Conquered Bride (Belaya Bratva 1)

The next day, I was reading in the study when Gavril walked in. “You’re early,” I said, putting my book aside and giving him a soft smile.

He didn’t return it, though it was rare that he did outside of sex. “Would you care to go for a ride?”

My heart lodged in my throat. I was so ready to be out of the mansion for a little while. “Yes, let me grab my shoes and I will be ready.”

He inclined his head, and I raced up the stairs to my room, gathering a pair of slip-on shoes and my sunglasses. I was already dressed in a loose-fitting floral tunic that reminded me of summer and a pair of white shorts, and though I didn’t have any makeup on, I doubted that Gavril would wait for me to put a full face on.

So, I opted for a tube of lip gloss and a quick swipe of mascara before heading back downstairs. Gavril opened the door and we walked out into the sweltering summer heat, escaping into a waiting car a moment later.

I clasped my hands in my lap as the car wound down from the hill and to the interstate, wondering where we were going. Honestly, I was too afraid to ask, and in the back of my mind, I couldn’t help but wonder if this could be my final ride.

Quickly, I pushed away the thought. I didn’t think so. I didn’t peg Gavril as a person who gave up that easily, and not without allowing for some time.

Besides, I didn’t think he was that unhappy right now, but again, he wasn’t the easiest guy to read.

Soon we were pulling up to an airfield. “Have you ever flown in a helicopter before?” he finally asked as the car pulled up to a sleek black one parked on a helipad.

“Once,” I admitted, eyeing the machine. I had flown once before with another social media influencer to a party right outside of LA. That time I had been pretty wasted and didn’t remember half the flight. “Is that what we are going to do?”

Gavril climbed out of the car without responding and I did the same, finding him waiting at the end of the car for me, his hand extended. I took his hand and he led me to the helicopter, where he handed me a pair of headphones. “Put these on.”

I did as he asked and Gavril slid a pair on as well, adjusting his microphone before helping me into the passenger seat up front. “Where is the pilot?” I asked lightly, keeping the nervousness out of my voice.

Gavril chuckled and to my complete surprise, he hopped into the other seat, starting to flip switches.

“You’re flying this thing?” I asked.

He nodded and went back to his preflight checks, communicating with the tower off in the distance. Considering my life was in his hands, I refrained from asking any other questions until we were pulling away from the ground, the helicopter moving up and forward into the late afternoon sky.

I felt my stomach leave with it, swallowing a few times to regain control of my body as Gavril took us higher over the city, the deep blue Pacific in the far distance. Once he had the helicopter leveled out, I tore my eyes away from the scenery below and focused on him instead. “This is amazing.”

The corner of his mouth lifted into a smile. “I thought you would enjoy the ride.”

“I really thought you meant a car ride,” I admitted, clasping my hands in my lap. “When did you learn to fly?”

“You know what they say,” he replied instead, his eyes on the windshield before him as we flew through some low-lying clouds. “The wealthy are always looking for something to beat.”

I shook my head, but it was hard to keep the grin from my face. “Will I ever learn all there is to know about you, Gavril?”

His smile faded, and I realized I had overstepped in my questioning. “I apologize,” I said into the microphone attached to my headset. “I shouldn’t have said that.”

“No,” he replied roughly, his hand tightening on the controls that kept us up in the air. “It’s fine. There are many things you don’t know about me, many things I’m not willing to share.”

I guess the same could be said of me. I wasn’t willing to tell him that the woman he thought was tough really wasn’t, that she was afraid of a devil constantly snapping at her heels.

I would never tell him how that night had made me feel, how embarrassed I had been. “I understand.”

He looked over. “Would you like to learn how to fly this thing? I could teach you one day, if you would like.”

Though it wasn’t at the top of my list, I nodded anyway. “Sure, I’m always up for new things.”

We flew up over the city for nearly an hour before Gavril touched the helicopter back down on the helipad, shutting off the engine. “I won’t get out and kiss the ground, I swear,” I joked as I removed the headset. “But this was wonderful. Thank you so much.”

Gavril removed his headset before leaning over to brush his lips over mine. “You’re welcome.”

Flustered, I waited for him to open the door before climbing out, my legs a bit wobbly. Gavril was right there to catch me, tucking me to his side with his strong arm, and I leaned against him, savoring the moment.

I was supposed to hate him, to not want to be this close to the monster who had taken me.

But right now, I didn’t hate Gavril at all.