Page 71 of Forced Bratva Bride

He couldn’t go after Maxim’s uncle, so he just went after the next Dubrov. He was so blinded, and so selfish, that he was willing to use anyone and everyone in his plan for revenge.

Including his own daughter. Me.

Horror rips through the fabric of my reality.

My father is a cold, calculating, deeply evil man. He is hell-bent on getting what he wants, no matter the cost. No matter who gets hurts along the way.

When I look at him now, I can feel my eyes narrow with hatred. He is a monster.

He turns to stare at me.

“What?” he snaps.

I try to pull my thoughts together. He doesn’t care about me. He would kill me in an instant if it served his plan.

“What are you looking at me like that for? Do you hate me now, too? I saw that same look on your mother’s face the day I killed her.” He steps closer to me.

“No, Dad, I could never hate you,” I say gently, understanding that whatever happens, from this moment on, I have to keep the people I love safe. I have to do whatever it takes to make that happen.

“Huh?” my father pauses, confusion in his eyes.

“I can’t believe what they put you through. The amount of hurt. The way they betrayed you.” I stand up, slowly, and walk toward him. “My mother betrayed you, and so did Stefano’s mother. That isn’t love. They lied to you.”

“I know they did,” he agrees, watching me closely.

“And it was all Baranov Dubrov’s fault,” I continue. “Dad, I wish you had told me this. I never knew that you were suffering like this, alone. You could have spoken to me. You know that I love you, more than anything and anyone in the entire world. I would do anything for you.”

The shocked look on my father’s face gives me hope. He might believe me. His eyes soften, ever so slightly. “You have always been the closest person to me,” he says.

“And you have always been my father. Everyone else abandoned me, but you were always there for me. I know I can always rely on you. Dad, whatever you need—I love you, I will help you with anything. We can take them down together.”

“I thought you were happy with your marriage?”

“I never wanted to be married. I’m sick of it. I want to travel and see the world. I want to start my own business. Marriage is for the weak. I'm trapped there. But now I see why you needed me to be there—I mean the real reason. I understand it. Let’s work together, and finish this.”

I take another step toward him, and his shoulders seem to relax. The darkness is fading from his eyes. “My daughter,” he whispers. I reach out and hug him.

“Daddy, I love you,” I say, my head against his chest.

He wraps his arms around me, and I feel him resting his chin on my head. “You always were more like me than your mother. I guess you got more of my genes in you. My blood. A true Napoli.”

Resting my body against my father's, pretending to offer him condolences and support, is making me want to puke. I keep forcing myself not to think about how he killed my mother and Stefano’s. I keep telling myself not to focus on all the lives of people he has taken, how many he has killed in his blind, selfish path of vengeance.

“We can take them down together, Dad,” I say, pulling away from him and smiling, a hint of darkness in my own eyes, matching the expression that I saw on his face. One of hatred for an entire family.

He grins back at me, and I know I have managed to convince him.

“So, what are we going to do? They trust me. I can be a part of your plan.”

“Yes, you can. We can take them down from the inside now,” he agrees. “Sweetheart, I have one or two things to take care of, and then we can get out of here. Are you okay to wait here for me?”

“Of course, Dad. Anything you need. But when you get back, we need to stop somewhere for some food. I’m so hungry,” I giggle, playing innocent, being the perfect daughter.

“Anything for you, sweetheart,” he smiles.

Chapter 23 - Maxim

“That’s the second dead end,” I snarl as we walk back to the car, away from the Napoli safe house Stefano directed me too. The first one was empty, as was this one. No one has been here for ages. There is dust to prove it.

---