Page 53 of Baby for the Bratva

My stomach sinks even lower, and my throat tightens. “What are you talking about?”

“You know too much to be let go until the end of this trip, which means you’re under my protection,” he explains, grabbing his cologne and spraying himself a few times. The smell is almost enough to make me give up and do whatever he says. It smells so fucking good.

But perhaps he fucked some sense into me last night, because I’m able to shake off the spell he’s put me under rather quickly. I smooth my hair back, taking a deep breath as I prepare to reason with him. “I’m just a regular person, Yuri. I’m not used to all this mafia stuff. You have to understand that it’s my intention to continue this cruise as I normally would, with or without your company.”

He holds up his hand. “I’d like you to stop talking now. You’re starting to bother me.”

I can’t believe he thinks he can talk to me like that, in such an abrasive and rude manner, and I’m not going to come at him swinging. I ball up my fists, fully prepared to punch him in the face once he comes close enough to guarantee a hit.

“Relax,” he says, looking at me out of the corner of his eye. “We’re taking a little trip to Jamaica. You should be happy I let you off this ship at all.”

I laugh. “You can’t keep my prisoner.”

“I certainly can.”

“No… you can’t,” I say, blood pumping into my ears as my anger rises. “The bet, the little games… all of that is over. I’m not your doll. I’m not even your sexy fling anymore. We’re done.”

“I will tell you when we’re done,” he replies calmly. “End of story.”

I suck in a deep breath, preparing to scream for help as I realize he’s not kidding about taking me prisoner, but he doesn’t allow it. He rushes toward me, slamming his huge hand over my mouth and picking me up like I’m a bundle of sticks.

“Shut up,” he growls. “You’re starting to piss me the fuck off.”

I punch him in the ribs, but it hurts me more than it hurts him. He walks over to the door with me, knocking his head against it and calling out to Dima.

The door opens, and I see Dima standing there with a gun in his hand. He doesn’t seem the least bit surprised by my predicament.

“Grab my stuff. We’re going to the island,” Yuri barks.

“Yes, sir.”

Yuri takes his hand off my mouth, setting me down in the hallway and looking down at me with a frown. “You want to make this easy for yourself, or difficult?”

My eyes start to water. “I’m just… scared.”

His furious eyes soften a bit, but his scowl remains. “I know this isn’t easy for you, but you’re in too deep to get out now. I promised I would protect you, and that’s what I’m doing. I’m sorry if it feels like I’m hurting you, but I’m the one who is preventing you from getting killed.”

Tears rush to my eyes, and my face radiates heat. I want him to hug me and tell me that everything is going to be okay, but I doubt he’s going to break his tough guy act in the hallway and risk looking weak in front of his men.

He places a hand on my shoulder, squeezing it lightly. “Don’t cry, darling. I’m sorry I brought you into this, but I’ll make it right. Once we’re done delivering the cargo, you’ll be brought back home to continue your normal life.”

Even the mention of going back home is enough to sober me up a little. I sniff back the tears. I’m not ready to go home. Somehow, staying with Yuri and enduring this nightmare is better than seeing Tyler again.

I take a shaky breath, regaining my composure. I pull my shoulders back, looking up at Yuri and giving him a weak smile. “I’m glad you’re willing to do this for me.”

“I’d do anything…” He stops himself, realizing he might be going too far, showing too much of his raw emotions. He straightens up, pursing his lips and unfocusing his eyes. “I’ll do what I have to in order to ensure your safety. You can trust me.”

“Thank you,” I whisper, savoring the meaning behind his rigid words. I know he wants to say much more, but the situation won’t allow it. He has feelings, even if he doesn’t want to admit them.

“Let’s go,” he says, placing his hand on my back. “Everyone else has already left the boat for the island. We’re stragglers.”

I figured that was the case. I heard such a commotion this morning while I was trying to sleep that I thought there was another shooting or emergency. As it turns out, everyone was leaving the boat to enjoy a few days in Jamaica.

Now, it’s totally empty except for Yuri’s men, and I’m discovering that there are a lot more of them than I first thought. They’re everywhere, painfully obvious now that I know what to look for.

Strong jaws, muscular bodies, and always in suits.

Yuri seems to be the only one who dresses casually, but not all the time. Today, he’s wearing a suit, walking in front of me with a confident swagger. He looks a bit too good like that. I can imagine him at a wedding, maybe even at my wedding, and that sends my imagination into overdrive.

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