A Treacherous Killer-Dark Bratva Romance

thirty three

Nadia

I'm surrounded by people who could care less if I dropped dead at this very moment. They're all chattering around the table, their rich voices stabbing needles into my brain.

Mother had invited both Yeseniya and Lena's families, along with several other members of the country club. Emil is on my left talking animatedly to Artem Nabokov. I'm too busy trying to convince myself not to smash the expensive bottle of wine Lena and Artem gifted on the velvet carpet.

Simon leans over to me from my right and reaches for my hand. He gives it a reassuring squeeze, the gesture aiding my frayed nerves a little.

"You okay?" He says in a low voice. Simon was as thrilled as I was to be here. He had spoken less than two words aside from greetings the whole night. He would no doubt be getting an ear full from mother and father when we left, if he managed to make it through the rest of dinner that is.

"I'm fine," I say under my breathe.

"You sure you want to go through with this?" Mother's glass stare shoots over to us at the other end of the table. There's no way she heard Simon from way down there but it was as though she could sense Simon was trying to conspire against her.

"I told you I wasn't discussing it anymore," I say, glancing over at Emil to see if he was paying attention. He thankfully still had his attention focused on Artem.

"Have you talked to Maks?" Simon presses on.

"No," I hiss. "Why would I have talked to him?"

"I was just wondering, considering he turned away the movers this morning."

"What do you mean?" All I can hear is white noise, an eerie high pitched sound that makes me lightheaded and my heart rate pick up.

"He wouldn't let them come up and collect your things," he says simply.

Simon's words send my brain and heart into upheaval. Why would Maks not let the men come collect my things? Was he planning on throwing them out the window or was it something else entirely?

That tiny spark inside of me that stupidly wished to be lit, flickers but is quickly forgotten when Emil stands and clinks a knife on the side of his glass. He clears his throat and everyone around the table quietens.

My heart rate spikes and I suddenly have the urge to throw up all over the fancy white table cloth.

"I would like to thank everyone for joining us here on this special night." He shines a row of straight white teeth at everyone around the table until he settles them on me. My breathe stills in my lungs.

"Nadia, from the moment I met you I knew that you were the one for me from the moment I saw you across the ball room. I know we haven't known each other for very long but..." All I can do is stare as Emil lowers himself to one knee. "Would you do the honor of accepting my hand in marriage?"

I feel everyone leaning in closer awaiting my answer. Seconds tick by and I still can find the strength to answer. Something passes in Emil's eyes and it's not love or encouragement, it's pure rage. He grabs my hand almost forcefully and squeezes it tight enough to make it hurt. To everyone else at the table it looks like a loving gesture but I know I know the truth behind it. I'm embarrassing him.

"Yes," I choke out. It's barely even audible to my own ears but it's enough to send Emil into action, he takes the ring from the case and shoves the big diamond on my finger. Then he reaches up and presses his slimy lips to mine to the sound of a applause and congratulations.

Everyone seems to swarm me as soon as Emil extracts his lips from mine. My body feels numb, the only thing I feel is the weight of the diamond on my hand. I can't even bare to look at it as Yeseniya and Lena crowd around me to examine it.