Second Best (Volkov Bratva 1)

She’d seen death before, but this time, she’d tried to save the man.

The crowd parted for me as the men who worked for me cleaned up the mess of the man on the floor.

The brutal one held his fists up in the air as I stepped into the ring.

“Slavik!” Aurora cried out, and my two guards were on either side of her. I felt the hostility of the crowd as they looked at her.

I removed my jacket, throwing it out to my men, and the one who’d just violated my rules turned to me.

“Sorry, mate, no rich pricks in the ring.”

This man clearly didn’t know my name or who I was. “What’s your name?”

“What’s it to you? You need to teach your wife not to come to grown-up games. They’re only going to get her hurt.”

“I will not repeat myself.”

The man scoffed and looked toward the men I allowed to run this event. The room had gone silent. Those who knew me were aware of what had just happened here. I had one simple rule. Once mercy was shouted by one person, the fight ended. No blood, no death, and they still had to pay up.

“I don’t answer to any cunts like you. Get him and his ugly-as-fuck wife out of my ring. This is mine. No one can beat me.”

“Ben,” I said. “What is his name?”

“It’s George, Mr. Ivanov.”

The fighter, George, paled. “Ivanov?”

“Slavik Ivanov. You disrespected my rules. Insulted my wife. You had your chance to make a lot of money. Mercy allows you to have the payment of the kill without making it.” I tutted. “You won’t be leaving here tonight.”

I saw the fear and panic in his eyes, and I felt no sympathy.

My reputation was well-known. Within the ring, I was a monster. I’d killed hundreds of men for the sport, drawing in the wealth we needed.

I hadn’t fought in this ring in a long time, but I made sure I was always ready. This man would know pain.

I struck first, and George tried to defend himself, but he’d said bad shit about my wife and that, I couldn’t allow to slide. Anger rushed through me, and I allowed it to feed my attack.

Silence rang out in the room.

By breaking my rules, no one could shout mercy. One of my guards would tell Aurora that. I was amazed she’d done what she did.

In a room full of bloodthirsty people, she’d tried to help save another. I hadn’t expected it. It was rare for people to surprise me, even more so for a woman. My wife was nothing like I thought she’d be. She was kind, sweet, even when the world had shit on her. In our world, all her merits were nothing but weaknesses. To me, they were a strength. Even knowing what her father had done to her. What her sister caused, she still tried to help. I couldn’t hate that.

I didn’t hate my wife. There was nothing about her to hate. She was sweet, kind, caring, loving, terrified. She brought out the instinct in me to protect. I wanted to take care of her, to love her, to be everything she needed and more.

George tried. He got in a couple of blows, but they were not strong enough. No one was able to defeat me.

I took him down and staring into his eyes, I grabbed him just right. With the correct strength and the right angle, I snapped his neck, ending the fight.

Cheers erupted.

I ignored them. Without another word, I stepped off the floor, toward my wife, taking her hand. I led her away from the fight, out back to where the victory fighters could rest for a few moments when given the option.

“Are you okay?” she asked as I took a seat.

I nodded at my men to leave us alone. They’d guard the entrance into the room.

“Yes, I’m fine.” I’d killed many men, but snapping a neck sent adrenaline running through my body.

Tears filled her eyes and fell down her cheeks. “They told me I couldn’t help him.”

“He didn’t need your help.”

“This game is brutal. Does it happen every week?”

I shook my head. “Once a month.”

“And how many people die?”

“I don’t keep count.”

“Was I the first one willing to save someone?”

I nodded.

She sighed and swiped at her tears. “I don’t know how you can deal with that.”

“It’s not about dealing, Aurora. The men who fight here don’t have to.”

She laughed. “Do you think they have a choice?”

“Some do, yeah. The ones that don’t, I have no power to stop them.”

“I can’t believe he did that.”

“Clearly, he thought this was his castle.” I shrugged.

“You don’t care that you killed him?”

“Aurora, I’m not a saint. I’ve killed more men than that, believe me.”

Silence.

I grabbed her hand and pulled her close. The slits in the dress made it easy to drag her onto my lap. Her knees on either side of me. I grasped her hips, drawing her down to my erection. I wasn’t hard until I looked at her.