Page 43 of Forced By the Bratva Beast

“Take a seat.” Sitting down, I feel guilty about not revealing my pregnancy decision, but the conversation starts off innocently enough.

“So how have you been? I heard through the grapevine that you’ve decided to postpone your studies.” She pours me a glass of iced tea, her voice remaining even as she smiles at me.

“I did postpone my studies. Given the situation, I couldn’t keep on going,” I tell her, about to slip out the information.

“Such a shame. You’ve got all the potential in the world. Do you think you’ll change your mind?” she quizzes.

“No. I can’t.”

“Why’s that?” Prickles of heat ride up the back of my neck as I find the words.

“Because of the choice I’ve made about keeping the baby.”

Dr. Perri’s face falls with disappointment as she sips her tea. “Such a shame,” she says. “But I wanted to talk to you about your notes for Andrei.”

“Yes. What about them?” Racing through my mind, I think about what I might have left out or left in.

“On the tape, Andrei seemed very relaxed about being in jail. Do you think he knew he was going to get off?”

“Ah—I have no idea. Maybe.” There’s an fierce loyalty I have to Andrei now, and I don’t want to tell her anything about him.

“Right.” Dr. Perri scowls, clearly upset at my answer. “He was cryptic with his answers, wasn’t he? Playing you a little bit.”

“He was, it was hard to get anything out of him, but that had more to do with us. I think if you had of been there, it would have been easier to ask the questions.”

“It might have been, but I did piece together enough from your insights.” The funny gut feeling I had earlier is expanding, but it’s hard to figure out where it’s coming from, but I feel a clear urge to leave. Now.

“Is this all you wanted to talk to me about, Dr. Perri? Because we could have spoken on the phone,” I tell her boldly, wanting to cut to the chase if she has something to say to me. A spooky grin rides over her face, as if part of her face becomes grotesque.

“Sorry—it’s not all I wanted to talk to you about.” Her tone turns cold and stony, her eyes hardening as they drill into mine. “Sorry.”

Frazzled, and not understanding, I jump in. “What for?”

Goose bumps rise on my arm as Christopher quietly walks into the room, his cold eyes full of hatred. “Hello again, Sophia. Nice to see you.” Horrified, an inaudible cry remains stuck at thebase of my throat, the pieces of the puzzle coming together. I know where the funny feeling was coming from.

“What is he doing here?” I shriek, looking down at the bandage around his hand. He flexes it, grimacing with a menacing smile.

“This is my sister’s house and just as you were stupid enough to come with me to New York, you were dumb enough to come here,” he says as Dr. Perri says nothing as I’m now getting the answer I dreaded. She’s siding with her brother.

Getting up, I rise quickly, moving away from the repulsive man, deeply regretful of coming.

“I trusted you, Dr. Perri.” Her cold stare chills my bones as I think back to what Andrei told me about being in a room full of snake charmers. I race towards the front door, turning the brass knob, but when I open the door, I run into a bigger problem.

Bruno Salvatore, the man I met with in the lobby of the hotel is standing in front of me in a pinstripe suit.

Don’t panic. Don’t panic. He’s not here to see you. He’s here for them. Move past him.

Averting my eyes from his intrusive gaze, I dip my shoulder into the gap beside him in order to slip by him and out the door, but he places a hard clamp on my shoulder, his capped tooth glittering in Chicago daylight.

“Good afternoon, Mrs. Utkin. Blood drains from my face, rushing to my feet, and I almost want to faint as his bulk closes the gap, forcing me to retreat backwards. Turning around in the main living room, I see I’ve got nowhere to run, and I’m literally cornered by three. Dr. Perri and Christopher approach from behind as my head swings from one enemy to the next.

I shouldn’t have come. I’ve walked right into an open trap.

Bruno’s snicker morphs into a dirty snarl and I pull out my phone, but Bruno snatches it from my hand throwing it to the ground and stomping on it. The glass shatters as he twists his foot on it. “Can’t make that call now, can you? What do you think… we’re stupid?”

“I know you said she was bright, Sis, but you got it wrong.” Christopher’s voice sends me into freeze mode as I stand in the middle of three of them, unable to find my voice.

“I told you to abort it,” Dr. Perri cuts through.

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