Chapter 8 - Raisa

I have been pacing around this house for days and I’m going crazy with boredom. It’s one thing to be a prisoner in Oleg’s home, that’s a whole emotional wreckage I will have to process at some point—but to be this bored, on top of all of that is just driving me insane. Nothing is happening. No one is talking to anyone about what Oleg did. I feel as though everything is stagnant and all I want is to be able to talk to my brothers and find a way to get back home.

I stomp down the stairs loudly, letting out my frustration on each step. I march all the way to the kitchen in a huff.

I’ve been in a bitter mood all week and it only seems to be getting worse as each day passes. I hate this place. I hate that I am being held here against my will. None of this is fair.

When I get to the kitchen, I sigh in annoyance. Oleg is there.

“Oh, good I wanted to talk to you, Raisa,” he say,s sounding friendly and calm. I hate the fact that he is still being sweet to me the whole time. I hate the fact that he is still so fucking good-looking. Why does he have to be so sexy? It doesn’t seem fair somehow. My kidnapper—I want to hate him.

I do hate him.

But I also want him—I roll my eyes.

And it doesn’t help at all that he’s currently shirtless and in a pair of sweatpants.

“What do you want?” I snap, annoyed at myself as much as I am annoyed at him. I need to get my body under control.

“Tonight, we are going out.”

“Where?” Every cell in my body is suddenly alert. This might be my chance to escape. “What are we doing?”

“You will have a chance to see your brothers. We are leaving at seven o' clock. I have sent a dress up to your room and you will wear that.”

“A dress—what—how—“

“Just wear the dress. Don’t argue with me on this. If you want to see your brothers, just do as you’re told for a change.” He sighs, looking exhausted by my constant resistance to his requests.

He has been trying to be friendly. He’s always asking me if I need anything and he offers me tea and food and anything I might want. He’s done his best to make sure I am comfortable—but it doesn’t make up for the fact that he kidnapped me and forced me to marry him.

I hate doing what he tells me to do.

But if he wants me to wear a damn dress and that gets me time with my brothers—that’s all I need. I can see them. I can tell them what is going on—and maybe by the end of the night, I will be on my way back to my real home.

In fact, I will make sure I am on my way home.

When we leave the house, we will leave all of these damn guards behind. I can definitely find a way to escape.

My heart flips with excitement and a smile spreads across my face.

I quickly push it away.

I don’t need Oleg seeing my smile. He will guess something is up because it is such a sharp contrast to the bitter expression I have been wearing every time he sees me.

“Fine. I’ll wear the dress,” I snap.

He turns to look at me. His eyes narrowed. “Thank you,” he says gently. There is relief in his voice. A pang of guilt washes through me. But why should I feel guilty? I didn’t do anything wrong.

Somehow, though, I don’t want to upset him.

I don’t want to make this harder than it needs to be.

I just want to go home. Can’t he see how badly I want to go home?

I stare at him for a moment. My mind drifting.

If Oleg and I had met under different circumstances—

No. Don’t even think about that. It isn’t going to help anything.

Just focus on how you can escape tonight.

You can go home.

At seven o' clock, I am wearing the dress Oleg gave me. Along with a diamond necklace that hangs just above my cleavage. The necklace compliments the beautiful and very obvious wedding ring wrapped around my finger. It still feels foreign against my skin. It feels heavy and I keep fidgeting with it because it doesn’t belong there. I’m not supposed to be married. I didn’t choose this.

Staring down at my left hand for a moment, I am lost in thought as I watch it glitter in the soft light.

When I stand in front of the long mirror and look at myself my heart does a tiny summersault. I can’t deny it. I look freaking incredible. This dress is gorgeous. I don’t know if Oleg actually chose it or not—but if he did, he has incredible taste.

The soft emerald fabric hugs my body tightly, over my hips and the curve of my ass, then it flows out around my legs. A long slit up the side accentuates my body and makes my legs look even longer.

I feel absolutely gorgeous.

I pin my hair up on top of my head in a pretty bun.

I’m ready.

I’m ready to escape and go home and I get to look incredible while I am doing it.

I wonder where we are going that requires a dress this extravagant. It seems so over the top.

I walk downstairs towards where Oleg is waiting at the bottom near the front door. His eyes are on me the entire way, each step I take, I can feel the heat of his gaze as it burns into me. His stare turns me on. I can feel his desire from here and it makes me picture things I should not be picturing.

“Raisa—“ he stammers as I step towards him. “You look—wow. The most beautiful creature I have ever seen. I knew the dress would look amazing on you—but at this point I think no matter what you wear you’d look amazing.”

I don’t say a word as I walk past him, out of the front door towards where the limousine is waiting for us.

I slide into the back seat and turn my face towards the window. I don’t have to be nice. Even though I love that he compliments me. I love that he thinks I’m beautiful.

But I can’t let him know that.

I feel him climbing in next to me, the heat of his leg against mine. I try my best to ignore the way it pulses through my body, luring me in, enticing me.

I will escape tonight.

That is what I need to focus on. Nothing else.

After we have been driving for fifteen or so minutes, I turn to Oleg.

“Why do we need a limousine and all of this flashy nonsense just to meet my brothers? It doesn’t make any sense.”

“We are meeting them at a party. One where a lot of my allies will be attending. Of course, I want to introduce my new wife to the Bratva world—looking as beautiful as ever. But you could have arrived in sweatpants and a hoodie and they would have still seen your beauty—“

“A party?” I stammer in shock. “You didn’t say we were going to a party.”

“Why else would you be wearing something like this?” He chuckles and it flares my annoyance.

“You want me to walk around amongst a bunch of Mafia idiots and you want me to what? Be polite? Be the happy wife? Are you completely out of your mind? I am going to tell every single one of them that you kidnapped me and forced me into this marriage!—” Anger is making me hiss my words at him. I’m struggling to stay calm.

He shifts slightly, turning his body towards me as he glares down at me. “Raisa. Listen very carefully. I will only say this once and you should not dare to doubt it. If you don’t make your brothers believe that you are happily married to me—they will become upset—and when they get upset, they will start fighting against me. When that happens—Leon and all of my brothers will open fire on them. People will die. Your brothers will die.”

My mouth drops open in horror. “You wouldn’t,” I stammer.

“I wouldn’t, but my brothers would and you know your brothers would too. So, trust me when I say that it is in your best interest to play along with this marriage tonight. If everything goes smoothly and your brothers believe that you are happy with me—we avoid bloodshed. No violence is necessary. I wanted you to do this willingly. I had hoped that we would have more time together to work through our differences before tonight arrived—but it is what it is and this is happening tonight—so now it is your choice about whether or not you want to start a war.”

I turn my face away from him.

Taking slow breaths to try and soothe my racing heart.

For a long moment I just stare out of the window—fighting the tears that are burning at the back of my eyes. I want to scream. I want to cry and tell him I hate him. But I will not put my family at risk. I have to find another way to escape. I have to figure out some other option for getting back at him.

I quickly brush my hand across my cheek, wiping away the single tear that managed to escape. I won’t let Oleg see me cry.

I won’t let him see any weakness from me. I’ve managed to hold myself together since he forced me into this marriage and I won’t stop now.

I will find a way, though—to escape this. Maybe not tonight. But soon.

We arrive at the party and I feel horribly tense as I climb out of the limousine and walk towards the massive doors of someone’s home. I have no idea where we are. I assume it is one of Oleg’s brother’s mansions. I was so looking forward to just seeing my brothers this evening—and now I have to face a bunch of Bratva mafia families and keep a smile on my face the entire time when all I want to do is curl up and cry my eyes out because I feel trapped into a corner.

This entire situation could not be more opposite from what I want for my life.

Oleg steps alongside me, taking my hand in his.

His skin is warm, and I clench my jaw as I realize how reassuring his hand is over mine.

Dammit.

We walk into the part,y which is already in full swing. So many eyes are on us, so many people I don’t know.

Oleg greets them all and introduces me as we walk through the crowds. They all know him and they all seem to have a lot of respect for him as they treat him almost like royalty. A Dubrov.

Somehow, I am now playing the role of a Dubrov wife. I better do a good job of it. There are so many people watching.

As we move through the party my eyes are peeled, constantly searching for my brothers. They aren’t here yet.

I sip my champagne and stand against Oleg’s side—his arm wrapped around my waist—I smile and talk happily. Outwardly we are the perfect, happy couple. Newlyweds, basking in the excitement of it all.

Inside, I am in a knot of frustration and anxiety.

I feel the tension building inside me—the longer my brothers take to get here the worse it is getting. Where are they? Why aren’t they here already? I just want to see a familiar face. I want someone to tell me that everything is going to be ok.

I need my brothers. I need them to be here for me now.

I smile tightly, leaning against Oleg. Waiting.

Trying to be patient.