Page 46 of Forced Bratva Bride

Chapter 16 - Chiara

I wake up as the morning light splashes across the pillow and my eyes flutter open. Maxim is still sleeping peacefully next to me, his arm locked around my waist.

I snuggle closer, not ready to leave the warmth and coziness of his body.

As I move, he whispers, “I’ve been waiting for you to wake up. Do you want some coffee?”

“I thought you were still sleeping,” I smile, leaning over to press my lips against his.

“I was just relaxing, waiting for you.”

“We can go make coffee together, then.” I wiggle my body against his, and he wraps his arms around me in a tight hug.

“Good morning, beautiful,” he chuckles.

“Morning.” I sit up and pull him up with me so that I'm straddling his lap.

“Do you want coffee, or something else?" he grins, grabbing my ass.

I laugh. “No, wait, I need to pee so badly.”

“What a pity,” he chuckles, and we both climb out of bed.

I find him downstairs, busy making our coffee, looking so divine in his dark gray sweatpants—topless, tall and devilishly handsome.

I hug him from behind and he wraps his fingers through mine, pressing my hand against his chest.

“I rather like waking up next to you,” he says with a cheeky note to his voice.

“I rather like falling asleep next to you, too,” I reply, just as cheeky.

I slide my ass onto the kitchen counter, swinging my legs and watching him finish making our coffee. “What are you doing today?”

“I think I want to go and chat with my other brothers to find out if they know anything about our uncle and Stefano’s father.”

“I think that’s a good idea. I'm going to go say hello to my father later. I don’t think it is a good idea for me to ask him about any of that, though, just in case he doesn’t know and tells Stefano.”

“Agreed. Let’s keep it quiet for now. But Chiara, please be careful if Stefano is around. I really don’t like that guy.”

He places my coffee on the kitchen counter next to me and brushes his fingers through my hair.

“I know, I will be careful. He wouldn’t do anything stupid, especially not in my father’s house.”

“I just think that the more we find out about him, the more dangerous he seems to be.”

“Well, let’s just work together and solve this whole puzzle. Maybe if we can find out what really happened to his father, we can show him the truth, and he can let go of the anger.”

“Mm. Yes, the truth will bring a lot of light to this entire mess. And maybe stop Stefano from doing these disgusting things.”

Once Maxim leaves to go and see his brothers, I head over to my father’s house. I still have the key, and in truth, I have not told anyone I am coming. I don’t want them to know. I want to see if I can sneak in and have a look around Stefano’s office. Maxim would be furious if he knew that was my plan, so I didn’t tell him that part.

I walk up the familiar steps towards the front door. The security guards greet me.

“Chiara, welcome home. How are things?”

“Things are great, thanks Ivan. How are your kids?”

“The little one just had his birthday the other day. I can’t believe how fast they grow up.”

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