Page 50 of Innocent Bratva Virgin

“I had no idea that Ivan and Abe had done all that, been through all that. They’d created this lie that painted my father as just distant, not the cruel, abusive fuck he was. So, when I saw him kill her, it broke me.

“When that vital person was taken away—my mother, who I cared about more than anyone, who I’d been basically attached to since birth—it just…it was too much for me to handle. Before I could even process what was going on, I had to get the fuck out of there. My brothers took me with them out of the house in the middle of the night, and we never looked back. I have no idea what’s become of my father since we left that house, but…even removed from him, I could feel his presence, threatening to kill me just like her.

“After that…well, I didn’t know who I was, who I was after her. I literally lost my voice, and I never let myself think about the past because it was too painful. A few days turned into a few months, and then…it was too late to try and speak again without it being this huge deal, so I just accepted it.

“Now, though, I’ve seen Ivan with Adley. I’ve seen you. Darkness and pain aren’t the only thing in the world for the Ustinov brothers. And I…I want to hope for something better again. I want to believe that I have a chance at something real,something that I care about so much that I can almostfeelmy mother again. I…I want to try this, Emory. I want to try this with you because I don’t want to be held back by my past. Knowing you'll be there, I want to look forward to my future.”

I looked up from my hands when the room still remained silent. As I met Emory’s stare, she looked at me with her brows up to her hairline and mouth hanging open slightly. I couldn’t stop the abrupt chuckle that bled from me, shaking my head at the ridiculousness of the situation.

“Well, that’s a first. I actually left someoneelsespeechless.”

Chapter 21 - Emory

I truly was. I was fucking speechless, and it was all because I’d never heard anyone lay it all out like that. And I’d never felt so broken open when someone confided in me. I was a therapist, for Christ's sake. I should be used to it, but seeing Vlad open up like that, hearing him say that he wanted something real and wanted it with me, it was…

Holy fucking shit.

Conflicted twirls started in my brain, and I could practically hear my head and heart fighting each other. Vlad and I had connected so much. He was my first sexual experience, my first ethically questionable decision, and my first taste of what falling in love was like.

Moreover, the man had saved my fucking life. I owed him for that alone. But it wasn’t just obligation or gratitude that I felt for Vlad. I adored his sass, even when it drove me crazy. I loved how he didn’t beat around the bush, and our tastes in books and entertainment were on par. I was attracted to who he was as a person. I enjoyed being around that person.

And Vlad made my entire being light up like no one else; how he could touch and tease me was beyond incredible. It was…intoxicating.

Everything spun in a confusing jumble through my head. I could see the thoughts bleeding into each other like colored laundry in hot water, everything running in the steaming liquid and creating a chaotic tie-dye of pleasure and pain and responsibility and professionalism.

Nausea crept up the back of my throat, and my heart pounded against my ribs like it was threatening to break freeand take off for Vlad if I was just going to sit there and not do anything.

I’m going to explode. But what the fuck do I do? He’s supposed to be my patient. But…

Blinking, I cleared my throat and looked up at Vlad. He still sat there so calmly on the sofa, but there was a hint of concern in his captivating golden eyes. They were so expressive even when the rest of Vlad was stoic. It took some time to learn how to read him, but I was pretty sure I had, and that touch of worry behind the nearly yellow color was telling.

“I don’t think I can keep seeing you.”

As the words left my mouth, Vlad’s otherwise impassive expression faltered, his brow furrowing as his lips parted slightly. I could see the disappointment there, and if I hadn’t already decided what I was going to do, that look on his face would have decided for me.

“It’s not a very good ethical choice to continue seeing you, you know?”

I offered a crooked smile, but Vlad looked like I’d kicked him in the nuts.

“Because…” My heart rate was through the damn roof, and I had to swallow twice to get my mouth working again, finally. “You’re not supposed todateyour patients. So, I can’t be your therapist, but I do think you should keep going. But that’s not what we’re talking about right now.”

Vlad’s mouth dropped open a bit further, and he stood up off the couch, taking a few steps closer.

“What are you saying, Emory? I need to hear it.”

I smiled, genuine and open. “I’m saying that if you’re going to take me home, you can’t be my patient. And I’d very much like to go home with you.”

Looking down at the floor, Vlad sucked in a deep breath through his nose. The silence in the room was palpable, and I started to worry if I’d said the wrong thing. I was so sure that Vlad wanted this too, especially with everything he’d just said.

Dammit. Am I making a fool of myself?

But before I could say anything, Vlad ran a hand through his hair, sighing. When he met my eyes again, the corner of his mouth lifted, and he crossed the few feet that separated us in confident strides that took him around my desk.

Without so much as a single word, Vlad pulled me out of my chair and wrapped his hand around the back of my neck, pressing me against his chest as his fingers gripped possessively.

“Yes?” He asked.

“Yes.”

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