Page 64 of The Bratva's Hostage Bride

I pant as the sweat on my body cools in a breeze that runs through the warehouse.

“I don’t know, Mr. Milov, you’re not proving to be very useful. Perhaps we should just put you out of your misery and then kill your wife and child.” He turns to walk away as I’m electrocuted again.

Chapter 21 - Hannah

I watch as Luka leaves. I sit at the window and watch him tear down the driveway and into traffic. I start to sob. How can I have feelings for someone who is probably a monster? Does that make me a monster too? Does that make our child a monster?

I go curl up in bed and sob my heart out, eventually getting so tired I fall asleep. I wake up in the middle of the night and realize Luka hasn’t come to take me to bed. I know he’s probably already sleeping, but I need to talk to him.

I go to his bedroom, but his bed is smooth. No one’s been in it tonight. I go over and sit down, touching the pillow I’ve been sleeping on. Comfortably, may I add.

I was getting into a routine with him, a normal routine. It was like every other family, and I just ignored what he did for a living. Maybe my moral compass is too high for my own good. I’m so scared of getting into trouble, but a large part of me wants to go for Luka. I curl up on the bed and hug his pillow. It smells like his shampoo and aftershave. I close my eyes and doze off.

“Hannah?”

I hear someone calling my name but it takes me a while to come out of my deep sleep.

“Luka?”

“It’s Arseny.” I open my eyes and look over to where Arseny is standing at the doorway of the bedroom. “You need to get up and pack some clothes.”

“Is Luka kicking me out?” I ask. “Can he not face me himself?”

“No, you’re going to stay with Asher, Danil, Penny, and Samuel. It will be safer for you there.”

He turns and leaves, and I scramble to get up. “What do you mean safer? Where is Luka?”

“He’s busy,” Arseny responds. “That’s all I can say for now.”

“Has something happened? Oh God, was he in an accident?” I ask, looking at him pleadingly. “Please, Arseny, please tell me.”

He looks at me, obviously a bit frustrated. He clearly doesn’t like dealing with women or emotions, but I can’t help the tears leaking out of my eyes. “Is he dead?”

“We don’t know,” Arseny finally admits. “Get packed. I’ll fill you in on the way over.”

I hurry to my room and pack up all my things. Arseny waits while I find Kitty and get her into her crate. He has the guards carry my stuff to his van while I have a quick shower and get dressed.

Once we’re in the van, I turn to him. “Tell me what’s going on. I have a right to know.”

“You don’t want anything to do with our family, yet you think you have a right to know what’s going on.” Arseny scoffs. “That’s rich.”

“Luka told you?” I say. “Obviously, he would, but where is he now?”

“Someone’s taken him. We found his car beat up down a ravine. We’ve received word from some informants that the Armenians have him.”

“So why are you not going to get him?” I ask. “Isn’t that your whole family thing? That you’re loyal to each other.” I am exasperated, and I feel tears coming once again.

“We will find him, but that’s our business.” He glances at me. “I promised Luka that if anything happened, I would protect you. I’m just keeping my word.”

“Why are you so angry with me? Because I don’t want a life of crime?” I shake my head. “That is the normal thing to do, Arseny.”

“When you’re with my family, do you feel like you’re with a crime family? Or do you feel like you’re just loved on and accepted for who you are? My family is normal. We just bend the rules to make sure our family members are always taken care of.” He huffs, turns into a driveway, and drives up to a house even bigger than Luka’s estate.

I feel like my heart is racing, but at the same time, my blood has run cold. Arseny seems so focused on hating me for what I wanted that he’s less concerned about finding Luka. Are they going to find him? Or do they think it’s a lost cause and are going to write him off as dead?

“What can I do to help?” I ask as I get out of the car. “What can I do to help save Luka? Please tell me, and I’ll do it.” I start to cry.

I love him.

---