Page 63 of Forced & Owned By the Bratva Boss

He smiles. “You’re a quick learner, Audrey. I give you that. This could’ve gone a lot more smoothly if you’d discovered this early enough. Too bad you were so naïve and easy to manipulate.”

Humiliation burns through me until it almost eclipses the fear. Every stupid decision I’ve made over the past year crashes back into me all at once. I thought I was making choices. I thought I was in control. I thought I was getting revenge against the man who shattered my heart.

Instead, I’d only become vulnerable enough to be used by this monster. I became his pawn, and now it feels like I’m stuck between the devil and the deep blue sea.

God.

How could I have been so stupid?

My hands curl into fists at my sides. “You’re a monster. You used my pain.”

“No.” He shakes his head slowly. “You did that yourself. I never forced you. I just extended an offer, and you took it without a second thought.”

The words slice straight through me because I know he’s right. If I hadn’t been so consumed by anger after Igor left me, if I’d stopped for one second to think instead of acting like a reckless child desperate to get some stupid revenge, none of this would’ve happened.

The realization sits in my chest like molten lead, crushing my lungs until breathing becomes difficult. When I finally look back at him, the fear is still there, but something else has replaced the desperation.

“You’re right. I was stupid and impulsive.” I pause and breathe. “And now I’m done.”

His amusement disappears. “You don’t have a choice.”

“I do, and I’m no longer your pawn from now on.” My heart hammers in my chest, but I don’t want to give him the satisfaction of seeing how afraid I am. “Kill me if you want to.”

“Well, you leave me no choice.” He pulls his phone out and presses something on it before turning the screen to face me. “Take a look.”

A video plays on the screen.

My blood freezes.

Matthew is tied to a metal chair inside what looks like an abandoned warehouse. His wrists are bound behind him, his lower lip split, one side of his face already swelling from a brutal punch. Someone standing behind him grabs a fistful of his hair and jerks his head back hard enough to make him groan.

My knees almost give out beneath me, my vision blurring instantly “No…” I shake my head and throw a hand over my mouth as I reel backward. “No…please.”

Emiliano lowers the phone slowly, satisfaction gleaming in his eyes. “You have only one choice now, Audrey.”

Tears spill freely from my eyes, leaving a hot trail down my cheeks. I can’t let Matthew pay for my sins. I’d rather die than have him killed because of my choices.

“What do you want?” My voice trembles, my words shaking from the terror rippling through me. I know this isn’t a bluff. Serrano will really kill Matthew if I don’t obey him. “I’ll do anything.”

He slips the phone back into his pocket and steps closer, until barely a foot separates us.

“So here’s what’s going to happen, darling. You’re going to walk back into that mansion, smile at your husband, and bring me exactly what I ask for.”

“What do you want?”

“I need a flash drive containing the information for all of Igor’s illegal businesses, allies, and shipments he’s expecting,” he says. “I need it fast, and I’ll be waiting in your old apartment this evening.”

He wants me to betray Igor. I’ve done that once; I can’t do it again. Maybe Igor can help me. Maybe he’ll save Matthew when I tell him the truth.

There has to be a way to fix this.

But my hope dies when Serrano wraps his fingers around my throat, cutting off my air completely.

“If you tell Igor or anyone else about this meeting...” He tilts his head slightly. “Your friend dies before sunset.”

Chapter Seventeen

Igor