Page 41 of The Bratva's Hostage

“Yes, I do. And with all due respect Don Armando, I couldn’t give a shit about your business, but I knew I wanted your daughter from the moment we met at the fundraising event. As it turned out, the kidnapping kept her safe, while you were out of action,” Maksim said, with a stoic posture.

My jaw dropped, this was the first time, I had heard this. What the heck?

My father chuckled. “You're a clever man, I’ll give you that. A man in love will take extraordinary measures. Do you promise to protect her from now on?”

“With my life, Don Armando,” Maksim said.

He traced my hand with his thumb, a smirk on his face as he did. My father’s croaky laughter shocked us, and we turned to him in confusion.

He continued smiling as he looked at our joined hands. “This wasn’t the sight I expected to wake up to. My precious daughter married to the enemy. Not just any enemy, but the fucking Bratva.”

I studied his face for any sign of disappointment but all I saw was a hint of approval across his features.

I managed a small smile, my father's acceptance a relief. "I suppose life has a way of surprising us, Papa."

He nodded with a gleam of pride in his eyes. "Your business acumen has always amazed me, Elena. Your loyalty to the family, to the mafia. That's something special. I don’t know how you two pulled off that deal in Chicago, but you seem perfectly suited to take care of the family's business when I’m gone.”

I shook my head. “Let’s not talk about your death just yet. You’ve only just recovered.”

“Thank you for looking after my daughter, Maksim. We’ll speak some more when I get out of here,” he said, looking around, irritated.

I chuckled. “You’ve only just woke up and yet you already want to leave. Don’t worry, I spoke with the doctor before I came in here. He assured me you’ll be discharged soon enough.”

He nodded, clearing his throat of the raspiness. “Good. I need to check how much damage has been done to my family. I hear you have Lucas?”

He addressed the last part to Maksim who nodded. “I’d like to speak with him once I get out of here.”

“Whenever you’re ready,’ Maksim replied.

Leaning over, I kissed my father's hand gently. "Get well soon. We'll talk more when you're out of here."

As we left the hospital room, I inhaled deeply, the weight of the recent events lifting off my shoulder now that I knew my father would be alright. He took my hand in his, leading me toward the exit.

I shook off the last of my tension as we drove out of the parking lot. My head tilted to the side as I watched him drive, his brow furrowed in concentration. But something else was nagging inside me.

After a moment of silence, I almost burst, and blurted out, “You never told me that you liked me already at the fundraiser! Was that the real motive for my kidnapping?”

He chortled. “Well, I’ve told you before, everyone has their little secrets. But now you know.”

“Are there any other secrets I should know of?” I huffed.

“It’s impossible to keep anything from you, you have nothing to worry about.” He laughed and kissed my hand, his eyes not straying from the road.

As I studied him, a smile played on my lips, and a warmth flooded my body like a tidal wave. My stomach began to buzz with butterflies, as I looked at the man next to me, my husband, with his sharp cheekbones and a cheeky grin. His dark unkempt hair nearly touched his shoulders and his, oh so, buff body, I couldn’t help but fall even more in love with him.

He glanced at me, a puzzled look on his face, as I felt my cheeks burning. “You know, I’d do it all over again in a heartbeat if I had to.” He rasped.

“The Bratva boss being poetic. What’s happening with the men in my life?” I ask comically, infusing humor into the end of an emotionally draining day.

“Ah, but there is one thing you’re forgetting,” he said as I waited curiously for him to tell me what it was. “You are the common factor, so the proper question should be, “What are you doing to the men in your life, hmm?”

“I don’t know about the other men in my life,” I said, running my hands up and down his thigh suggestively, “but I do know what I would love to do to you.”

“As much as I love where this is going, do you think this is the right time for that?” he asked, the swelling in his pants saying otherwise.

“How about you focus on driving, and I take care of this?” I said seductively, brushing my index finger over his bulge before gripping his hard cock.

Maksim sucked in a breath, slowing down. I unzipped his pants, my mouth watering as his hardened length sprung free of its restraint. I wrap my hand around it tighter, sliding it up and down the length, stopping at the bulbous head.

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