Page 58 of Forced Bratva Bride

I shake my head and walk out. I need a chance to think clearly, and I can’t do that with these two around me.

Over the next two weeks Maxim and I work together to help Stefano regain his strength.

Max and Stefano are still clearly against each other, and I can see the tension between them, but even with that going on, Max has been such a patient and compassionate man. I've been watching him going out of his way for someone he doesn’t even like.

He bumps against me when he leans over me in the kitchen as he dishes up some stew for Stefano.

“Sorry,” he grins, pressing his chest harder against my back.

“You don’t seem to be that sorry,” I giggle.

“Alright, you caught me, I’m not sorry at all.”

He runs his hand over my waist as he leans down to brush his lips over the sensitive skin of my neck. It sends a shiver through me.

“You are distracting me, babygirl.”

“I don’t think I was doing anything. I think you are the one who started this.”

“Not true, you started this by being so close to me.”

I giggle again.

He takes a breath and stands up, picking up Stefano’s plate of food. “Let me get this to that moron upstairs.” He rolls his eyes. “I'll join you at the dinner table.”

He leans down to kiss me lightly on my lips and gently brushes a piece of hair behind my ear. Then he leaves, carrying the plate of food with him.

I stand in the kitchen, grinning, staring at the door. The more I get to know him the more amazing he seems. Even though he at Stef are at constantly exchanging heated banter, he is there the moment Stef needs help. And he has still made the time to be attentive with me. He still eats with me, makes sure I have everything I need, and we still share a lot of little moments just like the one we had now.

The smile is still on my lips when I turn back to the wine I was pouring for us.

I pick up the glasses and carry them through to the dinner table.

***

Every evening, once everyone is settled and resting, I pull out the folder I stole from Stefano’s office. I sit quietly and go through it, page by page, trying to find anything that might give me a clue to let me know if Stefano has been behind the attacks and sabotages on the Dubrovs' shipments. But in all honesty, my intuition is nagging at me, and I believe that there's a third party at work. I think that one of their rivals is trying to turn them against each other. Neither of them were willing to hear me out when I tried to share my thoughts, but I can’t let the thought go.

Another family is involved here.

But who could it be? Who would want to take down both my father’s company and Maxim’s family? Do they have an enemy in common?

I need to try and talk to Maxim and Stefano about this again. I hope that they will take the time to hear me out this time.

A loud shout followed by a bang erupts from somewhere in the house.

I jump in fright.

I hear another shout. “Get the fuck off me,” Stefano screams.

I bolt out into the hallway and find Stefano and Maxim standing outside the library.

Stefano’s firsts are clenched tightly and the veins in his neck and forehead and bulging in anger. His eyes are fierce and locked onto Maxim.

Stefano flies at Maxim, swinging his fist. Maxim ducks out of the way, and Stefano’s hand slams into the wall, making him even more angry.

I bolt toward them, shouting at them to stop, but neither of them notice me. I am too scared to get close, as Stefano has gone fully off the rails and is kicking and punching at everything.

Two of Maxim’s security guys arrive just behind me, but he holds up his hand to tell them not to get involved.

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