Kidnapped Revenge Bride of the Bratva (Tarasov Bratva #17)

Chapter 1 – Scarlett

Professor McGrath glanced at his watch, his black hair catching the sunlight streaming in through the window. “Alright, boys and girls. Time’s up. Please put down your pens and pencils,” he said, his deep, polite voice thick with a British accent.

I watched him from my seat, fingers absently drumming on my table. Not to brag or anything, but I’d already put down my pen about thirty minutes ago. This was my final paper in college, the exam that would officially usher me into the real world.

But the real world wasn’t uncharted territory for me—unlike most of my classmates who lived off their parents’ money. Some of us weren’t that lucky. We weren’t born into wealth or comfort, so we were forced to grow up much earlier.

I stayed back in my seat while they all marched toward the professor—some laughing and chattering amongst themselves. I didn’t roll well with a crowd, and that’s why I liked to keep my distance all the time.

And no, I wasn’t antisocial. I just enjoyed my own company—which was exactly what an antisocial person would say. Anyway, I guess I was built like that.

I waited until the last student had submitted their paper before I grabbed my backpack and rose to my feet. I slung it over my shoulder, my pair of flats making no noise as I approached Professor McGrath.

He was piling up the paper when I materialized in front of him, then quietly dropped mine on his desk. He raised his head, adjusted his wire-rimmed glasses, and beamed at me.

“Congratulations, Miss Carter,” he said, his British accent unmistakable in his tone.

“Thank you, Professor McGrath,” I answered, adjusting the backpack sliding off my shoulder.

“How’s it feel to be free from college?”

“Hmm.” I thought for a moment. “Pretty much the same.”

He let out a light laugh. “Why am I not surprised?”

My lips curled into a small smile.

“I take it you’re not planning a night out with your mates.”

I paused for a second, then began backing away slowly, my smile intact. “I’m afraid I’m flying solo, professor.”

“But at least you’ll be doing something fun, right?” he asked, casting a suspicious gaze at me.

I didn’t reply, just kept on backing away with my eyes fixed on him.

“Right?”

I shrugged my shoulders then turned around, heading out of the classroom. “Catch you later, professor!”

Everyone thought I was the most boring human being ever. I didn’t go to clubs with my classmates, didn’t hang out with them, and had never been spotted at any birthday party. Never.

I was basically a loner—one who could be in a room full of people and still be invisible. Maybe it was some sort of superpower, not being seen unless I wanted to be.

My footsteps were silent on the floor as I walked through the crowd of celebrating students. They were laughing among themselves, taking selfies and group photos to show their future grandchildren.

Cool. Good for them.

While they were having fun and escaping reality, I was stuck deep in it—real life and all the garbage that came with it. A good number of these guys were privileged to have been born with a silver spoon. I wasn’t. And so I wouldn’t waste my time trying to blend in and do the things that they did.

Not that they were doing anything bad or stupid. I was just too stiff to understand them—to loosen up a bit. Maybe it was because I didn’t have it easy like most of them. Or maybe it was because I was too much of a Debbie Downer.

In my defense, life had dealt me a bad hand from a young age—my father’s resentment, my mother’s absence, and a bunch of other crazy stuff that shaped me into the woman I was today.

My grandma always said I was a 22-year-old girl with the mind of a woman twice my age. She was the most important person in my life right now—the only one who played the roles of the mother and father I grew up without.

Just then, someone running by bumped into me, knocking me a few steps back.

“Watch it!” he growled without even slowing down.

“Punk,” I cursed under my breath, bending over to pick up my backpack.

“Hey, Lettie,” a familiar masculine voice greeted me.

Slowly, I raised my head, and there he was, Ian Grant, towering over me. He wore a nice smile on his face, then squatted to help me gather the books that had spilled from my backpack.

“Hey,” I replied, my voice soft and gentle.

It was silent between us until we were done gathering the books, and my backpack was zipped.

“Thank you,” I said to him, rising to my feet.

“Anytime.” He did the same.

Ian’s unwavering gaze was starting to make me really uncomfortable—especially with all those eyes shifting toward us.

He was one of the school’s golden boys who always attracted unnecessary attention to himself. I, on the other hand, was just a regular girl who always avoided unnecessary attention.

I noticed a few girls leaning in to whisper to each other. And judging by the envious looks on their faces, it was clear that they were gossiping about me.

Yeah, I didn’t like it. Not their gossip—I couldn’t care less about that. Their stares. It was annoying.

“So, uh….” Ian broke the silence between us. “I’m throwing a party at my place tonight, and I’d like for you to be there.” He handed me a flyer.

I hesitated for a moment before politely declining his invitation. “I’m sorry, I won’t be available tonight.”

“Come on,” he insisted. “We’ve been classmates for years, and you haven’t been to any party—as far as I know.”

“You make it sound like it’s a bad thing.” I raised an eyebrow.

“No, it’s not. I’m just….” His voice trailed off, and he heaved a soft sigh. “Look, I’m just trying to help you loosen up a little bit.”

I slung the backpack over my shoulder. “I appreciate you doing that. I really do.”

“So you’re not coming?”

I shook my head and shrugged my shoulders. “Sorry.”

He let out an exasperated sigh. “Well, at least I tried.”

My lips curled into a small smile. “Yeah, you did.”

He looked at me for a bit, as if trying to figure out why I was the way I was. “See you around, Lettie.”

I gave a curt nod.

Ian walked past me, his palm tapping my left shoulder. “Life’s too short to be serious,” he whispered in my ear. “It won’t kill you to have fun sometimes.” And with that, he walked away, passing his flyers to others who were interested.

All around me, everyone was happy, reveling in their freedom—talking about how they’d get high and wasted tonight.

This was the difference between them and me. While they’d be partying and having the time of their lives tonight, I’d be in the restaurant, working my ass off for shitty pay that barely covered my bills.

We weren’t the same. We were cut from different cloths.

I strapped on my headphones, played my favorite Meghan Trainor song, “Better When I’m Dancin’,” then glided through the hallway with a composed expression on my face.

The world faded into the background as I let the melody transport me into a fantasy realm. There, I had my own personal party—dancing and grooving.

***

The bells at the front door jingled as I walked into Josie’s, the restaurant where I worked nights. My heels clicked softly as I moved through the cozy space—gold accents, crystal chandeliers, and a quiet jazz drifting through the air.

I wove through the elegant setting, amid the patrons’ low hum of conversation and the occasional clink of glasses. I nodded at a few familiar faces—regulars who’d waved at me with bright smiles on their faces.

“Hey, Lettie.” Audrey cornered me in the hallway. “Congratulations, I heard you’re finally free from college life.”

I stared at her for a moment before murmuring almost to myself. “Damn, word travels fast.”

“The magic of social media, darling,” she answered, giving her phone a slight wave.

“Right. Well, thank you.”

“Got any plans for later?”

“No, I don’t,” I said, walking past her.

“You’re no fun at all, you know that, right?” she called out teasingly.

“I know,” came my response as I made my way to the Staff Only door.

I pushed it open, inhaling the mouth-watering aroma of sizzling meat, freshly baked bread, and melted butter.

The atmosphere shifted from refined elegance to frenetic energy as I moved through the space.

I exchanged brief pleasantries with the chefs, dressed in their crisp white attire, before finally reaching the staff room.

“You’re fifteen minutes late,” Damon said to me the second I walked in.

“Good evening to you.” I shed my jacket and draped it on the hanger.

“What happened?” he asked, a glint of suspicious curiosity flickering in her brown eyes.

I was hardly late to work, so I understood why he was asking. However, I couldn’t understand the look in both his eyes and James’s. James was standing by the table, his gaze pinned on me as if he were anticipating my response.

“Traffic,” I answered, shifting my glance between the two of them.

Damon stroked his jaw and cleared his throat. “So it had nothing to do with you celebrating your freedom from college?”

“Absolutely not.”

“Dang it,” he cursed under his breath.

James laughed from behind. “Told ya!” He stepped forward, stretching out his hand. “Now, pay up.”

Damon shook his head, then reluctantly withdrew some cash from his pocket.

“Nice doing business with you.” James snatched the money, counting the bills with a smug smirk on his lips.

“Hang on, did you guys bet on me?” I asked, my brows arched in disbelief.

“Oh, yes,” James answered, neatly tucking the cash into his pocket. “See, Damon over here insisted that you were running late because you got caught up celebrating your final exams.” He let out a dismissive scoff. “Like you of all people would ever be caught up in anything other than work.”

“Ouch. That didn’t hurt at all,” I replied, my voice laced with sarcasm.

Damon stepped forward and placed his hands on my shoulders. He let out a soft sigh and said, “It’s official; you’re allergic to fun.” He kissed the top of my head. “Congratulations, by the way.”

“Thank you.”

“Yeah, congrats, Lettie,” James echoed.