Page 29 of Forced Bratva Prisoner

But Leon just stands up to reach for a pile of napkins and hands it to Maxim, who casually mops up the spill while Chiara pours her little one another glass of juice.

“No problem, sweetie,” Chiara says.

No one has anything negative to say, and the kids carry on laughing between themselves.

This has to be fake. This has to be some fake mockery just to taunt me. This can’t be real. This isn’t a normal family dinner, is it?

I’ve never experienced anything like this in my life.

I start to feel anxious and angry, knowing that they are mocking me in some way.

I feel Leon’s eyes on me. It’s a heated sort of electricity that runs along my skin. I look up at him.

“What?” I snap, annoyed about how his gaze makes me feel.

“If you don’t eat, you’ll waste away to nothing,” he smirks.

I’m too embarrassed to try and use these chopsticks in front of everyone in case they mock me for it.

“Oh, and what? Are you going to miss me if I disappear to nothing?”

“It would be considerably quiet in the house without your yelling, so I doubt it,” he throws back.

“I’m sure you’ll find another girl to—" I glance at the children. “To invite nicely into your home as a guest.”

Maxim laughs and tries to hide it behind his hand.

Leon chuckles, and the sound of his deep voice vibrates through me, sending a shiver down my spine.

I pick up the chopsticks again, watching everyone else and trying to hold them properly. I just manage to pick up one piece of chicken, then drop it. I try again and get a few strands of noodles which I quickly put in my mouth before they slide away from me.

Leon is watching me the entire time.

“You don’t know how to use chopsticks?” he asks curiously.

“I’m sorry.I don’t usually try and eat my dinner with two sticks. I don’t even know how to hold these things.”

Chiara cracks up laughing.

“I really like her,” she says cheerfully.

Leon disappears for a moment and comes back with a fork. “Here you go, princess.”

“Oh, you do have normal utensils them?” I say sarcastically.

“Oh, we only bring them out for special occasions. When royalty such as yourself visits.”

I tilt my head down to hide the grin that sneaks onto my face.

I can’t believe it—but I am having fun.

Chiara is full of laughs and she’s so happy it’s infectious. Maxim seems like a really good guy, and I can’t help but notice how he looks at Chiara. He really loves her.

Even Leon doesn’t seem that bad tonight.

I’m actually having fun, at dinner, with strangers.

I need to remind myself where I am, though, and exactly how I came to be here. These people aren’t my friends. Leon especially. He kidnapped me and forced me to marry him. He is holding me prisoner here in his home.

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