Page 13 of Pregnant By the Bratva

The man’s eyes search mine, as if weighing the truth in my words. For a moment, I wonder if he believes me—if he trusts that I haven’t cracked under the pressure. Then, slowly, a grin spreads across his face, full of something like approval.

The grin on his face sends a chill down my spine, but I force myself to stay calm, to keep up the facade that I’ve managed to hold together. For a moment, I think he’s going to reassure me, tell me that help is on the way, that Kace has a plan to get me out of here.

Then, his hand moves to his pocket, and my breath catches as he pulls out a knife, the blade catching the dim light of the cell.

It takes me a second to process what’s happening, the shift in the air around us, the change in his demeanor. I stare at the blade, my mind racing to make sense of it. This isn’t help—this is something else, something far more dangerous.

“I’m not here to get you out,” he says, his voice eerily calm, as if he’s discussing something mundane. “Kace doesn’t want to risk it. You’ve done well, Sarah, but… there’s too much at stake.”

His words hit me like a slap. Kace isn’t coming for me. He’s not planning a rescue; he’s not even negotiating. He’s decided I’m a liability, that the risk of me exposing sensitive information to Ivan is too great. The realization is like a punch to the gut, knocking the air out of my lungs. He’s willing to get rid of me—to end my life—to protect his secrets.

“No,” I whisper, shaking my head in disbelief as I back away, pressing myself against the cold, unforgiving wall. “You can’t be serious. I haven’t said anything—I wouldn’t—”

“That’s the problem,” he cuts me off, his eyes hardening. “Kace can’t take that chance. You know too much. If Ivan breaks you, if you slip up, it’s all over.”

He takes a step closer, and I feel the cold of the wall seep into my bones. My heart races, pounding in my chest so loudly I’m sure he can hear it. This can’t be happening. I’ve been loyal, I’ve done everything Kace asked of me, and this is how he repays me? By sending someone to kill me, to silence me forever?

“Please,” I start, trying to keep my voice steady, but the fear is creeping in, making it crack. “I won’t say anything. I swear, I’ll—”

“It’s not up to you anymore,” he says, taking another step, the knife glinting ominously in his hand. “It’s not about what you’ll do—it’s about what you might do. Kace can’t afford to have loose ends, and right now, that’s what you are.”

Panic surges through me, and I push off the wall, trying to put more distance between us. There’s nowhere to go, nowhere to run in this small, confined space. “You don’t have to do this,” I plead, my voice trembling. “I’m on your side—I’m loyal to Kace—”

He doesn’t stop, doesn’t even hesitate. His expression is grim, resolved. He’s not here to negotiate; he’s here to finish the job.

I scramble backward, my mind racing, searching for a way out, for something to fight back with, but there’s nothing. Justthe cold, hard reality that I’ve been abandoned, left to die in this godforsaken cell.

“Please,” I whisper one last time, my voice barely audible as he closes the distance between us. The knife glints again, and I know this is it. Kace has made his choice, and I’m the one who’s going to pay the price.

Chapter Seven

Ivan

The city’s lights blur through the window as we drive, the rhythmic hum of the engine filling the silence between us.

I’m in the passenger seat, staring out at the darkened streets, my thoughts occupied with the matter at hand. Maxim’s hands grip the steering wheel, his eyes focused on the road, but I can tell he’s just as deep in thought. The situation with Sarah has taken an unexpected turn, and neither of us is entirely sure where it’s going to lead.

“Kace hasn’t responded,” Maxim says, breaking the silence. His voice is flat, carrying the weight of his frustration. “No ransom demands, no negotiations—nothing. It’s been days. He’s not coming for her.”

“He won’t pay to get her back,” I reply, the truth settling in my mind with cold finality. It’s a move that’s as ruthless as it is predictable. Kace Preston is a man who values power and control above all else. If he’s decided that Sarah is a liability, he won’t hesitate to cut her loose.

Maxim snorts, his usual confidence returning in the form of disdain. “She’s useless to us, then. Dead weight.”

“Not necessarily,” I counter, my tone thoughtful. “She’s smart, resourceful—she’s proven that much already. We could find a use for her.”

Maxim glances at me, skeptical. “You think she’d work with us after everything?”

I smirk, considering the possibilities. “People do a lot of things when they’re desperate. She might see an opportunity in staying alive. Besides, there’s something about her. She’s tougher than she looks.”

Maxim doesn’t argue, but I can tell he’s not entirely convinced. We’re both seasoned enough to know that loyalty is a fickle thing in our world. Still, I can’t shake the feeling that there’s more to Sarah than meets the eye, something that could be valuable if handled correctly.

We pull up to the warehouse, the building looming in the darkness like a fortress. As we get out of the car, the cold night air bites at my skin, sharpening my senses. The usual guard isn’t stationed outside, which immediately sets off alarm bells in my mind.

“Where’s the guard?” I ask, my voice low and tense as we approach the entrance. Maxim frowns, clearly thinking the same thing.

“Inside, maybe?” he suggests, though his tone is doubtful. There’s no reason for the guard to be inside, and we both know it.

I don’t reply, pushing the door open and stepping inside, my instincts on high alert. The sound of our footsteps echoes in the empty hallway as we head downstairs to the basement, the air growing colder with each step. Something is wrong—I can feel it in the pit of my stomach.

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