Page 37 of The Bratva Bosses' Surrogate

Sofia laughs, her eyes sparkling. “Oh, so Tuesdays are the wild nights, huh? What happens on Wednesdays then?”

After Sofia’s question about Wednesdays, Ivan leans in, his voice dropping to a sultry, teasing tone. “Wednesdays? That’swhen we plan how to make Thursdays unforgettable,” he says, his gaze fixed on Sofia, a mischievous smile playing on his lips.

Sofia’s cheeks flush a deep shade of red, her eyes widening slightly at Ivan’s insinuation. She stammers for a moment, then retorts with a playful edge, “Is that so? And here I was thinking Thursdays were for book club.”

Viktor chuckles, joining in the banter. “Like those romance books you read?”

Sofia, feigning offense, retorts, “Hey, I had nothing else to read, okay!”

We all chuckle, enjoying the playful exchange. “Sure, sure,” Ivan drawls, clearly not buying her excuse.

I lean back, amused by the whole exchange. “Don’t worry, Sofia. We all have our guilty pleasures.”

As the laughter dies down and we finish our meal, the mood shifts subtly. We’re all aware this light-heartedness is just a temporary reprieve from the dangers of our world.

Sofia’s gaze suddenly becomes distant, thoughtful. “You know,” she begins, her voice taking on a serious tone, “there’s something I’ve been wondering about.”

We all turn to her, curious. “What is it?” I ask, intrigued by the sudden change in her demeanor.

She hesitates for a moment, then says, “What if Kayla wasn’t acting alone? What if there’s someone else behind this, someone we haven’t even considered?”

The room goes quiet. Her words hang in the air, a new weight settling over us. It’s a possibility none of us had voiced yet, but now that it’s out there, it feels all too real.

Viktor leans forward, his expression serious. “Do you have someone in mind?”

Sofia shakes her head. “No, just a feeling. But it makes me wonder, are we really safe here, or are we just waiting for the other shoe to drop?”

We exchange glances, the unspoken realization settling in. This might be bigger than we thought. Sofia’s words have opened a door to a possibility we can’t ignore. If there’s someone else pulling the strings, then the threat isn’t over; it’s just beginning.

Chapter 15

Sofia

It’s been about three weeks since those terrifying days. The memory of the attack, the hasty escape, it all seems like a bad dream now. But we made it out just fine, thankfully. Life on the island has settled into a strange kind of normalcy. The days are long and mostly peaceful, filled with the small routines that keep my mind off the danger we faced.

Each morning, I wake up to the sound of the waves crashing against the shore. The view from my window is breathtaking, the endless ocean stretching out, meeting the sky at the horizon. I spend my mornings wandering the gardens.

Afternoons are usually quiet. I often find myself curled up with a book in the library. Yes, the infamous romance novels Viktor teases me about, but they’re my escape, a way to lose myself in worlds far removed from the reality of Bratva life.

Dinners are the most interesting part of my day. That’s when everyone comes together; Maxym, Viktor, Ivan, and me. The conversation is always lively, filled with banter and the occasional teasing. It’s during these moments I see a different side of them, a more human side.

Nights are the hardest. That’s when the memories creep in, the fears. I lie in bed, listening to the distant sound of the ocean, and can’t help but wonder about the future. What will happen once this is all over? Where do I fit in in their world, or do I even fit in at all?

The reality of my situation, carrying a child for men I barely know, caught in the crosshairs of their dangerous world; it’s overwhelming at times.

As I turn the pages of the novel, its predictably syrupy plot unfolding, I can’t help but reflect on my own life. It’s nothing like these stories, full of grand gestures and perfect endings. My life has been about survival, about making it through each day without getting too attached, too involved.

I had learned the hard way that attachment only leads to pain. My family, or what was left of it, had drifted apart long ago, leaving a void I never dared to fill. Friends, relationships, they were risks I couldn’t afford.

People weren’t always kind, and I wasn’t about to give them the chance to hurt me. So, I built walls, kept everyone at a safe distance. It was easier that way, less complicated.

But here, in this mansion, with these men who the world labels as monsters, I find a strange kind of peace. They’re complex, far from the heartless brutes they’re made out to be. There’s a gentleness in their toughness, a sincerity hidden beneath their hard exteriors. It’s confusing, unsettling even.

Would their kindness make them less monstrous? I doubt it. They’re still who they are, shaped by a world I can barely comprehend. Yet, in their company, I find a bizarre sense of belonging, a connection I never expected.

A normal love life, like the ones in my books, might not be on the cards for me. And maybe, just maybe, I’m okay with that. Perhaps what I need isn’t a fairytale romance but something real, something flawed and genuine, like the bond that’s slowly forming between us.

I close the book, my thoughts drifting. My life has taken a turn I never could have predicted, and while the future is uncertain, it’s also full of possibilities.

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