Page 60 of Innocently Imprisoned By the Bratva

"Break in? That sounds dangerous." I bite my lip, fear gnawing at me as I imagine all the ways this could go wrong.

"Nothing the Zolotov brothers can't handle," Lev says. “Besides, our men will be there.”

"Isn't there another way? Something less risky?" I plead, feeling desperate to keep them safe. “Maybe you could call the cops to report a theft or something?”

Lev’s eyes widen ever-so-slightly, and I see a flicker of amusement cross his eyes at my innocence. My cheeks redden before he even responds. “Sweetheart,” he chuckles at my suggestion. “We’re the Bratva. The police aren’t exactly our friends, are they?”

I feel stupid for making such a naïve suggestion. “Of course not,” I say. “I don’t know what I was thinking.”

"Believe me, Pippa, if there was another way, we'd take it," Lev says, his voice softening. "But we're running out of time, and we need to act now. You’ve brought us this far by giving us the heads up on a house in Aspen, and now we’ve got it from here."

My stomach churns as I try to process this new information. If I could have it my way, I’d keep Lev by my side where he can remain safe.

But he’s right. I’ve played my part in this chain of events. Lev trusted me with my plan when I suggested it, going against his brothers to do the same.

Now, it’s my job to be supportive, sit back, and let Lev and his brothers do what they must. Lev is right—they're more than capable of handling themselves.

"Okay," I whisper, swallowing hard. “Just… be careful, alright?"

Lev smirks, his trademark cockiness shining through. "Careful is my middle name, Babe."

"Lev Careful Zolotov," I retort, rolling my eyes. "Has a nice ring to it."

"See? I knew you'd like it." He grins, leaning in to place a soft kiss on my forehead. "Don't worry, Pippa. We'll handle this and be back before you know it."

I nod, forcing myself to smile even as fear twists my insides. Just then, the maid returns with the wallet. Lev grabs it and rushes out the door, bellowing goodbye as the door shuts behind him. I sit back and send up a silent prayer for their safety, hoping against hope that they'll return unscathed from this dangerous mission.

***

Once Lev leaves, I get dressed to head in for work. But, I find my mind wandering. I put on the wrong blouse, realize I’m not wearing any shoes once I reach the front door, and have forgotten that Dmitri isn’t there to take me to the office today. He’s gone off with Lev.

With nothing to do, I wander into the living room and sit on the couch barefoot, wondering how to keep my mind off this whole Lev situation. I turn on the TV and try to watch the news, a reality soap opera, and a cartoon. But I keep flicking between one and the other, unable to pay attention, or keep my focus.

This is impossible.

The anxiety gnaws at me with the irritation of a chalk screeching against the blackboard. I won’t be able to survive this day alone.

I rack my brain, and only when I feel like I need some distraction do I decide to call Anoushka. I hate bothering her, but she’s the only one who would understand what I’m going through. I clutch my phone tightly as it rings, the anticipation making my heart race. She picks up on the third ring.

"Hey, Pippa! What's up?" There's a lightness in her voice that I envy.

"Hi, Anoushka. I just wanted to check in with you about this whole mission thing," I say, trying to keep my voice steady. "How are you feeling about it?"

"Ah, so Lev filled you in, huh?" Anoushka sighs. "Honestly, Pippa, I'm not too worried. I trust my brothers. They've done this sort of thing before."

"Still, it's hard not to worry, right?" I chew on my bottom lip, relieved that she understands my concerns.

"Of course it is," Anoushka agrees. "But we can't let that worry consume us. We need to be strong, for them and for ourselves." Her voice is gentle yet firm, like a reassuring embrace.

"Thanks, Anoushka," I smile sadly. "It's just… sometimes it feels like everything is spinning out of control, and I'm powerless to stop it. This life, it’s just so stressful. There’s no certainty in it, is there?"

"Hey," she chides softly. "You're stronger than you give yourself credit for, Pippa. And you have us—me, Lev, and the rest of the family. You're not alone in this, okay?"

"Okay," I whisper, touched by her support. "Thank you, Anoushka."

"Anytime, girl. Now, let's take our minds off things for a bit, shall we?" Anoushka suggests, her tone shifting back to its usual cheerful self. "How about we grab some lunch and maybe hit the shops afterward? Retail therapy always helps."

“I don’t know if I ca—” I say, feeling guilty at the thought of shopping when Lev might be putting his life on the line.

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