Dancing for the Badman (Russian Bratva Book 3) (42 page)

“Jacob?” I ask.

“
Nyet,
Ashley. I’m no longer your Jacob. This doesn’t work for me anymore. You want things I do not wish to give you. And you are not the woman I wish to have forever. This must end. I have saved you from the hell I found you living in. I saved you a second time when you were stolen.
Now, it is over
,” he says harshly.

Every word breaks my heart, but his last four words shatter my world.

“Because I want you, all of you? Or because I want a piece of you, I want to create a child with the man that I adore? What exactly don’t you wish to give me?” I ask bravely as I stand from my spot on the floor.

“All of it. You think I want some weak woman who is so easily taken from me and used the way you were to be my
wife
? To have my
children
?” he spits.

I take a step backward, stumbling, feeling his words like a physical punch to the gut.

Every single one
.

“Why are you being this way?” I ask in confusion.

“You asked,” he shrugs as he takes his bag out of the closet.

I watch in shock as he packs the few things he has and then walks away from me, into the living room, without a word.

“Yakov,” I cry out as I run after him. He pauses and turns to me, his eyes cold as ice.

“I’m over it, Ashley. Over it all. I’m done,” he says. His jaw is clenched, and I wonder if he means it.

It feels so out of left field, so sudden. Yes, I mentioned having children and he shot it down. An argument, that’s all we had, and it wasn’t even a big one.

I don’t understand why he’s
leaving
me.

“You’re leaving? And what happens to me?” I ask.

“Radimir will get you taken care of, get you a job somewhere in his office,” he shrugs.

“You’re leaving me here in LA,
for good
?” I ask in complete shock.

“I am,” he says with a nod.

“Did you ever love me?” I ask as my bottom lip trembles.

I wait for his answer, but it never comes. Instead, he turns and leaves me standing naked in the living room of an apartment that isn’t even ours. It’s just a place for us to stay while we are in town. It’s owned by Kirill.

He leaves me with nothing.

No money. No more than two weeks’ worth of clothes. No food. And the most important thing he leaves me without—
himself
.

I stare at the closed door unable to move.
I’m frozen
. Completely and totally frozen in my spot.

I stay there for hours.

I don’t know what to do. Without him telling me—
I’m lost
.

The next thing I know, Radimir and Emiliya are in my space. I feel something slide over my shoulders. A blanket. I grasp the edges and cover myself, my face tinting in red that Radimir has seen me naked. Though, what does it really matter? He’s seen me before. When he rescued me in South Africa, from hell.

“He’s left me,” I whisper.

“I know,” Emiliya says. I look over to her.

She’s angry. I know because she looks so much like her brother when he’s angry. It makes my heart break just that much more.

“You’re stronger than this,” Radimir barks.

I look up to him as my eyes fill with tears.

“I’m not,” I murmur.

“You are. You’ll feel sorry for yourself today and tomorrow morning I will send a man by to pick you up. Between Maxim, Ziven, and me we will find work for you,” he announces.

“I haven’t even finished high school, Radimir,” I admit sheepishly as I lower my head.

I feel his thumb and finger pinch my chin before he lifts my head, forcing my eyes to connect with his.

“We will find work for you, Ashley. You have nothing to concern yourself with. This apartment is yours for free for as long as you desire.”

I nod my agreement.

Thankfully, both Emiliya and Radimir leave shortly after. I know that tomorrow will come soon enough, and I’ll have to appear to be whole when Radimir picks me up.

But tonight I will prove Yakov correct. I will be weak and I will cry.

I feel so completely lost.

I have been his since he found me chained up like an animal. He breathed life back into me and now he’s abandoned me. I walk to the balcony of the apartment, still wrapped up in my blanket, and look out at the ocean in front of me
. I think.
I don’t hear when somebody joins me, and I’m startled when he speaks.

“You, Ashley, are not a weak woman,” I inform her after I’ve sat down in the chair next to hers.

I don’t look at her. I focus on the ocean in front of me. I feel her eyes on me for a beat and then she too turns to the ocean again.

“I am. I’ve been informed of this particular trait,” she says. I can hear the venom in her voice.

I don’t blame her.

I would be angry as well, if I were her.

“You are not. You will discover that Yakov was wrong. You are strong and your strength will continue to grow with time. Yakov will regret ever walking away from you,” I say.

“He will never admit it,” she whispers as she pulls her blanket closer to her body.

“If he is the man I think him to be, then he will. But I wouldn’t suggest pining over him. You’re young and beautiful, and you deserve everything your heart desires. You should have it all, Ashley. After everything you have suffered in this life, you deserve to have everything you want,” I tell her. It is the truth, the straight-up fucking truth.

“My heart desires Yakov,” she murmurs.

“It may not always, and yet it may. If it does, then you shall find a way to have him again.”

“You’re a good man. I’m glad that you got what your heart desired,” she whispers. I stand shaking my head before I take a step away from her. Then I turn to face her.

“I thought my woman weak once. I had never been more wrong in my entire life. He will know of his mistake, and then you, Ashley, you will be the one in control of the outcome,” I tell her before I leave her alone with the sounds of the waves crashing in the near distance.

I think about the words I told her. I think about how weak I once thought Tatyana was. I hate myself for thinking that about her for so many years. I didn’t realize how truly strong she was. Taking on life, penniless, alone, and with an infant, all because I wasn’t strong enough to tell her the truth while I had her.

Then I think about how strong she was when I threatened her—when I threatened to take our child from her. I was being cruel and selfish. Yet, her strength outweighed mine by tons.

My Tati.

My beautiful, strong Tatyana.

I smile as I drive back to my wife.

I left her with her father, my parents, and most of our friends. A moment I didn’t think would ever happen, our wedding, still playing in my head. Sliding the gigantic rock Sonia picked out for her on her finger, claiming her as mine for the world to see makes me smile.

My Tati.

My beautiful Tatyana Barysheva.

Also by Hayley Faiman

M
EN OF
B
ASEBALL
S
ERIES—

Pitching for Amalie

Catching Maggie

Forced Play for Libby

Sweet Spot for Victoria

R
USSIAN
B
RATVA
S
ERIES—

Owned by the Badman

Seducing the Badman

Dancing for the Badman

Living for the Badman (Winter 2016)

Protected by the Badman (2017)

N
OTORIOUS
D
EVILS
MC
—

Rough & Rowdy

Rough & Raw

Rough & Rugged (Fall 2016)

Rough & Ruthless (2017)

Rough & Real (2017)

Follow me on social media to stay current on the happenings in my little book world.

Facebook
|
Goodreads

As an only child, Hayley Faiman had to entertain herself somehow. She started writing stories at the age of six and never really stopped.

Born in California, she met her now husband at the age of sixteen and married him at the age of twenty in 2004. After sixteen years together, he’s still the love of her life. Hayley’s husband joined the military and they lived in Oregon, where he was stationed with the US Coast Guard, before they moved back to California in 2006, where they had two little boys. Recently, the four of them moved out to Hill Country in Texas, where they adopted a new family member, a chocolate lab named Optimus Prime.

Most of Hayley’s days are spent taking care of her two boys, going to the baseball fields for practice, or helping them with homework. Her evenings are spent with her husband and her nights - those are spent creating alpha book boyfriends.

My husband—My best friend. Thank you for being the most supportive man I know. Thank you for all of your help and your encouragement throughout my career. I wouldn’t be living my dream without you.

My mom—My best friend. Always. Thank you for being the sweetest, kindest person I know. Thank you for always being someone I can look up to.

Tanisha—I think I always say… My sister from another mister… but you are. Almost twenty years of friendship and several states between us but we’re still going strong. Love you gal.

Cass—Boo thank you for always being a listening ear. Especially when I need to vent, and rant. Thank you for being excited for me every step of the way, even if it makes zero sense to you! Ha!

Rosalyn—It’s all been said before; it’ll all be said again God brought us into each other’s lives for a reason and that reason have proved itself over and over again. Thank you for all of your support!

Crystal Snyder— Thank you for accepting the position of my Beta reader! I appreciate all of your hard work and all of your suggestions! You rock lady!

Cassy Roop—Another gorgeous cover for the books. Everything you touch is seriously magically, seeing it come to life, is always special and I appreciate all of your hard work girl!

Stacey Blake— Thank you for the gorgeousness you create, every single time!!!

Enticing Journey—Ena & Amanda— you ladies are awesome!! Thank you for your dedication to authors like me, thank you for all of your hard work, none of it goes unnoticed or unappreciated!!

To every single person who purchased this book…

THANK YOU

I am able to fulfill my dreams because of you and I truly appreciate it more than you could know. There are no other words that I could use to express my gratitude and appreciation for all of you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.