Page 40 of Forced By the Bratva Beast

“I love you too, husband. Thank you for my spa.”

“Anything for you.” The staff moan and groan at the sickly sight of our fake display, and at night, Sophia fulfils her wifely duties, making love, our so-called fake bond building and growing with every passing day. We rub shoulders with other couples, enjoying the food and the tranquility.

I check in back home making sure everything is secured, operations humming along without a hitch. As we head out for a sunset cruise with a few other couples, the water is flat and calm for a while, but the sky changes throughout.

Sophia sips on her champagne, staring up at the sky. “That doesn’t look good and it’s getting dark.” The wind picks up, whipping around the boat and shaking it, but the other guests are too busy doing other things to notice.

“I’m sure it’s going to be fine. Hopefully it passes,” I offer in reassurance, but no sooner than I say it do the clouds in the sky fatten, turning gray and producing a shower of rain.

“See. I knew it.”

“Let’s head down below, everyone. Sadly, we won’t be able to enjoy the sunset from the top deck, but from inside instead.”

We head underneath to the tables set up as the tropical water turns cloudy and choppy, a large whirlwind of clouds forming a tunnel as a rumble of thunder cracks through the sky.

Sophia’s face reads terror, and I forget about teasing her, instinctively cuddling her into my arms, her hands reaching out over my chest for safety. Kissing her temple, I whisper in her ear.

“Hey, it’s going to be alright. The storm will pass. It’s fine. The captain knows what he’s doing,” I coax as she takes a deep breath.

“Sorry, the thunder and lightning frightened me.”

“No need to be sorry,” I tell her quietly as the light show carries on around us on the water.

I’m slightly worried, but not as much as Sophia, and once the tropical storm has run its course, the sky calms, the sea flat once more. Much to Sophia’s delight we return to our overwater bungalow, settling in and watching TV. After a while and a big day of catching up with other couples, we fall asleep, but a noise and the light from the other room wakes me up. I watch with one eye open as Sophia sneaks to the room.

What’s she doing?Curious, I follow her into the next room, watching as she rummages through her bag, pulling out a needle in the dark, and tapping the side of it, checking its contents. I watch as she pinches a piece of fat near her stomach with the syringe of liquid ready to be entered.

Infuriated at what I’m seeing, I rush over, grabbing the wrist of the hand holding the needle and glare at her. “What are you fucking doing? You’re taking drugs during your pregnancy?” I shout, Sophia wincing in the face of my anger.

“I’m not taking drugs. Not like that,” she rushes out, her eyes wild as I increase the grip on her wrist, shaking with rage. “I have diabetes, and these are the insulin shots I have to take,” she responds, her words clogging up as tears begin to spill from her eyes. I let the rage die down, blinking hard and realizing I’m holding her wrist too tightly.

Immediately, I drop my hold, shocked by her admission. “Why didn’t you tell me about your disease?” I askcompassionately as she sniffs, rubbing her now-bruised wrist. Sometimes I don’t recognize my own strength.

Sophia goes back to taking the shot, slowly releasing the liquid into her stomach and putting the syringe away as I look on, not having been in contact with someone with the condition before.

“Why would I tell you?” she projects, her eyes red.

“What are you talking about?”

“Like you care! You only married me for the sake of the child,” she forces out bitterly.

“Do you think I’m going to let you have a child out of wedlock when I’m part of the Bratva? Be serious, Sophia! I can’t protect you that way.”

“Maybe it’s you I need protection from!” She holds up her wrist, getting underneath my skin.

“You’re being unreasonable. Wake up! You don’t have the means or the space to have a child at your small apartment. I’m not going to let any child of mine suffer that way. Besides, you’re too naïve to the bad people lurking all around you,” I scold.

“You’re not the boss of me! This is my life you’re playing with. I’ve already given up school and everything to live this life with you.”

Scoffing, I pace the room. “You seem to be enjoying yourself so far!”

“And you say I’m the naïve one. I’m not your captive. I’m your wife, even if this is a sham marriage,” she retorts in a tired voice, plopping down on the bed and facing away from me.

Not wanting to fight with her anymore, or to stress her and the baby out, I plop down on the edge of the bed. “Sophia, look atme,” I command as she turns staring me in the face with what I think is open hatred. We stare at each other for a few long tense moments, the barrier between us growing, but after staring each other down for too long, I break, only wanting to comfort her. Moving closer, I pull her closer in, her emerald eyes begging me for safety and care. I give it to her, rubbing the back of her hand softly before kissing her mouth tenderly.

“Sorry I didn’t tell you,” she apologizes.

Sighing, I rub her leg through her colorful sarong. “Don’t hide anything from me. I’m only going to help you.”

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