Page 49 of Captured By the Bratva

We move closer to Caleb’s bedside, and Violet takes a seat next to him, her hand reaching out to grasp his. “What exactly happened, Caleb?” she asks, her voice filled with concern.

Caleb sighs, adjusting himself in the bed. “It was a crash. I was heading into the city center when another car came out of nowhere and slammed into mine.”

Violet’s eyes widen in horror. “Oh my God, Caleb. Are you sure you’re okay?”

He nods, but I can’t help but notice the slight dramatization in his voice. “Yeah, I’ll be fine. The impact was pretty bad, though. My car spun out and hit a barrier. It’s going to cost a fortune to fix.”

I listen, my eyes narrowing slightly. Something about his tone feels off, like he’s playing up the severity for effect. “Did you see who hit you?” I ask, my voice sharp.

Caleb shakes his head. “No, it all happened so fast. I didn’t get a good look at the other car.”

Violet’s grip on his hand tightens. “I’m so glad you’re okay. It could have been so much worse.”

Caleb nods, giving her a reassuring smile. “They’re just keeping me here tonight out of precaution because of the concussion. They want to make sure there’s no serious damage.”

I watch them interact. There’s something about the way Caleb is speaking that doesn’t sit right with me, but I keep my suspicions to myself for now. “You’re lucky it wasn’t worse,” I say, my tone neutral.

“Yeah, I guess I am,” Caleb replies, glancing at me briefly before turning his attention back to Violet. “I’ll be out of here by tomorrow, I’m sure.”

Violet sighs, relief washing over her features. “I’m just glad you’re okay, Caleb. Please be more careful.”

He gives her hand a gentle squeeze. “I will, I promise. Thanks for coming, Violet. It means a lot.”

She smiles at him, her eyes soft with affection. “Of course. You’re important to me, Caleb.”

I watch the exchange, feeling a surge of possessiveness rise within me. The way Caleb looks at her, the way she responds to him—it stirs something dark and primal inside me. My hand tightens on her waist, a silent claim.

“Maybe Caleb should get some sleep,” I suggest, my tone edged with a hint of annoyance.

Violet’s head snaps up, her eyes wide with horror. “Kirill, he has a concussion! He shouldn’t sleep!”

I force a smile, though it doesn’t reach my eyes. “It was a joke, Violet. Just a joke.”

She looks relieved, but I can see the concern still lingering in her eyes. “It’s not funny,” she mutters, turning back to Caleb.

Caleb, catching the tension between us, tries to lighten the mood. “Don’t worry, Violet. The nurse will keep an eye on me. I’ll be fine.”

Violet nods, but then a thought seems to strike her. “Caleb, do you think… could Uncle Joe be behind the crash?”

Caleb’s expression shifts, a flicker of uncertainty crossing his face. “I don’t know, Violet. It could be a coincidence, but with everything going on… it’s possible.”

Her grip on his hand tightens, her face pale with worry. “We need to find out the truth.”

I nod, my jaw set. “We will. We’ll get to the bottom of this.”

Nobody argues with me.

Chapter Twenty-Three - Violet

Caleb looks at me, his curiosity piqued. “Is anybody going to tell me what you’re talking about?”

I take a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. “Kirill thinks Uncle Joe has been aiming to take over the company this whole time. Maybe he… maybe he even killed Dad.”

Caleb’s expression shifts to one of serious concern. “Jeff doubted him but didn’t want to believe it,” he says quietly, the weight of the realization sinking in.

Before I can respond, Kirill steps forward, his eyes blazing with anger. “Why didn’t you do anything about it?” he demands harshly, his voice low and dangerous. “Why did you just let Joe remain free to harm Violet?”

Caleb looks taken aback, brows furrowed. “I didn’t have proof. Jeff… he didn’t want to act without evidence. Joe was always so careful, covering his tracks.”

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