Page 98 of Knocked-Up Bratva Prisoner

“Uncle Giorgio, please let him go—don’t do this.” Tears are streaming down my face because I can’t stand by and watch them hurt the man I love.

“Shut up, Clara. Is this the man who took you? Did he…is he responsible?”

I know he’s asking about the baby, thinking that—shit.

I have to tell him.

But if I tell him Alexei is the one who kidnapped me, he might do horrible things to him. How do I make him understand? How can I keep Alexei safe?

I look between my uncle and Alexei. Back and forth, back and forth, trying to figure out how to calm this horrible situation down.

“Clara, speak, for fuck's sake. Is this the man who took you? Was he trying to take you again?” Uncle Giorgio yells loudly, and I flinch at the impact of his temper.

Then I get angry with myself.

Pull yourself together, Clara. You promised yourself you would be different. You promised yourself you would be stronger.

I look at Alexei with pain in my eyes, staring at him for a long time and hoping with every cell in my body that he understands and forgives me for what I am about to do.

“Alexei is the one who took me, yes,” I confess, my heart leaping into my throat.

My uncle’s temper flares, and he pulls a knife from his belt, running at Alexei.

I bolt forward and block him. “Stop,” I scream. “Stop. Let me talk. Listen for a second.”

Uncle Giorgio doesn’t take his eyes off Alexei, but he speaks to me. “What? What is so important? Hurry up,” he hisses.

“I could've left so many times—I could have come home if I wanted to. I chose to stay there. I wanted to be there. He kidnapped me, but then…it changed. I didn’t want to go home." I’m struggling to explain this crazy thing that happened.

How do you tell someone you fell in love with the man who kidnapped you and not sound crazy when you say it?

“I’ll fucking kill him.” Uncle Giorgio doesn’t seem to care that I wanted to be there. He doesn’t seem to understand that I chose it.

“You can’t,” I scream as he tries to push forward again.

“Give me one good reason,” he snarls, ready to pounce.

“Because he’s the father of my baby. It’s him. You can’t kill him,” I say desperately.

Giorgio spins towards me with shock burning in his eyes. They are wide and his brows are high. “This man is the father, and you chose this?” he sounds disgusted.

“I chose him,” I say gently, my eyes move from Uncle Giorgio to behind him—to Alexei.

Alexei is staring at me with his jaw hanging open. His brows are also raised high. I don’t know what he’s thinking. I can’t read it. I can see shock, but I don’t know if it’s good or bad.

My heart sinks low, into my stomach, flipping and churning like a wild array of butterflies has just erupted inside me.

“Alexei?” I say carefully.

He doesn’t speak.

I walk around Uncle Giorgio to Alexei’s side. I take his wrists in my hands and start untying the restraints. “Alexei?”

“You’re pregnant?” his voice is barely a whisper.

“Yes,” I nod.

“Don’t fucking untie him. Don’t let him go. I didn’t say you could do that,” Uncle Giorgio is yelling again.

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