Page 26 of The Bratva Bosses' Surrogate

Or can I?

That’s when I realize Sofia’s slipped away from my side. I turn to see her a few meters away, chatting up some strangers with an ease that surprises me. I catch bits of her conversation, the laugh in her voice, “Can you believe it? I mean, both of our phones, we’ve left them in the cab.”

She’s laughing, talking, connecting with them in a way that’s so natural, so effortlessly human. And it hits me just how adept she is at navigating situations without force or threats. She’s getting things done her way, and it’s working.

I watch as one of the strangers hands her their phone with a friendly smile, and she waves it triumphantly at me. I can’t help but admire her in this moment. She’s out of her depth, thrown into a world of danger and chaos, yet here she is, handling it with a grace and charm I couldn’t muster.

Sofia dials the number, her voice low, as she stands next to the stranger. I move closer, trying to overhear without drawing too much attention.

“Hi, Ivan, it’s Sofia, uh, did you make it out of there alright?” she says into the phone.

She’s playing it cool, not giving away too much in front of the stranger. Smart girl. She continues, “Yeah, we’re, uh, we’re kind of stranded here.”

Then she covers the mouthpiece with her hand and turns to the stranger. “Where did you say we were?” Her voice is casual, but I can see the tension in her shoulders.

“We’re in Sea Bright, New Jersey, right by the shore,” the stranger replies helpfully.

With a forced smile I can tell is fake, she thanks him and turns back to the phone. “We’re at Sea Bright, right next to a phone booth. Can you pick us up?”

As she speaks, I’m watching her, seeing the stress and strain she’s under. She’s handling it well, incredibly well, but I know this isn’t easy for her.

Sofia ends the call with a genuine smile of gratitude to the stranger. I’ve come to know her expressions well enough by now, and this one’s real.

The man next to her finally notices me approaching. “I’m sorry this has happened to you. Hopefully, you’ll get your phones back,” he says, a sympathetic look in his eyes.

The woman with him, speaking in a highly pitched voice, chimes in, “This must be your fiancée, then.”

Sofia glances at me, a hint of panic in her eyes, but she covers it quickly. “Uh, yes, my fiancé,” she says, playing along.

There’s no time for lengthy explanations or chitchat. We need to keep moving, stay ahead of any potential danger. “We must get going,” I say, my voice firm.

The couple nods, wishing us well, and we turn to leave. As we walk away, I feel Sofia’s hand slip into mine again.

“Fiancée, huh?” I tease quietly, trying to lighten the mood.

She gives a small, weary laugh. “Seemed like the best cover story at the time.”

I squeeze her hand reassuringly. “You did good. We’ll be out of this soon.”

Chapter 11

Sofia

As Viktor and Ivan pull up in their separate SUVs, Maxym immediately recognizes the cars. I can only tell by their sleek, imposing looks – typical Bratva style, I guess.

Maxym’s hand wraps around mine as we move towards the vehicles, his grip firm and reassuring. I feel a blush creeping up my cheeks at his touch. His hands are large and warm, a stark contrast to the cool night air.

He heads towards Viktor’s car while I’m guided to Ivan’s. As I slide into the back seat next to Ivan, I’m hit by a wave of exhaustion, the adrenaline of the night’s events finally wearing off.

“You okay?” Ivan asks, concern etched on his face as he looks me over.

“Yes, yes, I’m fine. How about you?” I manage to reply, trying to sound more composed than I feel.

“We’re fine,” he answers with a slight nod. “We were worried about you two, though. Are you hurt?”

“No, no, I’m not,” I assure him, and I mean it. Physically, I’m unscathed, but mentally and emotionally, I’m a bit of a wreck.

Ivan exhales sharply, a sound of relief that fills the car. “Good. That’s good.”

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