Cruel Promise (Oryolov Bratva, #2)

by Nicole Fox

“The kids are fine.” “You’ll look after them?” His frown gets the tiniest bit deeper. “Of course I will. You don’t ever have to worry about them again.”

“Don’t you dare. Don’t you dare fucking look at her. Not after how you betrayed her.”

And physically assaulted her☝🏾

Are the kids really mine? After all this time, I finally get them all to myself without the burden of having to deal with Ben? It feels surreal. It feels too good to be true.

I’m sayin

“I don’t want this to be just sex anymore, Ruslan.” He doesn’t flinch away from those words. “It’s so, so much more than that.” He takes my hand and pulls it to his lips. He kisses my knuckles gently and looks at me with a smile that makes my insides turn to putty. “Let me prove it.”

And now, he’s mine. All mine. Just like I’ve been his from the start.

“I knew exactly what you would be to me from the moment I heard that accidental voicemail you left me.” I’m so lost in desire that I don’t even blush. “I heard your hungry moans, your desperate little gasps, and I knew from that moment on exactly what you were.” “Ahh… W-what… what was I?” “Mine,” he growls. “All. Fucking. Mine.”

“I’m happy for you to be my whore and my slut in bed. But that’s where it ends.” Goosebumps erupt over my skin. Where is this going? “Outside of this bed, outside of my cock in your cunt, you are my woman. My queen. And I’m going to take care of you as such. I’m going to spoil you and I’m going to protect you. That goes for the kids, too. You, them—you all belong to me now, Emma Carson. And if you ever leave, I will just drag you back here. I will drag you back into my house and my bed because this is where you fucking belong.” My heart is thrumming so fast and pounding so loud in my ears that I’m afraid I’m gonna miss something. “You are mine,” he says again, hands hard on my hips. “You’re not going anywhere. And neither am I.”

“Unless there’s someone else involved. Someone who doesn’t want credit for any of this.”

Gee I wonder who

“I, um… I don’t have a reason for being here. I just… well… I was lonely and I just thought… God—” She cringes. “This was dumb. I shouldn’t have come.” She’s turning for the door when I lunge out of my chair and catch her after three long strides. “You’re not going anywhere, kiska.” “You’re busy.” “I’d rather be busy with you.” Her cheeks flush with color. My God, she’s stunning.

“I really didn’t come here for this,” she mumbles self-consciously, hiding her face in my shoulder. I chuckle. “I don’t care what you came for, just as long as you came.”

“Why did you tell me that?” “Because I want you to be my equal partner.” I hold her face between my hands. “I don’t want to have to hide these things from you, Emma. If you don’t want to know, then I won’t tell you. But if you do… then everything is yours. The good, the bad, and the ugly. All of it.”

“It seems your parents have decided to push the hearing forward after discovering that your brother-in-law has skipped town. They want to sue for custody.”

Oh fucking brother

“And yet Ms. Carson is the one who has been meeting their needs consistently for the past three years.” “Thank you!” Every single pair of eyes in the courtroom turns to me. I blush scarlet. “Sorry,” I murmur. “That was supposed to be an inside thought.”

LMAO REAL

The tuition for one semester alone is over thirty thousand dollars.

There’s no way that’s possible

“And I’m fully committed to helping her raise those three children. I already think of them as my own.” My jaw flops open again, but for a very different reason this time. Okay, so it’s a little harder to be pissed at him about the whole school enrollment thing. Sue me.

Right like-💀

“In fact, we don’t need anything at all from you,” Beatrice adds. “Because this is not over, Emma. We’re going to get a new lawyer and we’re going to drag you into court as many times as it takes to get custody of those three child⁠—”

Pls give it a rest bruh

“She is an amazing fucking mother and an amazing fucking person and she doesn’t deserve to be treated this way. So if I ever see or hear you utter another bad word to her again, I will make it my personal mission to turn your lives into a living hell.”

Period

“You’re my woman now, Emma. And no one talks to my woman like that.”

I am completely, madly, desperately in love with Ruslan Oryolov and there’s not a damn thing I can do about it.

Ain’t u alr admit that earlier

I look down at her and think for the millionth time how beautiful she is to me. She’s pure from the roots of her soul to the surface of her sun-kissed skin. I never want to leave this boat, this moment. Her gazing up at me like I made the world for her with my own two hands… It’s everything I never knew I needed.

“See?” she moans. “I look like a whale.” This woman… “Fucking hell, Emma. Are we looking at the same damn mirror? Look at yourself. You’re gorgeous.”

“How could you think you’re anything less than perfect?” I growl in her ear. “Look how you glow with my child growing inside you. Look how beautiful you are, full of the life we made together.”

How can she, even for a second, entertain the thought that she’s not desirable or beautiful? The woman would drive me insane even if she were wrapped head to toe in layer after layer. I grind into her from behind as I wring the orgasm from her sweet little cunt. “See?” I hiss in her ear. “Do you see how totally mesmerizing you are? Look at yourself.” “Ruslan…” “Look at yourself.” I twist her face until she’s forced to meet her reflection in the mirror. Her cheeks are flushed, lips swollen, and there are goosebumps all over her skin. “See?” I slide my tongue down along her neck. “Fucking perfect.”

“You’ve made a man out of my son,” Fyodor says firmly. “It’s the least I can do.” Vadim clears his throat. “Your son was already a man, brother,” he says as he picks up his champagne flute. “He has been a fucking pakhan since he was twenty-one years old.” Do I detect a smidgeon of resentment there?

Boooo tomato tomato 🥱🙄

“No. I want to talk about something serious, Ruslan. Sex is off the table.” He lifts an eyebrow. “On the couch then?”

Bro-💀

“You’re right. I’ve been the boss for a very long time. I’m not used to discussing anything with anyone. Frankly, it didn’t even cross my mind. I’ll be better.” I blink some more. It’s just not computing. He’s… apologizing? Promising to be better? Changing—for me?

Right like that’s sus😑

Emma deserves to be wined and dined. She deserves to be seen on my arm—not as a trophy or a prize, but the yin to my yang.

“I didn’t think it was possible for me to love another man’s children as much as my own. But now, that feels like a stupid thought. I’d give them the world on a platter if I could, kiska. They’re mine in every way that matters. Just like you.”

“Are you really gonna let them talk to us like that?” Jessica demands.

Ma’am Emma ain’t even said a word and ruslan wasn’t even talkin to u🙄

Adrik stares into her face and smiles crookedly. “Goodbye, Emma. Pregnancy really does suit you.” I go fucking cross-eyed. He knows. How the fuck does he know?

Bro. I won’t say it again is so obvious

“He made a point of commenting on her pregnancy.” Vadim’s eyes bulge. “But… how? We were the only ones you told. And none of us would betray you.”

Stfu u ain’t convincing

“It’s kind that you’re trying to save him.” “Him?” she balks. “Fuck him. I’m trying to find a way for you to avoid the guilt you’re already feeling for so much as considering taking him out.”

Because the truth is, I will do whatever it takes to keep this woman in my arms safe. To keep her happy. To keep her beside me.

“They’ve dropped their case entirely,” I inform her. “These documents are from the court stating that you and you alone have permanent custody of the kids. It’s over, Emma. You won.”

🥳

“Exactly. Family is everything. I have always believed that and I always will.” A chill spreads through me as I start to put together the last piece of the puzzle. How can I have been so damn blind? “You chose your son, brother,” Vadim explains to Fyodor. “And I chose mine.” “Adrik,” I whisper.

WHA-

A year ago, she would have been just my type. But there’s no such thing as a “type” for me anymore. There is only one. A blue-eyed kiska with my baby in her womb.

Family. What a fucking word. I come from a broken one. A dead, dying, broken-to-shit family. And he thinks that I can just leave that all behind and start fresh with a new one? Like I won’t bring that poison right along with me? Hell no. I’m not good enough for them. Not for Emma and not for those kids. I’d only ruin them.

Oh fucking brother

“I’m a grown man. I’ll stay out all night doing whatever the fuck I want.”

Ok Ben

“What the hell makes you think you know what I need?” I demand, practically spitting at her. “I’m the fucking pahkan. I’m the fucking boss. Who the hell are you?” She grits her teeth, her blue eyes flashing. “I am your partner. I’m the mother of your children.” “I’ve got news for you: ‘partner’ is still not ‘wife.’ And only one of those kids is mine.” Three distinctive little gasps follow my words. I freeze on the spot, my eyes veering towards the open door down the corridor, where three pairs of wide eyes are staring at me with obvious hurt.

FUCKKKKKK OFFFFFF

I had a talk with them yesterday. I made excuses for Ruslan. I told them he didn’t mean what he said. That he was tired, and under pressure, and that he wasn’t himself when he said it. I told them that once he cleared his head, he would come and talk to them. He would apologize. He would stop being such a total fucking asshole.

Hmm

“He was more interested in pushing me away. And guess what? It worked. Feel free to congratulate him on a job well done next time you see him.” “Listen, Emma, shit went down the night we took Adrik in. Ruslan found out some stuff that really fucked with his head.” I hold up a hand to stop him. “And if he’d just been honest with me, I would have understood, no matter what it was. Hell, even after he said what he said, I would have forgiven him—if he’d only asked for it. The kids would have, too. But it’s been almost two days and all we’ve gotten from him is radio silence. Which means that everything he said, he meant.” “I know for a fact he didn’t.” I shrug. “Then why hasn’t he said so, hm? Why hasn’t he tried to make it right? Why has he disappeared on me and the kids when we need him the most?” Kirill’s mouth opens but nothing comes out. I nod grimly, feeling the weight of the last day settle over me. “I’m done making excuses for him, Kirill. Especially to the kids. They don’t deserve this. They already had one nightmare of a dad; they don’t need another one. I’ll be damned if I let Ruslan hurt them like Ben did.” Kirill grabs my arm when I try to turn away. “Ruslan’s not Ben, Emma. You know that.” “I used to. Then he proved me wrong.”

Oh she ate

“You were mean,” she says emphatically. “If you didn’t want to be our dad, then you should have just said.”

😭😭

“How am I supposed to believe all the things you’ve said to me and the kids before now? I can’t, Ruslan. And I can’t afford to expose the kids to another father figure who doesn’t really want to be their father.”

😬

But I’m determined to make it right. I have no clue how. But I know one thing—I’m coming back for Emma and the kids. I’m coming back for what’s mine and nothing will stop me. Not even them.

Hmm

Every time we get another delivery, I want to scream. As thoughtful as his gifts are, they’re also insulting. Does he really think he can buy our forgiveness? He should have showed up every single freaking day until we relented and let him up here. I know that’s not what I asked him for. I asked him for space and that’s what he’s giving me. But isn’t he smart enough to know the difference between what I say and what I want? Honestly. Men.

Hmm

There’s no way this was an accident. “Caroline!” I scream again. A couple of birds rustle out of the overhead branches and I whip around. Something catches my eye. My gaze lands on the shape and I gasp. I also take a startled step back. And that’s how I end up on my ass in the leaves, staring at the lifeless body that used to belong to Lazar.

Bro universe leave them alone like pls

Before I can finish my sentence, I notice Josh’s eyes go wide. He opens his mouth, but before he can say anything, something envelopes me. The world goes dark. Strong, muscular arms grip me from behind and the more I struggle, the harder I get manhandled. I’m aware that, somewhere close, Reagan and Josh are struggling just as hard as I am. No, I want to scream, don’t hurt them! Just take me instead. But I can’t find my voice. I feel weak. Tired. Strangely removed.

Long deep sigh

I hold my breath, ready to face our captor, ready to attack. But⁠— “Ben?!”

I’m sick and tired of this pest😐

“Josh!” I cry. But he’s not listening. He’s too busy beating the shit out of his father. He’s unloading punch after punch in his dad’s face, and despite the size difference, it’s all one-way traffic. Every punch is devastating and efficient.

PERIOD

“Ruslan,” he whispers, “you promised.” I nod. “I promised not to kill Adrik as long as you were alive. And I will keep that promise.” He is still my father’s brother. He is still my uncle. Which is why I wait until he looks away before I raise the gun and shoot. It happens so fast that he doesn’t see it coming. He slumps against the wall, his eyes closing instantly.

Oh- aight