Page 5 of The Bratva's Forced Bride

“What’s wrong?”

He took in a shaken breath. “Please understand where I’m coming from, my girl. Don’t judge me too harshly.”

Growing increasingly worried and annoyed, I pressed, “What is it?”

My heart pounded through the brief silence.

“The business isn’t doing well…the investment properties are being taken away,” he admitted, followed by another round of tears.

My brows furrowed, and it felt like a cold blanket draped over me. I never got to know much about what my dad did for work other than how he owned a few properties and rented them out. Beyond that, I had no clue. As far as I knew, business had been good. It was enough to fund his lifestyle that didn’t shy away from more lavish things than most people were able to enjoy.

“Taken away—by who? Why?”

He swallowed hard, and his breath was labored. “Everything’s being foreclosed on. I’m bankrupt, Grace. I have nothing left.”

My next question sat heavily on my tongue. How did it happen?

But I already knew the answer. I could hear it in his voice.

“I’m going to fix it and do better moving forward, but I just need some cash to get by for now. If you can spare me anything, I’ll be incredibly grateful.”

Anger flared within my chest. That was why he called. He didn’t just wish to update me on how poorly everything in his life was going. He just wanted to come crawling to me, asking for money.

“I postponed coming here just so I could save enough money to enroll, all because you didn’t have a dime to spare me. You didn’t even drive me to the campus. I worked my ass off for this,” I began, already trembling with a combination of fury and deep sadness for how things had unfolded. “I don’t have anything to give you. I only have enough to cover my student expenses, not your habits.”

I heard as the emotion swelled in his voice. “But Grace, I promise I won’t let you down! I just need—”

“Get a grip, Dad,” I muttered, steeling myself from the guilt that trickled in. “It’s your problem, and like you said, you’ll fix it.”

His crying only grew louder, and I closed my eyes to try and block out the part of me that pitied him.

“I’m so sorry for what I’ve done…for what’s going to happen. I’m a coward. A failure—”

The front door crashed open, tearing me away from the phone call and the blubbering man on the other end.

Snapping my attention to the burly figure standing in the doorway, my eyes widened, and panic gripped me.

He took up nearly all the space with his corded muscle that peeked through the black tee clinging to his torso, tactical pants and boots. The black gloves on his hands made a shiver run down my spine.

Before I could say or do anything, frozen in fear, the man stepped forward and tore the phone from my hand. He ended the call and stuffed it in one of his pant pockets.

Despite the fear emanating from my body, I couldn’t help but stare at his hardened yet stoic face. His features were intensely masculine, but something in those hazel eyes captured my attention.

He looked like someone pulled straight from the military with his dark hair shaved at the back and sides, yet with some length at the top. While everything about him seemed dangerous and roguish, his overall appearance was neat.

While I could’ve studied him all day, there wasn’t time. I felt like a rabbit trapped in a snare, waiting for the end.

Just as I sucked in a deep breath, prepared to scream, his arm wrapped around my waist and pulled me into him, gloved hand against the small of my back. The opposite one clamped down against my mouth.

My throat went dry at the proximity, and I could hardly think over the pounding pulse in my ears.

“Make a noise, and you’ll regret it,” the man muttered, stare hardened on me. “Make this easier and come willingly.”

The masculine scent of him surrounded me, and my torturous body shivered at his words. He was gorgeous, even with a scar that went from his left eyebrow down to his cheek, but I didn’t know him.

He was a stranger, and he planned to take me with him.

The man gazed at me with a shocking calmness that confused me even further, and I didn’t know what to do. He had my phone and me quite literally in his hold. I had the feeling I didn’t want to do anything out of line in front of him.

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