Page 35 of Captured By the Bratva

I shake my head, trying to dispel the thoughts. This is not the time for such fantasies. I need to stay focused, to keep my mind on the task at hand: protecting her.

Still, I can’t resist listening to the sounds of her shower. The gentle patter of water, the faint rustle of fabric as she moves, the soft sighs of relaxation. It’s almost intoxicating, the way she invades my senses even when she’s not in the room.

After a few minutes, I hear her step out of the shower, the soft rustling of a towel as she dries herself off. My imagination runs wild, but I force myself to stay put, not to peek in on her.

The sounds of her moving around in the bathroom continue, but she doesn’t come out.

I listen intently, straining to catch any indication of what’s taking her so long. I hear the faintest sound of her clothes shifting, the zipper of her dress, and then a soft, muffled sob. Concerned, I call out, “Malyshka?”

“I’m fine!” she snaps, but her voice is choked with tears.

I feel a pang of guilt mixed with frustration. She’s clearly upset, and while part of me feels bad for her, another part wishes she would toughen up. “You don’t sound fine,” I say, my tone a bit softer.

“I just… need a moment,” she replies, her voice wavering.

I sigh, knowing that pushing her won’t help. “Sure. Take your time.”

Leaning back on the bed, I let out a breath. This is going to be a long six months if she doesn’t find some inner strength soon. I understand that everything is overwhelming, but she needs to learn to cope with it.

Just then, my phone buzzes. I glance at the screen and see Dimitri’s name. Perfect timing. “Hey, Dimitri,” I answer, keeping my voice low.

“Hey, Boss! Just wanted to congratulate you again. How’s the marriage bed treating you?” he jokes, a raunchy laugh following his words.

I chuckle, rolling my eyes. “Dimitri, you have no idea. Let’s just say it’s a work in progress.”

“Ah, I see,” he says, still laughing. “Well, enjoy it while you can. The honeymoon period doesn’t last forever.”

“Yeah, well, there’s a lot more to this arrangement than you realize,” I reply, glancing toward the bathroom door. “Thanks for the well-wishes.”

“You got it, Boss. Anything you need, you just let me know,” Dimitri says, his tone turning serious.

“Will do. Keep things under control while I’m away,” I say, ending the call.

I lie back on the bed, staring at the ceiling. My thoughts drift back to Violet.

Chapter Seventeen - Violet

Steam rises around me as I step out of the shower, wrapping myself in a plush white robe. The heat from the bathroom is a comforting cocoon against the cool air. I run a hand through my wet hair, lost in thought about the twisted path my life has taken. Fake engagement to Kirill Sharov. A Bratva boss. My supposed protector.

I open the bathroom door, and my breath catches in my throat. Kirill is there, leaning against the wall, his piercing green eyes locked on me.

“What are you still doing here?” I blurt out, pulling the robe tighter around me.

He smirks, the kind of smirk that both irritates and unnerves me. “Enjoying the view, obviously.”

I roll my eyes and step back into the bathroom, closing the door behind me. My heart is pounding, a reaction I refuse to acknowledge is due to his presence. I take a deep breath to steady myself, but it catches again when I notice something draped over the counter—a negligee, delicate and undeniably sexy.

What the fuck?

Through the door, I ask, “Did you put this in here?”

There’s a pause before he responds, his voice calm and teasing. “Must have been Anna. It’s a Bratva tradition for the bride to wear something sexy.”

I groan internally. This fake engagement is complicated enough without adding Bratva traditions into the mix. Before I can think too much about it, his next words make my pulse quicken.

“And you do look sexy,” he says, his voice closer to the door now.

His words send a jolt through me, and I can’t help but feel the heat rising to my cheeks. Damn him and his ability to fluster me. I take another deep breath, trying to gather my thoughts. Kirill is dangerous, in more ways than one, but there’s something undeniably magnetic about him, something that pulls me in despite everything.

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