Page 46 of Innocently Imprisoned By the Bratva

Here, she stops, her fork mid-air. I suck in the air around me. Shit. Did I just say that?

To lighten the moment, I give her a sheepish grin. "You know what they say, love makes fools of us all, right?"

Pippa smiles, shaking her head, her cheeks flushed with color. "Yes, well, I'm glad you're a fool for me," she says with a playful roll of her eyes.

We continue to eat and laugh, our connection unbreakable. But I can’t stop thinking about how I slipped up and said we’re in love. And from the way she blushes and giggles, I know my feelings are reciprocated.

Something between us has changed over the course of this dinner. Pippa always felt like she was mine, but today, it feels like it’s etched in concrete.

We finish eating our meal and the waiter hands us the dessert menu.

"Lev, thank you for taking me here," she says, looking up at me with bright eyes. "You really know how to treat a girl right."

I reach over and caress her cheek. “I’ve got a lot of making up to do.”

She squeezes my hand and looks back down at the menu.

While I wait for Pippa to decide, I glance around the bustling room. My instincts kick in when I notice a group of suspicious-looking men watching us from a distance. I recognize them—members of a rival Bratva clan. My heart races, but I force myself to remain calm.

"Hey, Pippa," I say casually, leaning closer so only she can hear me. "I need you to stay calm and follow my lead. We're being watched."

Pippa tenses almost imperceptibly but nods. Smart girl. She knows better than to glance around or make a scene. I pay the bill swiftly and usher Pippa outside, hyper aware of our tails exiting after us. I guide her down the street at a brisk pace, one hand on her back.

"Where are we going?" she asks quietly, her voice trembling ever so slightly.

"To the car, immediately," I reply, squeezing her hand reassuringly. "Just stay close to me."

We round a corner into a dimly-lit alley, the quickest shortcut back to my car. But halfway down, four men melt out of the darkness, blocking our path. My heart sinks. It's an ambush.

I subtly shift in front of Pippa, shielding her with my body as I size up our opponents. Hardened criminals, tattooed and armed. They mean business.

"Evening, gentlemen," I say evenly. "Can I help you with something?"

Their leader sneers. "You can come with us in peace. Then maybe we won't gut you like a fish."

I feel Pippa tense behind me. Gut me? Over my dead body.

"I'm afraid I can't do that," I reply, adrenaline flooding my veins. No more talking.

I explode into motion, landing a brutal punch to the leader's nose. Blood spurts as the cartilage crunches. He howls in pain as two more rush me. I grab a trash can lid and slam it into one man's face, following up with a knee to the groin that drops him, whimpering.

The third man pulls a knife, but I rip a metal bar off a dumpster and knock it from his grasp. As he stumbles back, I swing with all my might, the bar cracking his skull like a melon. He crumples lifeless to the ground.

The leader is back on his feet, face contorted in rage. He charges, but I sidestep and clothesline him across the throat. As he chokes for air, I seize Pippa's hand.

"Run!"

We sprint for the car, hearts hammering. I floor the gas pedal, tires squealing as we peel out. A quick glance behind reveals two men giving chase in a black sedan.

I grit my teeth and push the car faster.

We race through the dark city streets, the black sedan close on our tail. I weave recklessly between cars, trying to lose them, but they match me move for move.

Suddenly, they ram us from behind. Pippa gasps, bracing herself against the dash. I clench the wheel, jaw tight.

"Lev, do something!" she pleads, desperation evident in her voice.

"Working on it, Sweetheart," I assure her, my mind racing for a plan. “Until then, just hold on!”

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