The Bratva’s Auctioned Bride (Levov Bratva #10)

Chapter 16 - Lara

There was no greater relief than reuniting with my brothers and letting them know I was alive.

I never thought I'd be separated from them like that, and I was surprised by how soon Alex decided to let me see them again. I had assumed he would try to hide me away from them for as long as possible, but to everyone's relief, he proved me wrong.

My brothers were completely shocked by the revelation about us being married, and while I expected nothing less, it was still jarring to find myself in that position. To see their shocked faces, and to watch as they tried to come to terms with the sudden news. It was a lot to not only explain but also for them to take in.

Ari and the others were understandably angry and still somewhat confused by it all, but we found ourselves gathered in one of the conference rooms, with Alex sitting beside me as they looked between us. The room was somewhat tense still, given the circumstances, but I was just glad the gun had been put away.

Even if Alex was keeping everything together and wearing a stoic look, I had the feeling he was doing his best to not fold under the pressure of being in my family's territory and facing their scrutiny. I could only imagine how difficult it was for him, regardless of how he seemed indifferent.

Ari glanced between us again as he leaned back in his seat, seeming somewhat skeptical. "So, you're telling me you're married out of the blue, and you're both willingly involved in this? Especially you, Lara?"

While I would've denied it before, my mind went to what Alex said earlier about both families suffering the consequences if I abandoned him, and as much as I didn't want to care, I couldn't help it.

A part of me was still upset with Alex for everything, but the rest was beginning to see another side to him. I could tell that he was serious about everything, especially given how willing he was to request the meeting with my brothers.

He didn't have to listen to my request before, but he did, and it felt like a good first step.

I didn't want his family to suffer, even if I didn't know them that well at all. Something in me saw a resemblance between our situations, even if I was supposed to be removed from the whole organized crime part. I couldn't blame him for wanting to protect his family, as I wanted to protect mine in whatever way I could.

For everyone's sake, I was willing to vouch for him, with the hope of growing closer in the back of my mind.

I nodded, meeting Ari's gaze confidently. "I am. We didn't say anything sooner because of how you probably would've reacted."

Ari sighed and absently rubbed at the bridge of his nose. "You're right about that…but a little peace of mind sooner would've been nice. We were prepared to start turning this city inside out just to find you."

While I hated the idea of them being so worried about me, it also felt reassuring in a sense. Even if they couldn't find me, they were still trying. They hadn't given up on me, they just needed better leads, and Alex was unknown enough to allow him to stay under the radar.

"It didn't help that I needed to keep a low profile after buying from the Gromovs. They were the ones who took Lara in the first place," Alex added, keeping his cool composure.

As Ari heard that name, his brows pulled together with recognition. "The Gromovs, hm? So you're the cause of this new family digging into our business, too...all because you gave them that play money to work with. Things are starting to make sense now..."

There was no missing the annoyed edge in his tone, and he clearly wasn't happy about it.

Alex sighed and nodded. "I never wanted to pay them a dime, but it was a necessary move to safeguard her from being auctioned off to anyone else."

"How considerate of you," Ari grumbled sarcastically as he stroked his chin. "So now, not only is my sister married to you, a relative newcomer from Canada, but now I also have to deal with your hitchhiker. You aren't starting this off on the right foot, Novikov."

The exasperation and exhaustion were clear in Alex's features, but he could only nod and try to stand his ground anyway. "None of this is perfect, but I want you to know that Lara's safety is my top priority. I don't take that responsibility lightly."

"I sure as hell hope not," Ari said, tone firm and nearly demanding. "You've caused us enough trouble, and I don't take lightly to anyone looking to find an advantage, or hoping to get ahead by using our name."

I could feel as Alex shrank by an almost imperceptible fraction, surely aware of how his initial intentions seemed to line up perfectly with that idea. As much as I had been angry about the same thing before, everything felt different now.

It was easier to assume Alex was only using me and my name before, but since he seemed interested in actually putting effort in, I couldn't deny that I wanted to see more of it from him. I wanted to experience just how far his commitment might go.

"I could sit here all day and throw my threats at you, reaming you out for what you've done until I'm blue in the face, but there's one thing I want to make exceptionally clear," Ari began, expression stern and serious. "If you hope to keep your life, then you will treat my sister with the utmost care. If I hear anything about you doing the opposite, I will not hesitate to strike. Keep in mind, I'm not doing any of this for you. I'm doing this for her. If this is what she wants, then I won't get in the way."

I could feel as Alex relaxed somewhat next to me, and I too let go of a quiet breath of relief. Ari was coming down from that outrage little by little, and while my brother was still angry, he was at least containing it a bit better than before.

"And another thing. We'll have a very, very close eye on you moving forward. If you make one wrong step, it's over for you. Cross the line into our business, or try to screw us over in any way, and you're done," Ari warned him, conviction never wavering. "You've already forced my hand with this, but don't assume that means I'll put up with anything else. You're walking a dangerous path, and if you mess up, just know I'll be there when you do. Are we clear?"

I could tell it was a hit to his pride, and I felt a strange desire to ease the blow of Ari's words, yet Alex maintained that steeled expression and nodded.

"I can assure you, I have no intention of screwing you over. I'm more concerned about the Gromovs and what their next move might be," Alex said evenly.

While holding on to his irritation, Ari nodded after a moment of consideration. "Keep those pests at bay, and we'll revisit all of this later. For now, consider your next steps carefully."

Without any resistance or argument, the meeting continued until my brother seemed to satiate his anger, and we eventually wrapped it up.

"Even if I haven't wrung you out for all of this, I have a condition," Ari said as he walked us to the front of the mostly empty club. He looked at Alex directly after glancing at me. "If I'm to let this arrangement fly, then you need to keep the line of communication open. Do not shut Lara out from us, and do not treat her like a hostage. If she is your wife, and this is a genuine marriage, then give her the freedom she needs. I'm telling you this from experience."

At Alex's nod of confirmation, along with his added determination, my brother looked at me next, then pulled me in for another hug. He murmured close to my ear, "If you need anything, call us. We're here for you."

At the concern in his voice, the emotions pulsed faintly within me, and I nodded, giving him a light squeeze. "I will."

Once it was all said and done, I said goodbye to my brothers, and while it felt bittersweet in a sense, I had the feeling that Alex would keep his promise, that he wouldn't keep me isolated like before. I was sure I'd be seeing them again soon enough.

With that, Alex reached for my hand and guided me out of the club.

The skepticism from my brothers was tangible even as we left, but at the end of it all, I was still by Alex's side, and I had every hope that I wasn't making a mistake by trusting him.

***

With everything going on, I would’ve expected Alex to lay low and favor staying at home, but as he brought up before, the night of the social event arrived shortly after we met with my family. In all honesty, I completely forgot about it until Alex entered the bedroom carrying a dress bag.

He was adjusting the cuffs on his black button-down that hugged his biceps perfectly when I re-entered the room wearing a red gown he picked out himself, which happened to match the fine detailing in his shirt. Alex perked up as he took me in, allowing a faint smirk to pull on his lips.

“Look at you,” he hummed, giving me a complete once-over as I stepped closer with a grin, ready to go. “I knew that dress would be perfect on you. You look beautiful.”

My smile grew then, turning to check myself out in the floor-length mirror not far from where I was. “Thank you. You picked well.”

“That I did,” Alex agreed as he mirrored my expression and nodded as he reached into his pocket, pulling out a small box before he cracked it open. He stepped closer until he was behind me, carefully moving my hair over one shoulder. “Speaking of which, I got you something to go with it. The dress wouldn’t be complete without it.”

I softened the moment he went to put a necklace around my neck, carefully clasping it before laying it gently against my skin. The moment I felt the cool sensation of it just above my cleavage, I reached for it, feeling the delicate gems. It was simple yet elegant, and it paired well with the dress. I met his gaze through the mirror. “This is beautiful. Thank you.”

Alex’s genuine smile made my heart squeeze, along with the kind gesture of his gift-giving. He leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss against my temple with his palm against the small of my back. “It’s my pleasure. But we should get going before I never hear the end of being late for this thing.”

Eventually, we got into the vehicle waiting out front, and we were escorted through the city until we reached a club downtown. Based on the unassuming, discreet look of the building from the outside, it was some sort of exclusive place, and that assumption seemed even more substantiated as we walked inside.

Alex guided me in, keeping an arm around my waist as we entered the relaxed and almost sensual atmosphere.

The club was dim with colored mood lights on the walls, near the tables, and around the bar, and the dark-colored furnishings tied it all together. Overall, it looked like a high-end, luxury place, and that was especially evident in those in attendance. It was like night and day compared to the seedy underground club where the auction took place, and I was incredibly relieved by that.

As we moved through the space, it didn’t take long for some of the patrons to recognize Alex, and before long, I was introduced to several people. They all wore similar smiles, as if they were pleased by the fact that they were invited, yet something in them still wanted to be anywhere else.

It didn’t take long for me to get a sense that many of them were there out of obligation more than anything, and as I was acquainted with quite a few, many of whose names I hardly even remembered directly after speaking with them, I couldn’t help but wonder just how much influence was gathered in that space at once.

Alex seemed to be neutral toward most of them, and while he was outwardly friendly, he was somewhat reserved in between interactions. He knew how to schmooze when it was called for, but otherwise, he was quiet and contemplative.

While we chatted and followed through with speaking to the people he deemed ‘the most important,’ I caught on to the way he seemed to show me off, guiding me around the room, never once letting go of me. He did so calmly and smoothly, either by keeping a hand against my back or resting on my hip.

To my surprise, I didn’t mind it at all. It brought warmth over me, and I could see how it brought Alex a sense of pride, too. I even enjoyed that possessive hold he had on me as it lingered throughout the evening.

Gliding through the club in that red dress, aware of the eyes on us, I allowed myself to fall into old habits. That natural, yet practiced confidence I had from attending all those old events for my brothers fell back into place again, and I had no problem putting on a smile and interacting socially as needed.

“You have a lot of friends here tonight,” I eventually said to Alex, watching as he pointed out an empty booth.

“These people aren’t my friends,” Alex returned quietly with a chuckle and led me over before we both sat down, giving me a break from meandering around in heels. “They’re more like associates and colleagues in a way, and these events are a quick and easy way to build new alliances and partnerships. It’s all an act to benefit everyone in various ways. In fact, I despise quite a few of them.”

My brows went up in question at that, surprised to hear it, given how friendly he had been with everyone. “Really?”

He nodded before signaling for one of the hostesses to come by. “Really. I’d rather not be here, but maintaining my image and being an active presence in this landscape works in my favor.”

It was an interesting concept, but if it was advantageous to attend those events, then I could understand why he even bothered with it. It was like how I went to the galas and charities on behalf of my family. In a way, it seemed to offset the not-so-great aspects of the business.

I hummed. “And here I was thinking you were just that outgoing.”

Alex let go of an amused sound. “I can be outgoing when the situation calls for it…but let’s just say I have a limited social battery.”

It was interesting to me how someone like him managed to get himself into that kind of business, anyway. While he could demand respect easily enough, and he seemed to be more than capable as a leader, he wasn’t as extroverted as I would expect a kingpin to be.

He did what was required of him, but apparently with a healthy dose of reluctance.

Before long, several drinks were ordered and brought over to us, and we sat together in the booth, side by side.

“With the required socializing out of the way, along with your debut as my wife, it’s time we relax together,” Alex said with a grin as he gently clinked his glass against mine.

I grinned in return as we both sipped from our drinks, finding the moment refreshing. It was like we were on our first date in a way, and thanks to the club’s more romantic atmosphere, I felt at ease in that booth with him.

“You know, as much as I didn’t want to admit it, your family reminds me of mine in a way,” he began, taking on a slightly more contemplative air. “Even if I wasn’t the biggest fan of being at the end of your brother’s pistol, I saw a bit of myself in him then. I couldn’t help but admire how he was willing to do whatever was necessary for his family. I’ve always had that mindset myself.”

With an almost sheepish smile, I nodded. “Ari has been like that since I can remember…he made my school years a bit of a nightmare in that sense.”

“Did your big brother come to your defense?”

Thinking back, I hummed my amusement at the memory before I met his gaze again. “Numerous times. The family business was taking off when I was old enough to be enrolled in high school, so Ari put me and Kir in a private school. Of course, I had a lot of snooty rich kids as classmates, and one group in particular thought it would be fun to pick on the new girl. When it became too much and Ari caught me crying over it one day, he told me he’d make it better, and without me knowing, he went to the older brothers of those girls and gave them a piece of his mind. Needless to say, they were so scared that the girls started treating me like a queen after that.”

As I spoke, Alex listened intently, eyes glinting with amusement in the low light. Then, he snickered and spoke over the rim of his drink, “It must’ve been a breeze for you after that.”

“For the most part, but I didn’t always rely on him for help. I got my own hands dirty from time to time.”

He cocked a brow at that with a chuckle. “Did you now?”

With a small laugh of my own, I nodded. “I got in a few fights of my own when it was necessary and handled it myself—of course, not without getting in major trouble at school. They threatened to expel me over it if I didn’t straighten up. I was terrified of how Ari would react when he heard, but he took me out for ice cream instead and told me they probably deserved it—and for the record, they did.”

Alex laughed with a tinge of disbelief in his expression, setting his glass down as he reached across the booth and gently held my hip as he leaned in, his tone teasing. “Consider me impressed. I didn’t know my wife was a fighter like that.”

Grinning back at him, feeling warm from the booze and his possessive grip on me, I couldn’t help but lean into him a bit. “I’m not to be underestimated.”

His features gleamed with both amusement and what looked like silent reverence as he gazed at me, suddenly making me feel like I was the only person in that club with him. With his free hand, he reached up and gently moved a lock of hair over my shoulder as his eyes drank me in. “I wouldn’t dream of doing something as foolish as that. You were fiery since the day I met you. And for the record,” he began, echoing my previous words. “I admire that about you.”

Sitting in that booth with him, so intimately close and feeling drawn even closer, I forgot about the rest of the event around us. I wasn’t all that keen on getting mixed in with his world, and that of my brothers, but seeing Alex like that and being able to feel his raw appreciation for me helped me to not mind it too much.

If it meant having his time and uninterrupted attention, along with his hands on me, then I could let it slide.