Page 64 of Forced Bratva Bride

“Sure, I can help,” I agree, standing up and hoping that my legs can hold me steady enough.

Maxim wraps his arm around my waist and pulls me against his side as we walk out of the dining room.

“Are you alright?” he whispers.

“What if it doesn’t work, and what if they attack you in a different way? What if I lose you? What if they go after my father at home? What—"

“Babygirl.” His rich, deep voice flows calmly from his lips. “I won’t let anything happen to your father, and I promise you, I am going to be more careful than ever making sure that I stay safe as well.”

“I don’t know, Maxim. I can’t lose you,” I say softly, fear tugging at my heart.

In the hallway, he presses my back against the wall and leans into me, his body covering mine and his arm slipped protectively around my waist. His hand brushes my hair behind my ear. “My beautiful girl, you are not going to lose me. My job is to keep you safe, remember. And I can’t keep you safe if I don’t keep myself safe as well. This plan is a good one.”

I nod, still feeling anxious. He lifts my face with his thumb beneath my chin. “Everything is going to be alright,” he says calmly, his lips curling into that gorgeous grin that sets my heart on fire.

I lean my head against his chest and let him hold me. Slowly, the tension eases out of my body. This man is my rock. He is the one who can calm the storm inside me.

Two days later, the meetings are set, and I sit nervously waiting with Kiril and Paval.

They have one man hidden outside of the first meeting location, and Maxim is in his car, ready to head to the second meeting place he's confirmed with the clients.

Paval has his phone on speaker, and it sits on the table in front of us. On the other end of the line is the security guy with his eyes on the first location.

“Anything?” Paval asks.

“Nothing yet—"

A loud, distorted blast comes through the phone, and we all jump.

“What was that?” Kiril yells into the phone. Paval leans close to it, looking worried.

“An explosion…warehouse…there was…but—"

The line cuts dead. “What did he say? I couldn’t make out most of it,” Kiril snaps, full of heated tension.

“That was definitely an explosion.” Paval is frantically dialing again.

Their security guy picks up.

“Luke? Can you hear me?”

“I can hear you. Listen, it’s bad. Give me a second. I need to call you back.”

We sit tensely. What is going on?

After what feels like an eternity, Paval’s phone rings. He answers quickly.

“Luke?”

“Yes, sorry, I left the scene. The entire warehouse went up in flames. But you need to know something. They made it look like it was the Dubrovs. After the explosion I ran in to see if anyone was there, and there was a very carefully planted piece of evidence, the remnants of an explosive device. The thing is, it wouldn't have been the actual device used, as it was in the wrong area. Someone put it there, to be found, specifically to frame you.”

“Are you okay? Do you have the device?”

“I was far enough away. I’m fine. I didn’t manage to pick up the device, the place was in flames. I had to get out of there. I was worried there was a second explosive.”

“Get back here.”

He hangs up the phone, and we all stare at each other.

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