Page 57 of The Bratva's Hostage Bride

I know I can trust Asher with planning things for me—a full day of spoiling at a luxurious spa together and then home for me to cook an easy enough recipe for dinner. She assured me I couldn’t mess it up.

I have Monty drive us out to the resort where the spa is located. We’re given luxurious massages in various parts of the resort overlooking rivers, mountains, valleys—you name it.

While we’re being rubbed, Hannah and I talk about our childhoods—mostly hers. She tells me about the fun she had growing up, when she first became interested in makeup when she became interested in serial killers, and how she created her first podcast.

She wants to monetize her channel properly so that she can live off it. That’s the dream. And with my help, she’s achieving that dream.

On the drive back, we talk about her parents some more so I can get a better understanding of them.

I learned so much about her. She lost her two front teeth later than most kids, so she was bullied. She’s British-born but raised in Ohio. She has no siblings but many, many cousins who are like big sisters to her. I learned how she was popular in junior high but lost that status when she got braces.

How disappointed her parents were when she chose to be a makeup artist when she could have been an attorney, but her creative side won over. However, her parents have mostly recovered from that disappointment. How she misses doing makeup and wants to open her calendar again but is scared she’ll get hurt if she does.

I feel bad about that last one. She’s only in danger because of me. I need to make it up to her to show her I know what it’s like.

I explain to her how I was scared the first time I was threatened. My father had us all with guards, and then he got shot. I told her how it took him days to die but that once he had, everyone thought there was going to be a power vacuum, but Kervyn stepped up, took over, and took out everyone who threatened us. He’s been taking care of us ever since.

After our romantic day getting to know each other, we go home, and I send Monty to guard outside, giving us time alone. She comes to the kitchen with me and sits at the island counter while I read over the recipe.

This is going to be a disaster.

If I get it right, we’re having steak, chips, and eggs. It really isn’t rocket science, and Asher has marinaded the steaks overnight already. I turn the stove on and put down a pan. Hannah talks about her makeup clients while I heat the pan and start peeling potatoes for the chips. I try to hand-cut the chips, but they’re rather uneven. Then I remember the pan and put the steak in, immediately causing everything to sizzle and smoke.

Hannah comes around. “Want some help?”

“Can you cut the chips?” I ask. Women are good at this sort of thing, right?

Well, as she cuts the chips, or rather struggles to, I realize that’s a bad stereotype.

I forgot about the steak and peel it off the pan to flip it over onto the other side, but the first side is now burnt to a crisp.

I look at Hannah, who looks at me and bursts out laughing.

“Why did you plan to cook for me if you don’t know how?” she asks.

“Asher said any idiot could do it,” I say incredulously.

“Well, we’re both idiots then,” she laughs. I watch her laugh, then take the pan off the heat and laugh.

“Let’s order some pizza, my treat,” she says, taking out her phone. “Let’s see. One Carnivore and one Regina.”

I smile as she goes to fetch her purse. “I can pay for it?” I call.

“No, it’s my treat,” she calls back. “You spoiled me enough today. Why don’t you go pick a movie for us to watch?”

I smile and go to the mini theatre I had installed, push the lazy boys out of the way, and lay a blanket on the floor where we can sit. I scroll through the movies and settle on a romantic comedy, thinking that’s something we could both enjoy.

I light a few candles and dim the lights after I have the movie on pause. I go back out and find she’s changed into more casual clothes, and I decide to join her.

When I come back downstairs, the pizza has arrived. I grab a couple of sodas and follow her to the theatre, where we settle on the blanket for the night.

Chapter 19 - Hannah

I don’t know what’s happening to me, but I’m really enjoying spending time with Luka. There’s a whole side to him that I didn’t realize existed at first, and I have to say that I think… I think I’m falling in love with him. My feelings are so conflicted because I want to care about him, but he’s kidnapped me, essentially, and I can’t get over that.

What I do know is that to appease my parents, I need to plan a proper wedding. I don’t know when Luka and I will get divorced, so I think this is a waste of money, but he insists we make them happy. So, who am I to argue?

He is out all day today but is sending his two sisters-in-law over to help me. It’s kind of nice to have people to do things with. People who consider you family. I’ve always had my cousins, but we’re so different from each other. I feel I have more in common with Penny and Asher.

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