Ruined By My Brother's Best Friend (by Silverwriter) novel Chapter 267

ARABELLA’S POV

My blood ran cold in my veins as the dreadful words hung in the car, echoing in my head with each second that passed..

They killed the intruders?

Then what the hell am I doing here?

My door opened and I flinched, only sighing in relief when I realized it was Alvise.

“Let’s go.”

I folded my arms and sat back in the seat, shaking my head. “I’m not stepping foot out of this car.”

Impatiently, he asked, “Why?”

I looked at him, my eyes widening in disbelief. “You just told me that they kill people who aren’t invited and aren’t part of the Bratva,” I whispered harshly. Then, dramatically, I looked at the backseat and by my sides before meeting his gaze again. “Last time I checked, the only other person in the Bratva apart from you between us is…” I tapped my chin and smiled. “No one.”

Alvise glanced at his wristwatch and tapped it. “Are you done?”

My face fell. “Alvise…” My voice was softer. “I can’t go in.”

He leaned down, his eyes so hard that I flinched. “I already wasted enough time dealing with you from the house,” he snapped. “I’m not going to go through that again, so step the fuck out of the car, Arabella. I don’t want to hear another word.”

I felt a pang in my heart, my breath hitching from how painful it was. He was being mean… again.

Like he always was.

Of course, this was how he really liked to speak to me. Every other thing was an act.

I looked down. “Excuse me so I can step out.”

Alvise straightened and moved back, giving me room to leave the car.

My eyes stayed glued to the entrance as I heard him shut the door.

I couldn’t believe it. I was really doing this.

Never in a million years would I have imagined that I would be attending a gala organized by the most gruesome criminals in the world.

“Nobody is to be trusted, Arabella,” Alvise said, standing extremely close to me. So close that his hand brushed mine.

I stepped to the side and put some distance between us just as he continued speaking. “Don’t speak to

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anyone. Not even a greeting or a compliment. Nothing.”

coffed inwardly.

He was saying it like I was planning to greet or compliment a criminal anyway.

I could feel Alvise’s gaze on me as he waited for me to say something, and when I didn’t, he started walking towards the entrance with his guards trailing behind him.

People moved out of the way for him to pass, even going as far as tapping the person close to them to move aside.

I walked beside him quietly, holding my breath as we got to security.

“Pakhan,” they greeted, bowing their heads and stepping out of the way.

I blinked, shocked that not even a single person tried to stop me as I walked in beside him.

Why?

We walked until we stepped through a set of large doors, and then I had to halt abruptly, the sight that greeted me too shocking to ignore.

The hall was packed and luxuriously decorated, but that wasn’t what caught my attention.

It was the people present… particularly the men. They looked dangerous, their guns proudly strapped to their holsters for everyone to see, not even bothering to hide them.

Large hands touched my back, and I sucked in a breath, snapping my head to the side to see Alvise right beside me.

“Why did you stop?”

“Nothing.”

“You’re flinching from my touch,” he said coldly. “Why?”

I stared at him until he finally looked at me, and when he did, I made sure he saw the rage in my eyes and heard the venom in my voice as I said, “I’m not comfortable with you.”

Something passed through his eyes, and he stepped into my personal space. “What did you just say?”

My heart skipped its next beat, but I tipped my chin up. “I said, I’m not…”

Alvise’s grip on my back tightened, and he slid his free hand around my waist, leaning down until we were eye level. “Whose touch are you comfortable with, then?”.

I looked away, refusing to take the bait.

I didn’t doubt that he would kill anyone I called, so I chose to stay silent.

“Baby.”

I closed my eyes, the sound of Tatiana’s voice making my already sour mood turn stale.

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“Baby, I’ve been waiting,” she said again, her voice getting closer as the clinking of heels on the floor told me she was approaching us.

“Let go of me, ‘baby,” I gritted, glaring at Alvise. “I need to move aside so I don’t interrupt this long-. awaited reunion.”

His eyes narrowed. “What is this attitude about, Arabella?”

Catching him off guard, I pulled away and walked back. “What? You have the time to deal with me now?”

His nostrils flared. “Don’t test my patience, Arabella. Don’t.”

Tatiana pushed past the guards and stood in front of me, blocking my view of him. “I’ve missed you,” she sobbed, pressing herself into him and rubbing her hands all over his chest. “How could you leave me, baby?”

I felt like I was going to be sick, with bile rising to my throat. So desperate to leave the disgusting, I walked to stand beside a random man some feet away.

I could hear Tatiana’s voice as she said something in Russian, but I didn’t turn back.

It was a reminder that Alvise and I were worlds apart, and she was a better fit for him.

“You look stressed, beautiful,” the man next to me said, pulling me out of my thoughts.

I turned to look at him, surprised to see that he was young. The image I’d made up in my head about members of the Bratva was of old, bad-looking, balding men.

But since I came to Moscow, I realized that wasn’t really the case. At least certainly not for this one.

“You look like you’ve seen a ghost,” he chuckled.

“I’m sorry.” I smiled to hide the embarrassed blush staining my cheeks.

“It’s fine.” He smirked, and before I could register his next move, he leaned closer and locked lips with my cheek, placing a hand over my waist. “You look like an angel.”

I froze, every muscle in my body locking with my shock, too stunned to move.

Before I could get over the shock, a gunshot cut through the air, and then the man’s hand on my waist disappeared as I heard a loud thump on the floor.

Trembling, I looked down, my heart lurching out of my chest as I took in the sight close to my feet.

He was dead.