Page 6 of The Bratva Bosses' Surrogate

It takes a supreme effort to maintain my composure. “You called the cops on us, Sofia. We wouldn’t have had to resort to this if you hadn’t. And let me remind you, you did sign the contract. We thought you were willing to come.”

Her retort is immediate, laced with bitterness. “Yet you tricked me with a fake Stacey and kidnapped me! I am literally handcuffed here!”

She does have a point, but how could I have done anything different?

Viktor approaches with a cup of water, but Sofia’s hands are still cuffed. She snaps, “How am I supposed to drink this? My hands are still cuffed.”

I hesitate for a moment, then pull the keys from my pocket. Viktor looks at me, unsure. “Do you think...”

“It’s not like she’s going to swim away,” I cut him off.

I unlock the cuffs, freeing her hands. The tension in her shoulders eases slightly, but her eyes still hold a wariness, a clear sign this ordeal is far from over. I hand her the cup of water, an olive branch in our tense standoff. I need to keep her calm, cooperative. This is just the start of a very long journey.

I try to make her understand the gravity of the situation. “Look, Sofia. There’s no turning back now. You’ve seen our faces, and we can’t just let you walk away unless...”

“Unless what?”

“Unless you cooperate and carry our child. That’s it. I promise you, no one will hurt you. You have my word,” I assert, trying to sound as convincing as possible.

She falls silent for a moment, visibly shaken, her hands trembling. “Where are we going?” she finally asks.

“Far away,” I answer, “someplace no one can find us.”

Her eyes search mine, looking for a glimmer of deceit, a reason not to believe me. But all I can offer is the truth as it stands.

Her demand catches me off guard. “Fine, if we’re doing this… I want two million dollars. Not just one. And I want half of it now.”

She’s challenging me, her gaze steady, expecting me to balk at her request.

But I don’t flinch. “Make it three,” I counter, “for the hassle you’ve been through. And we’ll give you all of it as soon as we arrive.”

Her eyes widen in surprise, clearly not expecting me to agree so readily. I can see the gears turning in her head, reassessing the situation, reassessing me.

It’s a steep price, but it’s a small one to pay for what we need from her. This is about more than money; it’s about securing a future, gaining an heir. And if paying her more is what it takes to ensure her cooperation, so be it.

Her expression shifts, a mix of relief and suspicion. It’s a start, a small crack in the wall she’s put up between us. I need to keep building on this, to ensure she understands that as long as she cooperates, she will be taken care of.

Chapter 3

Sofia

I’m still reeling from the absurdity of my situation. Who would’ve thought signing a contract would lead to this? Being whisked away on a yacht to who knows where.

Imprisoned. That’s what it feels like, despite their promises of payment and safety. Money is good, sure, but freedom? That’s priceless. And right now, it feels like I’ve traded it away for a few million dollars.

Can I even trust them? Their words, their promises? Doubt gnaws at me. Escape is a fleeting thought, but with no phone, no idea how to operate a yacht, and no clue where I am, it’s just a fantasy. Would I even want to escape from millions of dollars?

I let out a sharp exhale.

Then, through the tangle of my thoughts, I catch a glimpse of it; an island. Not massive, but far from tiny. It looms ahead, an enigmatic silhouette against the horizon. What awaits me there? A gilded cage?

The yacht docks, and I’m immediately struck by the sheer size of the house. It’s enormous, like something out of a movie, and I can’t help but wonder why they need all this space just to keep me here.

“Isn’t this a bit much for me not to escape?” I ask, a hint of sarcasm in my voice.

Viktor, the tallest among them, responds, “It’s not because you might escape. It’s because we don’t want you to get hurt.”

“Hurt...?”

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