Page 79 of Forced Bratva Prisoner

I think I need to keep this to myself for now.

Chapter 23 - Leon

I was lost in my head after visiting the cemetery and being confronted by both Sasha and Maxim about my thirst for revenge. They both seemed so convinced that I was wrong to be chasing it and nothing else and it forced me to really think about my life and where I’ve come from and where I’m headed—what I actually want for my future.

I really do want revenge. But now I want something else, too. I want connection. I want to get to know Sasha more. I want to spend time with her and enjoy my days.

It’s so difficult to juggle this internal battle between what I am so accustomed to and what my heart is leading me towards.

I've come to the conclusion that I should just give it time, but in that time, I should at least try to think about other things in my life that don’t revolve around my hatred of Danil Balakin.

So, I’ve been focusing more on Sasha.

She brings me a kind of happiness I’ve never really had before, and I’m curious to know where it might lead.

Sasha is in the kitchen making herself a cup of tea when I come through, stepping behind her and wrapping my arms around her waist.

She jumps and squeals loudly in fright.

I chuckle. “Wow. Are you okay? I didn’t mean to scare you.”

“I’m fine,” she says quietly, but I can tell she isn’t. Her face is sullen, she’s biting her lower lip, and there are shadows under her eyes.

I turn her around to face me. “Did you sleep last night?”

“Kind of.” She shrugs.

“What’s going on? Yesterday you looked really tired, and today you look even worse.”

“I’ve been having nightmares.” She waves her hand in the air, trying to dismiss my concern.

I pull her way from the kettle. “I’ll make you some tea. Why don’t you go lie down in bed for a bit?”

“I couldn’t sleep now even if I tried.”

“Well, at least go and sit in the living room and relax?”

“I don’t want to relax,” she snaps suddenly, then she pulls her eyes away from me as her face fills with guilt. “Sorry, I don’t know why I was rude.”

“Hey, it’s okay. Let me make you some tea. Go sit down for a moment. I’ll bring it through and maybe we can decide on something to do together to cheer you up.”

“Okay,” she mumbles, walking out of the kitchen.

Her shoulders are sort of slumped and she looks exhausted. She looks emotionally drained for some reason, and I have no doubt that something is bothering her.

I need to figure out what it is. I want to make her feel better. I want to protect her from whatever is causing her to worry.

Maybe she just needs some reassurance from me. I know she is worried that I’m too focused on revenge. Maybe that is making her worry about her role in my life.

I decide, while I am making the tea, that I just need to show her somehow that she means more to me than just that.

I carry the tea through to the living room, where Sasha is standing by the tall windows looking out into the garden.

“Here you go, little flower.” I place the cup of tea on the corner table and walk over to her, pulling her into my arms. “Whatever it is, it’s going to be okay,” I say gently, kissing the top of her head. “I was thinking that tonight I could take you out to dinner, if you feel up to it. Or if you don’t want to go out, I will have a date night set up here for us.”

“A date night?” she smiles softly, and just the smallest light shines in her eyes.

“Yes, a date night.”

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