Page 41 of Forced Bratva Bride

“But family is still family,” Kiril says as they continue to argue.

“It isn’t my family, it is only one person. One person who acted alone. Stefano, my stepbrother.”

“You can’t know that for sure.”

“I will prove it, though. I can do that.”

“How do we know you won’t go running back to your father and warning him?”

“It’s not my father, it’s Stefano. And as soon as I have proof to show you and my father, this entire issue can be resolved.”

They all stare at me in silent thought for a while, obviously weighing up the risk of my offer.

“Honestly, I don’t think we have a choice but to give her the benefit of the doubt,” Fyodor finally says.

“But, with caution perhaps?” Paval adds.

"I think this is an all or nothing scenario. We are just going to have to trust her and accept her offer to help us get the evidence we need against her stepbrother.”

Maxim’s eyes flare as he shoots me a glance, the muscles along the edge of his jaw are tight with disappointment. I respond with a quizzical expression, scrunching my nose and knotting my brows, wondering why he would be upset with me after I just calmed his brothers down and offered to help them solve this issue.

“Do you have an idea of how you would go about getting evidence?” Kiril asks.

I turn toward him as I run my hand along Maxim’s leg to try and reassure him that everything is going to be alright.

“Stefano has been making comments, ever since this marriage was arranged, suggesting that he really doesn’t like the Dubrov family. He gave me a recording device on the night of the wedding and told me to get any information I could about you—"

“What have you given him?” Kiril snaps angrily.

“Nothing. I haven’t touched the recording device. Honestly, I don’t even know where it is at the moment.” I stare directly into his eyes. I am trying to be open with him, and still he's challenging me. “This isn’t going to work if you don’t trust me. I am trying to tell you what I know, and why I suspect Stefano.”

Kiril pulls his mouth tight, shutting it and nodding ever so slightly.

“So, I know my stepbrother does not like your family—he is very aggressive about letting me know that—and then, of course, the explosive device was from his supply. It was one of his products. My father has stepped back from the smuggling side of the business since Stefano took over there. I think he's wanting to take on less, perhaps even looking to retire soon. I’m not sure.”

We discuss the option of me feeding false information to Stefano, and the possibility of me trying to get more involved with his shipping business, but I know he isn’t too fond of me, so he wouldn’t want me to be a part of it. We continue to come up with different approaches until all of us are too tired to think and decide that we all take some time to come up with other ideas.

Maxim and I say goodbye and head back home. My head is swimming with worry about my father and how I'm going to manage all of this. But I am determined, and confident that I can.

We walk into the house, neither of us having spoken much since leaving the family dinner.

I make my way to my bedroom, eager to have a nice hot shower and climb into bed to get some rest. Maxim doesn’t say anything as I head down the hallway.

I flick the shower on and step under the hot flow of water, letting it wash over me, my mind still buzzing.

The bathroom fills with scent of wildflowers when I wash my hair, and the mirror is fogged over with steam when I climb out to dry myself. I feel a little better, a little more relaxed, as I heard into my bedroom and pull on a pair of sweatpants and a crop top.

“Chiara, why would you do something like that?” Maxim says, standing in my doorway.

My eyes shoot up towards him, surprised to find him there.

“Something like what?” I ask, confused.

“You have purposefully put yourself at risk. How can I keep you safe when you keep disobeying me and putting yourself in the line of danger? You are impossible.” He is angry, his voice is deep and dark, as he walks toward me.

“What are you talking about, Maxim? How am I putting myself in danger?”

“By offering to get evidence against Stefano,” he snaps, standing over the bed where I am sitting.

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