Page 11 of The Bratva's Forbidden Pregnancy

She sighed, massaging her temples. “What part of what I said did you not understand?”

I chuckled and drew closer. “But seriously, Babushka, why did Dad drift away from Vlad? I mean, I know most of his friends, and he’d mentioned a couple of his old folks, as well, but not Vlad. Why is that?”

“Wouldn't you like to know?” Mom interrupted us, arms folded across her chest. “Go help your cousins and stop asking questions about Vlad.”

From her tone, I knew that she also wasn’t comfortable with me discussing this man.

Who was Vlad, and why did his presence stir up so much tension?

I was determined to find out whether my family wanted me to or not.

Chapter 4 – Vlad

Soft chatter filled the expansive space that dripped with opulence. Above, crystal chandeliers hung off the high ceilings, casting warm glows on the velvet walls and marble floors.

Waiters in crisp white uniforms moved around in silence, serving drinks in glasses to the cream of the crop, the high rollers.

The swanky casino was bustling with activities, playing host to the members of society's elite: the rich and famous, the powerful and feared. In other words, the crème de la crème.

Sitting at the high-stakes poker table, my eyes narrowed at the game unfolding before me. The table around which players were seated was a masterpiece made of rich mahogany of inlaid mother-of-pearl.

The air was filled with the rich smell of expensive cigars and thick with tension, indicating clearly that this was no place for small bets.

I adjusted my long coat as I sat there with squinted eyes, trying to focus, surrounded by my associates. By my side, Simon was seated, observing the nature of the game. My rivals sat on the other side of the table, their faces serious and attention focused solely on the cards sliding across the smooth green felt.

The game was intense, but even with the distraction it posed, I couldn’t stop my mind from drifting back to Sienna Summers: the sweet, innocent girl with an amazing aura who had caught my attention with a single glance.

Her enchanting smile kept flashing in my head, tampering with my focus.

“Hello,” her sweet voice resounded in my ears as I recalled just how beautiful she was.

I jerked my eyes up, scanning my opponents’ faces in an attempt to read them, but I couldn’t stay focused for more than ten seconds.

Sienna was all that I could think about.

Struggling to remain as calm and composed as I was supposed to be, I put my head down a bit, pressing my fingertips over the bridge of my nose. It wasn’t helping at all. All I could see was her face.

Her gaze was mesmerizing. Her green eyes sparkled with mischief, and she had the prettiest smile I’d ever seen. Her dark hair fell in soft waves down her back, framing her heart-shaped face and accentuating her striking features.

Sienna seemed like a lovely girl, charming and fun to hang around—the exact opposite of me. But didn’t physics tell us that unlike terms attract?

She was so gorgeous—beautiful in every way—and I loved beautiful things; I loved to have beautiful things. But Sienna was off the menu, and for the first time in a long time, I knew I couldn’t have something I so desperately wanted. The fact that she was Paul’s daughter was reason enough for me to back the hell off.

The game was still ongoing, and these fuckers were determined to win. They looked like wolves about to devour their prey, but at this table, I was no prey. I was the predator.

I was a bit out of balance; my usual control and focus were slipping, but despite that, I wasn’t prepared to lose and put my winning streak at risk.

I watched the green felt closely, observing my opponents and their hands. My brain was doing a million things at once, one of which was a serious calculation for my next move.

It was a tug of war because images of Sienna kept invading my thoughts, pulling my attention away.

I could feel Simon's gaze on me. He knew that something was up. I was distracted, and he must be wondering what was going on in my head.

Discreetly, he scooted over and leaned in close. “Is everything okay?” he whispered.

“Yeah, why?” I replied, my eyes fixed on the cards in my hands.

“You seem…distracted.” A slight pause came when he saw my cards. “I'm not sure that’s a good idea,” he added, objecting to my next move.

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