Page 25 of Kidnapped Bratva Virgin

“Alright, Momma!” The little girl takes her plate away as I shake my head.

“Wow. How are you?”

Sophia beams. “I’m fantastic. I can’t complain, but… um, hello, are you here with Dimitri? Andrei didn’t tell me that,” she gushes in a whisper, her eyes opening at the juicy gossip. My cheeks redden as I nod.

“Yes. I’m here with him. It’s early days, but so far… it’s been interesting,” I tell her, leaving things open to interpretation. She nods with a knowing smile.

“Oh, it’s going to be interesting with the Utkin family, and that’s an understatement. I want you to call me later and tell me how this all started.”

“Phew, Sophia. It’s a story, but the short of it is it involves an inheritance.”

“Fuck!” She grabs my wrist in excitement and it’s almost like being back in law school with her again, and I realize how much I’ve missed her. “Let’s get together. We can’t talk here.” She rolls her eyes, looking to the left where the more sophisticated people seem to be gathered.

“Okay. I’m so glad to see you.”

“You too. I’m practicing at Goldblum’s now as a defense attorney. Loving it!”

“Whoa! That’s sensational. You really are living the dream.”

Sophia chuckles, distracted by noises from behind her. “Yeah, I am some days. Listen, I have to go check on Anya. Call me!” she shouts as I smile at my old friend, so proud of her.

Dimitri sweeps in from behind, kissing into my hair. “Hey, one more important person I want you to meet. Come.”

“Okay.” He takes my hand, leading me over to the group that seem to be in their own little bubble. He promptly introduces me to a stylish older woman with freshly blow-dried, whitish-blonde hair, her makeup flawless. Around her neck is adelicate gold necklace. She’s dressed in all white and very chic, barely any wrinkles in sight. She’s above average height and holding a wine glass in her French-manicured fingers.

“Hi, Mother. I’d like you to meet Ava Knight.” Dimitri bends to kiss his mother on her upturned cheek, the same icy blue eyes sparkling back at me. “Ava, this is my mother Ekaterina.”

There’s a great deal of pride held in Dimitri’s voice, and I’m guessing his mother means a lot to him.

“Good afternoon, Ava. Thank you for coming to our little family gathering here. It’s nice to meet you. I’ve heard good things,” she remarks politely, but there’s a frigidness in her tone that sends shivers down my spine.

“I’m glad it’s good things. You have such a lovely home, and I adore your paintings. I see why Dimitri likes art so much and has such good taste,” I return, cringing as her curved eyebrow stretches upwards. I’m aware that I’m probably trying too hard.

“That’s probably because Mom gave me a few of them,” Dimitri chuckles, her mother showering him with a charming smile, tapping the side of his face.

“No, Dimitri. You do have good taste.” She looks at me directly, her eyes shiny with contempt. “Usually.”

Bitch!Uncomfortably, I place a hand over my throat as Dimitri wraps a protective hand around my waist.

“No. Always,” he insists.

Shit.Get me out here now. Or at least get me a drink.I’m saved from drowning as one is given to me by Dimitri. Almost as if he knows the scorpion pit he’s hurled me into.

“Hey, Dimitri! Get over here,” I hear some man call out from behind him as he parts from us, embracing whatI’m assuming is another family member. For my trouble, I’m left, faced with the conservative, cold glare of his overbearing mother.

“You know you don’t belong with him.” Her honest words slice up an insecurity I already harbor, and I’m jarred by her words.

“What?”

Her eyes cut into me as she looks down her nose at me. “I believe you heard what I said. You don’t belong with him. You’re not cut out for this life. You don’t have the social status or reputation to improve Dimitri’s life.”

Flabbergasted by her claims, I frown as I watch Dimitri talking to his cousin and another woman next to him. “I think it’s up to Dimitri to decide who he chooses to be with.” I can’t let the woman bowl me over, but her words have sunk into my brain decaying my positive thoughts about our budding relationship.

She fingers the gold necklace around her slender neck with a tight smile. “That’s very cute in that fanciful delusion you’re living in, but my son is the head of a very powerful Bratva organization, and you should consider distancing yourself from my son,” she warns, her bouquet of perfume burning my nostrils as she leans closer towards me. “Or I will do it myself.”

Floored by her words, I shake my head. “Your son approached me, not the other way around,” I correct, finding my center and remembering my law degree and how I like to win.

Ekaterina scoffs. “Yes. Darling. You have what he wants, but you don’t hold as much value as her.” Ekaterina holds up her wine glass gesturing it in the direction of the delicate blonde beauty next to Dimitri. Her bag is designer, and her snow-white hair is pinned back in a slicked ponytail, her pale glass skinperfect in every way. She’s skinny and could pass as a runway model.

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