Page 28 of Knocked Up by the Bratva

Chiara steps forward, her eyes cold as they assess me. “Maeve says you need help,” she says, her voice smooth but laced with something darker. “Help escaping Timur Sharov.”

I feel my stomach tighten at the mention of his name. The very idea of running from Timur sends a shiver down my spine, but that’s exactly what I want. I nod cautiously, still trying to figure out whether this woman is friend or foe.

“Why would you help me?” I ask, my voice more uncertain than I’d like.

Chiara smirks, folding her arms. “Because I want something from you in return. You spent time with Timur, didn’t you? You must know something about him. A weakness, a vulnerability.” Her eyes narrow, gleaming with a hunger for revenge. “I need information. Anything that can help me destroy him.”

My breath catches in my throat. I glance at Maeve, hoping for some reassurance, but Maeve looks as uncertain as I feel. Still, I’m desperate, and Chiara is offering me a way out. Even if she’s from another crime family, I need her help right now. I can’t stay here and let Timur find out about the baby.

“I don’t know,” I stammer, “I don’t know if he has any weaknesses.”

Chiara’s smirk fades, replaced by a look of impatience. “You must know something, Jennifer. You’re telling me you were close enough to him for one night, and you didn’t learn anything about his family? About him?”

I swallow hard. My heart is racing. I didn’t spend enough time with Timur to know his deepest secrets, but that night… the way he acted, the things he said. I start to recall his possessiveness, how he told me that I belonged to him, how he seemed more affected by me than I would have expected. Could that be a weakness?

“I’m not sure,” I say slowly, still trying to piece things together in my mind. “He… he’s possessive. He doesn’t let go easily. He wants control.”

Chiara tilts her head, her eyes narrowing. “Control, huh? Interesting.”

“But why do you want to destroy him?” I ask, needing to know what I’m getting myself into. “Why are you doing this?”

Chiara’s expression darkens, her hands clenching into fists at her sides. “His family destroyed mine,” she says, her voice seething with barely contained rage. “His older brother, Maxim, killed my father. I won’t stop until I’ve made them pay for it.”

I feel my heart sink at her words. Revenge. This is all about revenge for her. Here I am, caught between two warring crime families, desperate for an escape. If I don’t give Chiara what she wants, I lose my chance to get away from Timur. I’m stuck.

“I… I don’t know how much I can help,” I admit, my voice shaky, “but I’ll try.”

Chiara steps closer, her gaze intense. “You’re going to do more than try, Jennifer. You’re going to help me take him down, or you’ll never get away from him. He’ll find you. Trust me, when the Sharovs want something, they don’t stop until they get it.”

I swallow hard, feeling trapped, yet again. Chiara’s words send a chill down my spine because I know she’s right. Timurwillfind me if I don’t figure out how to disappear; but working with Chiara? Is that any better?

Maeve, sensing my hesitation, steps forward, her voice soft but insistent. “Jen, this is your chance. You said it yourself—you can’t stay here, and Timur can never find out about the baby. Chiara can help.”

Chiara looks at me with those cold, calculating eyes. “So, what’s it going to be? Are you in, or not?”

My heart pounds in my chest. I feel like I’m standing on the edge of a cliff, about to leap into the unknown. I can’t trust her. I don’t know what I’m getting into. I also know that I’m out of options.

Finally, I nod. “Okay,” I whisper. “I’m in.”

Chiara’s smile returns, but it’s sharp and full of menace. “Good. You won’t regret it.” Chiara leans back in her chair, crossing her legs casually, as if we aren’t discussing something monumental. “Okay,” she says after a moment. “First, I need more information about Timur’s business. Specifically, his real estate ventures.”

My stomach flips. I can’t pretend I know everything about Timur’s business dealings, but I know enough to be dangerous. Enough that I could probably find out more. The thought of betraying him twists something deep inside me, but what choice do I have? He’s part of a family responsible for so much pain in my life.

“I’ll give you what you need,” I say quietly, glancing between Maeve and Chiara. “How do I know you’ll hold up your end of the bargain?”

Chiara smirks, but there’s no humor in it. “I’m not in the business of breaking promises, Jennifer. If I say I’ll get you out, I will. There’s one thing you need to understand.”

I raise an eyebrow, waiting.

“When I give you a new identity,” she continues, “you can never be Jennifer Jewels again. You’ll disappear, and that’s it. You’ll leave everything behind—your life, your past, everyone you know.”

The weight of her words sinks into me like a cold stone. Never be Jennifer Jewels again? A part of me feels a strange sense of relief, but another part of me feels like I’m being smothered. I look at Maeve for reassurance, and she gives me a small, supportive nod.

“What about Maeve?” I ask, my voice almost trembling. “Can she know where I am? Can I at least stay in contact with her?”

Chiara’s eyes flicker toward Maeve for a split second, her expression unreadable. “That depends on whether Maeve knows how to keep a secret,” she says coolly. “You’ll need to be smart about it. The less anyone knows, the safer you are.”

I glance at Maeve again, biting my lip. I can’t imagine not having her in my life. She’s the only family I have left, the only person I trust completely. “Whatever you need to say,” I tell Chiara firmly, “you can say it in front of Maeve.”

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