Page 53 of Daddy Brigadier

We kidnapped a Bratva Brigadier, and now our lives are in his hands.

What if I were just a good fuck for him? Now that I’m not sleeping with him, will he still keep his promise to kill me?

Cheers erupt from a table nearby—someone has a winning hand. As the dealer counts his chips and slides them across the table, I take a moment to congratulate him. I then gather the empty glasses from the wool felt cloth, feeling the excitement in the air, and make my way toward the bar.

A few ladies are gathered in the chic pink and white lounge, adorned with sparkling diamonds and a stunning diamond chandelier. “How are the drinks?” I ask them, noticing the enticing drink specials generously poured into their cups.

“They’re delicious,” one of the ladies chuckles, clearly having already enjoyed a few.

“I’m glad to hear that,” I reply, smiling.

I place the empty cups on the bar, where a bartender in tight leather quickly collects them and wipes down the surface, her jiggling boobies drawing the attention of every guy sitting at the bar.

At the end of the bar sits Ruby, her dress daringly short, her smile infectious, and a shot glass poised before her.

Shit!I quickly make my way to her.

“What are you drinking?” I ask, positioning myself between her barstool and the man next to her.

“It’s just a shot,” she responds, exhaling in exasperation and rolling her eyes.

I glance back at the bartender, who nonchalantly raises three fingers.

I slide the empty shot glass toward the bartender. “Can I get some water, please?”

“It’s opening night! Let’s have some fun,” Ruby snorts, clearly dismissive.

“Ruby, you know your pills and alcohol don’t mix,” I remind her.

“Come on, I’ll watch her,” a man behind me insists, leaning in closer than necessary, his rancid breath brushing against me, almost making me heave.

I feel a surge of irritation. “Stay the hell out of this,” I growl, narrowing my eyes to deliver a firm warning that I won’t allow any interference.

“We’re just having a good time,” he insists with a grin.

I glance at him from head to toe. He’s cute, but he looks too young and isn’t intimidating enough.

“Lexi, you’re embarrassing me,” Ruby whines.

I thought we had learned our lesson by now.

When I roll my eyes, she smirks. “Don’t you have better things to do?” she chuckles, casting a sly glance around me to make sure he’s still captivated by her.

“I think you should head home now,” I say, gently taking hold of her arm.

“Let her stay,” the man asserts, grabbing my forearm as he attempts to prevent me from yanking Ruby out of her seat.

The feeling of his hand on me makes my blood boil. How dare he touch me? From that night when Petrov pinned me down, I vowed that no man would touch me without my consent. I turn my head to the side, my fist poised to strike, but then something unexpected on my right diverts my focus.

Just then, a massive hand intercedes and clamps down on his wrist, forcing him back with a sudden, violent motion. The sharp crack of his finger breaking resonates as it’s pulled the wrong way, his hand then slamming down hard against a marble countertop.

The sound cleaves through the tension in the air, searing and nauseatingly brutal.

My burning chest drowns out the horrifying sounds of the man screaming, and my heart beats heavily in my ears. “Valentin!”

The chatter of the crowd and the man beside me cursing fades into silence, overshadowed by the intensity of a man’s gaze.He’s here.

“Lexi!” Lacey rushes over, her voice snapping me back to reality, and I swallow hard before intentionally looking away.