Page 65 of The Bratva's Forced Bride

Averting my eyes, I couldn’t bring myself to look at him as I slowly eased the material of my top up until it came off completely. Even if he wasn’t the worst-looking man, the context of everything made me want to be sick.

I didn’t know him, and I didn’t want to undress in front of him. I just wanted my husband.

Wondering if it was good enough, I glanced at him, and Pietro looked satisfied by what he saw. He hummed his appeasement, then turned his attention to the bag of food.

Relieved but feeling like I needed to scrub my entire body after, I hurriedly put the top back on. Even if I was covered, I felt just as exposed from the thin fabric that seemed to show everything.

“I hope you enjoy what I brought you,” Pietro said, pulling out a few cartons of food. “I got Pad Thai. If you don’t like it, I won’t get it again.”

It was an oddly kind gesture from someone who just made me undress in front of them like a doll. I didn’t know what was going on or what he was playing at.

He was being too nice, and I needed to know what the deal was.

“I bet you’re hungry,” he said, handing me a carton while he took his own and sat down next to me on the bed.

It was so casual, as if we had known each other for years. Like we were eating lunch together on a playground somewhere.

It didn’t make any sense.

Even if my stomach was screaming for sustenance, I felt too nauseous to eat. Instead, I picked at the warm food and endured those hunger pains.

“You know,” he began, swallowing his food. “This is the perfect chance for you to start over, Grace. Yaro was never the right man for you. He’s too hostile and quick to anger. He’s in the Levov ranks for a reason, I suppose, but he had no right to take you from your dorm. He should’ve cut your father some slack.”

Without thinking, I murmured, “Is it any different from what you did to me?”

He cracked a small, surprising smile at that. “It is different, of course. I wanted to liberate you from that tyrannical family, and I did.”

I had every reason to doubt his motives, yet I kept it to myself. It was hard enough to muster up the energy to respond to him and to stay alert.

“Things will be different. With me, you’ll be free to choose. You’ll live the life you truly deserve.”

He spoke with such confidence that I couldn’t tell whether he truly believed it or if he just wanted to try and fool me. But it still didn’t make any sense to me.

After some time of being incredibly uncomfortable, I had the slightest relief once he stood and put his food on the bedside table.

But my stomach turned the moment he got down to be eye level with me, far too close for my liking. He reached a hand out to caress my cheek, and I flinched at the feeling of his cold hands.

They were nothing like Yaro’s, and it made me retreat within myself.

“Don’t resist,” Pietro said, cooing at my reaction. He was putting on a soft façade for me, but I had the feeling that wasn’t his usual demeanor. “I’m a good guy, Grace, and I want what’s best for you.”

The very thought made my skin crawl all over again, and I wanted to lash out. I wanted to scream at him and thrash my limbs until I discouraged him from trying to get that close again.

But I needed to save my skin. I had to consider how things might unfold if I gave in to those reflexes.

Pietro moved his thumb across my cheek and leaned in. His lips were far too close. “Kiss me, Grace.”

That panic and disgust had me on the brink of losing it. I was moments away from having a complete breakdown, yet I had the feeling something much worse would happen if I didn’t comply.

I tried to muster up the courage to follow through with it. To seal off my emotions and become a husk of myself just to get through it. It would only be a small kiss, surely. Just enough to keep him satisfied.

But my mind went to Yaro and how electrifying every kiss with him felt. I wanted him more than anything.

“No,” I said, pulling back. “I won’t.”

Even if it felt like the wrong choice to better my survival, I couldn’t bring myself to do it. I couldn’t.

Pietro’s previously kind and almost dream-like expression faltered, and his eyes hardened. He scowled, inches away from me.

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