Hunted by the Bratva (Morozov Bratva #21)

Chapter 1 - Iosif

Pushing open the doors of the bar, I stepped inside and quickly scanned the room.

The loud music pierced my ears. The pungent odor filling the room was mostly cigars with a hint of alcohol mixed in.

I had a plan and was determined to stick to it.

I was on the prowl, hunting for the youngest female, Aslanov. I was set on getting vengeance.

They did everything in their power to ruin our alliance with the Morozov and Dubow tribes. I could maybe still excuse that, but they made a bigger mistake. The Aslanov Bratva targeted my little sister, Zhenya, and almost got her killed.

They went too far and stepped over the line. When our father passed, she was still a young one. I raised her and loved her like a father. When it came to her, I was weak. Her needs and desires were at the top of my priorities. That was the only reason Akim Dubow was still standing and breathing.

Keeping my little sister safe was one of the most important things in life.

No matter how chaotic life got, her smile always warmed me.

She grounded me. Sure, her decisions could be, at times, questionable or even impulsive.

But I couldn’t bring myself to deny her what makes her happy.

Even when I try to stand firm, she pulls me in, and all resolve crumbles.

That is why I decided to spare Akim once I found out he truly loved her. I never imagined anyone could love her as much as I do. Even though his love for her was different, it was just as strong. If not for him, she might not have made it.

When those men came for her, wanting to kill her, he stepped in. Akim single-handedly took out five or six men to protect her. Yes, she wasn’t supposed to be there with him. But maybe she was, as he saved her life.

I will always be grateful that he saved her, no matter how I feel about him. Yet, we still have our differences, and I don’t have to like him to be grateful. The fact is, he was there when she needed someone. For that, I owe him.

This mix of emotions was new to me and made me feel strange. I had resentment tangled together with appreciation and anger. But life wasn’t black and white. I may not want him around, but it is what she wants.

I shook my head and wiped the lone tear, trying to force out the haunting images of my sister almost dying.

My chest tightened all over. The Aslanovs will not be spared.

They will feel my pain and vengeance. In all my life, I have never gone for an innocent person.

I didn’t intend on doing that now. But after what they did, they had to pay.

It was fair to do unto them as they did unto me. However, I was nothing like them, even though I was targeting their baby sister. I intended to harm them differently. I wouldn’t kill her.

No, I intended to get her and keep her. I would use her to get to them, to get to Kolya, the head of the Aslanov family. I would never drop to their level. Hurting them that way would be far too easy on them.

They deserved to suffer, to understand my pain and what they’d done. They don’t know the depth of my resolve, how far I am willing to go. No more games, no more lies, no more cruelty.

Tonight, I take the first step on the path of delivering true misery. Hellfire will rain down and scorch the earth they stand on. I was done holding back. They had no idea what was coming. But soon, they’d wish they had never heard my name.

I scanned the room. I knew I had my work cut out for me. Despite all the thorough research I’ve been doing, I still haven’t been able to find one image of her. This would be tricky, as I didn’t even have a name. The youngest Aslanov was a well-kept secret. I had no idea what she looked like.

I would bet everything that Kolya was keeping her profile intentionally on the down low. I was surely not their only enemy. A family like theirs had more than their fair share. I felt sure he didn’t want what he had done to us to happen to them.

I knew this hunt might take a while since I had no idea who I was looking for. I had just started settling with the idea when a source came to light. I heard a little bird say she would be here with a group of friends.

Not knowing who she was didn’t bother me as I was a confident man with a plan. My instinct would lead me. I knew I would get to meet her. I’d seen a grainy photo, which was enough for me.

I had never been here at this bar in this part of town and didn’t know what to expect. But the place appeared decent enough. The bar sat on one side in the back. There was a stage on the opposite side, and tables were scattered between them.

As I slowly started making my way to the bar, I studied the clusters of people. There was an elderly couple at one table, making small talk or just enjoying each other's company. That was something I knew would never be in my future.

My life was way too complicated. Too much violence surrounded me. I couldn’t even picture a life where I could sit anywhere with a significant other and just relax. Drink, eat, and laugh without worrying about the world we live in.

The constant tension, the need to stay on guard, it was all I knew. There was no space for the kind of peace others take for granted. No room for lighthearted moments. My reality doesn’t allow for those simple treasures. They’re a luxury I’ll never have.

At the next table sat three younger men as loud as a thunderstorm, and then there were two tables with only women.

In general, the air smelled of alcohol. But as I passed one of the tables where the loud men seemingly were playing beer pong, I smelled weed. I passed them and moved to the corner of the bar. I needed a better view of the two tables where the women were.

The one table seemed to be a mix of young and old. I felt sure she wouldn’t be at that one as she was supposedly out with friends. These women looked more like they could be family.

Glancing at the other table, I saw a group of six women. They all appeared in their early twenties, but I could be wrong. Yet, somehow, I knew she was one of those women. I felt one hundred percent sure.

I ordered a beer. Turning to my side, I studied the group, wondering which one was my prey. They were all dressed up, some a bit over the top for a place like this.

As I studied each of the women, watching them laugh, nodding, and drinking, I wondered which of them was the Aslanov. I tried to see if any had similarities to the Aslanov brothers and sisters. Yet, they all looked like random women.

I couldn’t discern any common family traits in any of them. Still, I couldn’t shake the feeling that one of them didn’t belong. That one of them, beneath the glamour and laughter, was an Aslanov. She was playing a role.

Scanning their features with more care, my mind wandered. The tilt of one's head, the guarded glance of another, even the subtle posture, was confusing. I was good at reading people, but these women boggled my mind.

The Aslanovs were good at hiding in plain sight. I knew this would be hard, but this was nearly impossible. No, I berate myself, love hard, and live for the difficult. Tonight will be no different; I will find her.

They were all beautiful women with legs for days and smiles that could steal hearts. There were two of them that seemed slightly out of place. They weren’t as tall and slender as the rest. They were slim but curvy, the kind of women I liked.

One of the young women looked at me, and our eyes locked. With her black hair and pale skin, she appeared to be glowing. Her bright emerald green eyes felt like they were penetrating my soul, as if she could see right into me.

Something about her pulled at me like I was a fish caught on a hook. The red dress she wore, combined with the smokiness of the room, made her seem mischievous. It was like looking at a bright red apple. One that was so irresistible, you just had to have a bite. But I felt sure it was poison.

The room felt hotter with every breath I took. The air thickened with an unnamed substance. My fingers trembled slightly against the rim of the glass. I couldn’t tell if this was all due to the anticipation or frustration.

Everything around me faded into a blur of sound and movement. Voices seemed muffled, the lights dimmer. My focus narrowed and locked onto her. The forbidden allure drew me like the earth's gravity.

I knew I shouldn’t want her, but a monster inside me had awoken and was hungry. My logic had taken a back seat, I was no longer driving this machine. I couldn’t get a grip on myself. My mind was blank for a moment, and my body a slave. My mouth watered as my desire to take a bite grew.

This had never happened to me before. The feelings were so intense. I couldn’t stop it or control it. The feelings surging through my body were so electrifying that I was almost caught off guard. I raised my glass and took a swallow of beer without looking away.

I was hoping the alcohol would take some of the desire away. I let it slide down my throat without thinking. It felt like it was burning as it went down. I realized nothing was going to take this hunger away.

The craving to bite into this poisonous apple was overwhelming. It’s a temptation, a snake I couldn’t catch. With every breath, it only grew stronger. I tried my best to push it out, but the desire was relentless. Pulling me in like a black hole. I couldn’t peel my eyes from hers.

Staring into her mysterious green eyes, I felt captivated. I couldn’t pull away. If not for my mission, I would be on that hot young thing like a tiger in heat, making her scream out my name. But then she smiled, and not only did her face light up, but the entire room appeared brighter.

The strength in her green eyes was mesmerizing. Her skin glowed under the soft light above the table. I found myself struggling to control my emotions as I smiled at her. Then it struck me, she was my way in.

She’d be the pawn I used to set my plan in motion. The perfect distraction to lead me to the Aslanov sister I seek. Everything about her screamed innocence, easy to manipulate. I smiled wider as I lifted my glass in her direction. I offered a sly wink, which she returned with a smile.

Caught in my web, and she didn’t even know it. Every glance, touch, and word I shared tonight was part of the plan. She wouldn’t even see me coming. My mind raced as it mapped out the new plans. This was the perfect start to get to my end game.

I would seduce this primal beauty. Then, I would get her to share some information with me. The information I needed, I would find with her. This offered me a way in, a sudden twist to my night, but a good one. I was looking forward to seeing how this would play out.