Page 1 of Pregnant By the Bratva

Prologue

Sarah

I wake up with a sharp pain pounding in my head, and the first thing I notice is the cold, hard surface beneath me. My fingers brush against rough concrete, the texture grating against my skin as I push myself up to sit. The room is dark, too dark, but there’s a faint, sickly yellow glow coming from somewhere behind me. I try to orient myself, but the room spins, and I nearly topple over again.

That’s when I hear them. Low voices, murmuring in a language I don’t understand. Russian, maybe? My heart races as I glance around, trying to make out the faces in the dim light. Three men stand near the door, their figures looming like shadows. I catch a glimpse of one man’s hand as he gestures, and my blood turns to ice when I see the small, coiled snake tattooed on the back of it. Another man’s shirt is unbuttoned just enough to reveal the same tattoo on his chest, the snake’s eyes seeming to glare at me through the darkness.

I’m over. The thought crashes down on me, heavy and suffocating. I should’ve known better, should’ve been more careful. The data I stole was too hot, too dangerous, and now I’m paying the price.

There’s a sharp creak as the door opens wider, and the men go silent, parting like the Red Sea as another figure steps into the room. He’s tall, broad-shouldered, with a presence that demands attention. The shadows don’t hide the sharp angles of his face, the hard set of his jaw. His eyes are dark, piercing, and they settle on me with a scrutiny that makes my skin crawl.

This must be Kace Preston. The name is whispered in dark corners, feared even by those who think they’re untouchable. The Mafia boss who rules his empire with an iron fist.

I’m caught in his grip.

He doesn’t speak at first, just stares at me, his gaze traveling from my disheveled hair to the bruises forming on my wrists. The silence stretches, each second ticking by like a death sentence. My breath catches in my throat, but I force myself to hold his gaze. I can’t show fear, not now. I’ve survived worse—at least, that’s what I try to tell myself.

Finally, he speaks, his voice low and rough, like gravel. “Strange, you look a lot like my daughter.”

The statement throws me off for a moment. I’ve heard about Sophia Preston, the sheltered princess of the Preston empire, but this isn’t about her. This is about me, and how I’m going to get out of this alive.

“So what,” I say, my voice hoarse but steady. My mouth is dry, my body still reeling from whatever they drugged me with, but I focus on the one thing that matters. “Am I supposed to care?”

His eyes narrow slightly, and I see something flicker there—curiosity, maybe. It’s gone as quickly as it appeared, replaced by that cold, calculating gaze. He steps closer, his polished shoes echoing on the concrete floor, and I stiffen, forcing myself to stay still.

“So, you’re the one who thought you could steal from me,” he says, his voice smooth, almost amused.

I clench my jaw, biting back a retort. There’s no point in lying; they caught me red-handed. The only thing left is to figure out how to stay alive long enough to see my brother again.

“Why?” His question hangs in the air, demanding an answer, but I don’t respond right away. My mind races, weighing my options, calculating the risks.

“For the money,” I finally say, the truth slipping out like a confession. “My brother needed a liver transplant. We couldn’t afford it.”

Kace stares at me for a long moment, and I can’t read the expression on his face. Then, he nods slowly, almost thoughtfully. “You’re either very brave or very stupid. Maybe… there’s another option for you.”

Kace’s words hang in the air, thick with possibilities I’m too scared to consider. My body tenses, and I swallow hard, trying to keep my expression neutral. My mind is still foggy from whatever they used to knock me out, but I focus on him—on the man who holds my fate in his hands.

He looks at me like he’s weighing me, evaluating every ounce of who I am. It’s unnerving, and I hate the vulnerability of it, but I keep my eyes on him. I won’t cower.

“You’re resourceful,” he says, his voice low, almost conversational. “Breaking into my system like that? Impressive. Took a lot of guts.”

I can’t tell if he’s mocking me or genuinely impressed. “I did what I had to,” I reply, my voice steady, despite the tightness in my chest.

“Now you find yourself in quite the predicament,” Kace continues, taking a step closer. The room suddenly feels smaller, the air heavier with his presence. “You’ve got skills, and you’ve got determination. That’s rare, especially for someone as young as you.”

I don’t respond. I’m not sure where he’s going with this, and I don’t trust myself to say the right thing. I’ve seen too many people dig their own graves with careless words.

Kace tilts his head, his dark eyes boring into mine. “I could use someone like you, Sarah.”

The way he says my name sends a shiver down my spine. It’s not just that he knows it—it’s the way he says it, like he’s already decided I belong to him.

“You’re offering me a job?” I ask, disbelief creeping into my voice. I’ve heard of criminals being recruited, but this? This is something else.

He smiles, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. “In a manner of speaking. You’ve got potential, and I have the resources to hone that potential. Train you properly, give you what you need to succeed.”

I stare at him, my heart racing. “You want me to work for you?”

“Yes,” he replies simply. “You could be an asset to my organization. You’ve already proven you’re capable of breaking into systems most people can’t even touch. Imagine what you could do with the right training, the right tools.”

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