pulled his phone out. He called someone. “Adrian, get over here.”

Adrian must’ve asked what happened because Lev said, “I’m at club Noelle. Someone tried to kill my wife, and they better pray to God I don’t find out who they are.”