Bought by the Russian Mobster by Bella Rose Page A

rightful boss. That was all that mattered. Vladimir glanced around, looking miffed. He had obviously been expecting the council to be in session in the main dining room. Instead, the restaurant was deserted except for the Pasternak enforcers who had gathered around Nicolai. There were nearly ten men fanned out behind him. The show of support made Nicolai both proud and anxious. It was obvious whom they were supporting. What would Vladimir do when he realized his attempt to take over was fruitless?
    “Hello, Vladimir.” Nicolai kept his tone completely devoid of any emotion. It was hard as hell considering he could feel Lily’s gaze on him.
    Vladimir gestured to the room at large. “Where is the council? I was told there was a meeting.”
    “Would you have come otherwise?” Nicolai inquired politely.
    Vladimir shrugged. “Maybe. Maybe not. Perhaps it would have depended on my mood.”
    “What happened to you?” Nicolai moved several steps closer, leaving the protective cover of his men. He still wondered if his brother could be redeemed. “You were always a little on the unpredictable side, but you’re my brother first and foremost, Vladimir. I’m worried about you. It’s time to seek help. You’re angry and vengeful without reason. You murdered our father.”
    “I didn’t,” Vladimir began. Then he seemed to realize that everyone in the room knew the truth. “I did us all a favor. My father was old and tired. He was weak. A few more months of him running things and we would have been dead.”
    “So you murdered him?” Nicolai pressed. “Your own father? And you don’t feel like this is wrong?”
    Vladimir gave a derisive snort. “It was a necessary action.”
    “And I see you’ve dragged Lily here as well.” Nicolai kept his voice impassive. Letting Vladimir know how deeply that bothered Nicolai would do nothing but hurt them both.
    “Oh there’s no need to pretend that she means nothing to you, Nicolai. I believe we all know how badly you want to have this woman, even though she belongs to me.”
    “I’m not yours,” Lily told him. “Those men aren’t yours either.”
    Vladimir appeared distracted by her declaration. He frowned and then pointed to two of the men standing behind Nicolai. “Bryan, Alexei, why would you side with my brother when you know that I am the rightful heir to the Pasternak syndicate?”
    “The council has decided, Vladimir,” Bryan said with a grunt. “We cannot go against the council’s ruling.”
    “So you would follow this pup?”
    Nicolai knew what was coming. When Bryan didn’t answer, Vladimir began to get agitated. The fact that he had dragged Lily here against her will was bad. But Nicolai could not show Vladimir how he really felt. It would only make things worse for her.
    It was as though Lily’s bold words had finally sunk into Vladimir’s thick head. He swung around to face her. “What do you mean when you say that you do not belong to me?”
    Nicolai had never been prouder of her than he was at that moment. He had also never been so afraid. The proud tilt of her chin and the way she held her shoulders straight told him that she wasn’t going to back down.
    Lily smiled sweetly. “I gave myself to Nicolai. He took my virginity. I belong to him now.”
    “ What ?” Vladimir actually staggered sideways as though he’d been delivered a physical blow. “How could you do such a thing?”
    “Me?” Lily pointed at him. “You were going to put me in a brothel! What do you care if I fuck Nicolai? You would have me screw the whole city.”
    Vladimir put his hands on either side of his head as though it ached. “Only because you must pay back the money. That is work. It’s different.”
    “Not to me,” she retorted.
    Vladimir snarled something in broken Russian before switching back to English. “You could fuck anyone. Anyone ! But not my brother. Not the man who has taken everything from me already!”
    “I never belonged to you,” Lily