Page 50 of Innocently Imprisoned By the Bratva

“I’m 19, Lev,” I remind him.

He leans closer, whispering in my ear, his breath hot on it. “Hasn’t stopped you before.”

Memories rush back of us drunk, making love in the living room. “Well,” I hiss back, trying to ignore the thrill passing down my spine. “That was in close quarters. Here, it’s illegal.”

“Whatever you say,” he shrugs, and leans against the bar.

Just then, one of the men detaches from the group of Lev’s cousins and saunters over. He's movie-star handsome, with a roguish grin. "You must be the lovely Pippa. I'm Ivan, Lev's favorite cousin."

"Oh, uh, nice to meet you," I stammer out, flustered.

Beside me, Lev straightens his spine, standing straight now.

"No need to be shy," he says kindly. "I just wanted to properly welcome you to our… company. Lev's told us so much about you."

At this, I shoot a surprised glance at Lev, who looks a touch uncomfortable. “Ivan…” he warns.

Ivan chuckles in a restrained but warm manner. "All good things, I promise." He leans in conspiratorially. "I think you'll liven up those stuffy family reunions of ours."

Now, it's my turn to blush brightly. What exactly has Lev said about me to his family? I feel off-balance, unsure how to navigate this new dynamic. But Ivan seems nice enough. And I'm curious to learn more about Lev's world.

"Well, I appreciate the welcome," I say, regaining some composure. Ivan smiles. "So Pippa, about that family reunion…" he says mischievously.

I raise an eyebrow. "Yes?"

"I already told Lev to bring you as his date,” he tells me matter-of-factly.

“Wait, what?” Lev sputters, but Ivan ignores him and walks away without waiting for an answer from me, as though it’s a given I’ll be there.

My eyes widen in surprise and I feel my cheeks reddening yet again. Just what is Lev thinking, telling his family about me? I don't know whether to feel flattered or embarrassed. Yet, at the same time, I can't help but feel curious about what adventures await with Lev and his outrageous cousins.

Chapter 19 - Lev

The ornate doors to the grand hall swing open and Pippa and I step into a cacophony of laughter and conversation. The high ceilings and marble floors amplify the sounds, making it feel like we're entering an opulent beehive.

I feel nervous as I scan the room for familiar faces, bracing myself for the inevitable judgments that are bound to come. Pippa insisted she wanted to come, since Ivan so kindly invited her, but I’m still wary.

I know my cousins. Sometimes, they can be a little too frank.

"Lev, Darling!" Audrey, Ivan's wife, calls out as she approaches us with their son in tow. Her warmth is a welcome relief from my racing thoughts. "And this must be Pippa! You're even more beautiful in person!"

“In person?” I ask quizzically.

Audrey blushes and links her arm through mine. “Well, we did do our research!”

“Audreyyyy…” I sing in warning.

Audrey playfully winks at us, and Pippa laughs.

Audrey takes a closer look at Pippa and chuckles, "Oh, Sweetheart, you're so young! I pray that our dear 30-something Lev here isn't boring you to death with his antics."

"Actually," Pippa grins, looking up at me with a playful glint in her eyes, "he's anything but boring."

I smirk at her response, feeling proud she took my side. Audrey’s fun. She always brings out the good side of a conversation, but despite it all, there's still the nagging worry of facing Ivan's scrutiny.

"Where are the brothers, anyway?" I ask, trying to sound casual.

"Oh, they’re around here somewhere," Audrey dismisses with a wave of her hand. "But don't you worry about him; just enjoy the evening."

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