Page 42 of Arranged Bratva Virgin

She stands up and rushes over to me when I walk in. “Darya, how are you?”

“I’m amazing, but happier now that you are here,” I grin, sitting next to her.

Tamlin comes in and asks if she can bring me tea as well. I tell her to bring us some snacks, too.

“Did you want me to call Stefano, too?” I ask, sure that she came here to visit her brother.

“No, that’s okay, I’m sure he is busy. I came by to say hi to you.”

I grin again, feeling happier with her around today.

We chat for ages about anything and everything, what she has been up to, how my brother Maxim is doing, and some other things. It is relaxing and fun to talk to her, and all of my stress seems to be drifting away for the time being.

“You guys left the wedding so quickly the other day, I didn’t have a proper chance to say goodbye or anything,” Chiara laughs.

“He really whisked us out of there. I didn’t say goodbye to anyone. Sorry about that, it was rude.”

She shrugs. “Stef is known to be a little different, I guess, so when he gets something in his head, he just acts on it.”

“Tell me about it.” I giggle, shaking my head.

“But, I mean, is everything okay with you guys? I know you were sort of thrown into this situation, so I just wanted to ask…."

“Did Maxim tell you what happened the other night at the meeting?” I am assuming he did, and my brothers were all so worried about me that night, so I imagine Chiara would have heard about it, too.

“He did, but it isn’t really why I am asking. I’m just asking because I know Stef pretty well, and he can be a little difficult to understand sometimes.”

“No, everything it perfectly fine,” I say, with my most reassuring voice. I don’t want her to go back and tell my brother anything and make everyone worried all over again.

“Darya, you don’t have to do that with me, you can tell me how you are really feeling. Remember that I was also pushed into an arranged marriage, and I know that the adjustment can be pretty big.”

“I don’t want my brothers to worry about me,” I say softly.

“Well, this conversation is between you and me, not your brothers.”

I sigh, biting the inside of my cheek nervously. I really do need someone to talk to, and Chiara and I have always gotten on so well.

Finally, I give in. “I am struggling a bit. I mean, it’s not like it’s terrible or anything. He isn’t mean—he’s just…" I can’t seem to find the right word.

“He’s difficult,” she laughs.

“Yep. I don’t understand him. I mean—um—ever since he found out that I haven’t ever been with anyone like—you know—he’s been so weird about it.”

“He found out you are a virgin?”

“Well, I kind of had to tell him.”

“Have you guys slept together since then?”

“No, he has been really off towards me. One minute, he seems super into me and then the next, he’s giving me such an icy cold shoulder that I don’t even know if he wants me in this house. It’s frustrating, and kind of hurtful. I think maybe he thinks he chose the wrong girl. Maybe he regrets marrying me.”

Chiara looks at me for a little while, sipping her second cup of tea. “I don’t know if you know, but Stefano had CCTV installed all over the inside of this house. He has never had cameras indoors in any of the places we lived in before. He never bothered with that. We had a few cameras outside the house, but never inside. I noticed he has a whole new setup now.”

“I guess he wanted to increase the security?” I tilt my head, confused about what her point is.

“No, Darya, he had them installed so that he can keep an eye on you. He cares about you and wants you to be safe. There is nothing else inside this house that he would want to watch—besides you.”

“Do you think he did all of that for me?” I ask, shocked. “I actually didn’t even realize there were cameras all over the place. I thought they were just outside and the ones inside were targeting the entrance doors.”

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