Page 91 of Knocked-Up Bratva Prisoner

Me: That sounds like the perfect day. I’ll be ready.

While I’m waiting for Tia, I’m arguing with myself.

Don’t ask about Alexei. It’ll be weird. Don't ask about him. You have a right to ask. Don’t ask about him, she might tell him you were asking. So what if he knows I asked about him. He’s the asshole who ditched me. I’m not the asshole.

The doorbell rings and I jump up with relief. My stupid head won’t be quiet, and I need a distraction.

Tia is the sweetest person.

I used to go to college with her. And then of course I went to her wedding when she married into the Dubrov family.

She married Yefim. He seems like a pretty cool guy, I know he spent a lot of time helping my uncle search for me. But, ultimately, there is only one Dubrov I am interested in.

As I climb into her car, she leans over the seat and gives me a massive hug.

“I’m so glad you said yes to coming out today,” she grins at me.

“I really needed this—more than you can understand,” I chuckle.

Everyone thinks I went through massive trauma when I was kidnapped and I feel bad leaving them all to think that, but I can’t correct that assumption without putting Alexei at risk.

I know that for their own safety, the Dubrov brothers have even decided not to tell their wives that Alexei was the one who took me. They don’t want to put them in any kind of danger from my uncle.

The spa is in the city, on the top floor of a high rise. The views are amazing, but they have nothing on the beautiful views of the forest around the house—

I shake my head. I need to stop thinking about that. That isn’t my life anymore. It was never going to last.

Tia and I sit with our feet soaking in salts and aromatherapy oils, looking out over the city.

“How is Yefim doing—and his brothers?” I really want to ask about Alexei. No matter how many times I tell myself it’s a bad idea, I know I’m going to do it anyway.

“Yefim is so incredible. I can’t believe how lucky I was to find someone like him. And his brothers are all good. They are trying to find a girlfriend for Oleg. They tease him a lot about being too focused on work and too serious.” She laughs.

“But Alexei also doesn’t have a girlfriend if I remember correctly? Do they tease him off as well?”

“No, he doesn’t have a girlfriend that I know of, but I guess he’s so wild and out there they don’t bother trying to set him up with anyone.”

“What do you mean wild and out there?”

She laughs a little and shakes her head, swooshing her feet around in the ceramic basin of warm water.

“Everyone knows Alexei is the spontaneous adventurous one. Even now. No one can get him to sit still.”

“What is he doing?”

“He’s clubbing all the time. Last night Yefim and Leon were talking and complaining about it. He’s been out drinking and partying almost every night for the past week and a half. I don’t think that man could settle down if he tried.”

“Oh.”

My heart is suddenly filled with so much pain that I can barely speak.

“Anyways, so Oleg came over for dinner the other night and we were trying to convince him to meet a friend of mine, but he’s dead set against it…"

Tia carries on chatting away, blissfully unaware that my entire world is crumbling down on me.

Alexei has been out partying. Drinking. Having fun. He’s probably hooking up with beautiful girls and celebrating not having to deal with me anymore.

I swallow hard and quickly brush away a tear that manages to escape down my cheek.

---