Page 23 of The Bratva's Knocked-Up Bride

I scoff. What, does he think I’m going to go out myself and hunt these fuckers down?

Well, I would, with no doubt, but I know I wouldn’t get far with him on my ass.

“Then tell me whatissafe for me to know,” I counter, crossing my arms. “I’m not asking to storm the gates with you, Roman. I just want to know what’s going on.”

For a moment, I think he’s going to shut me down again, but then he leans back in his chair, studying me with his intense gaze. “Fine,” he says at last. “You want to know? I’ll tell you what I’ve found out.”

I blink, surprised that he’s actually giving in. Roman leans forward, his voice dropping slightly. “The group that took your friend… they’re connected to a larger family in Las Vegas. They’re weak in comparison to the Bratva, but they think I’m some inexperienced nobody who came from Russia. They believe they can use me as a way in with my cousin Luka.”

There’s a pang in my chest at the name Bratva, and it quickly contorts into something relative to fear. I knew his family was big, which is why I didn’t ask when he first revealed it to me. I knew they were important. I knew they had to belong to one of the popular crime families in Russia. But thebiggestone? I couldn’t deny that hearing those words leave Roman’s mouth, sitting here face to face with a man as scary and powerful as he… made me feel a certain way. Fearful almost, yet strangely… protected.

His words hang heavy in the air, and I see something different in Roman’s eyes for the first time in days. A flicker of frustration, of pride. It bothers him that they see him as a pawn in their game. But there’s something else too. A darkness that lurks just beneath the surface, the same dangerous edge I saw that first night when the gunshots rang out. I’ve been sowrapped up in challenging him at every turn, making everything difficult, that I momentarily forgot who hereallyis.

Roman isn’t just some overly protective brute. He’s a man with power, a man who’s used to getting what he wants and isn’t afraid to take it by force if necessary. A dangerous man. A terrifying man. Fuck, the Grim Reaper, for all I know.

Yet here I am, poking the bear at every opportunity, pushing his buttons just to see what will happen. And the worst part? Ienjoyit. I love it.

And the way Roman bites back… it does something to me I can’t explain.

I have no intention of stopping. If anything, I want to see how far I can push him before he snaps.

But then there’s this other side to him. The side that, despite everything, seems almost… gentle. Caring, even. It throws me off every time, and I can’t decide if it makes me trust him more or fear him less. Either way, I’m drawn to it. Tohim.

What the hell are you doing, Gwen?I scolded myself silently as I glanced at Roman, who was now focused on his food and clearly done with the conversation.

But it’s too late. I’m already in too deep, and I’m starting to realize that this marriage—no matter how forced or temporary—might be changing me in ways I never expected.

“So, what are their names?” I ask quietly. I feel awkward now. I was so used to bantering with him and getting the same energy back that it allowed me too much confidence to push his buttons more and more. Now that I finally seem to get on his nerves, I feel almost regretful about it. “The, uh, men?”

“They’re the Winchesters,” He answers. “They call their group the Vultures. Insignificant bunch. Never heard of them before until now.”

I sat silently for a few moments after his words, pushing the food around my plate and trying to process everything he told me. I’d forgotten how dangerous this all is. For days, I’ve been treating him like he’s the villain, the one keeping me prisoner. But real threats out there would tear us apart if given the chance.

And the scariest, more powerful one of all isprotectingme.Me.

It doesn’t make this any easier, though.

Yet, my curiosity, my need to know, prevails. “Okay,” I sit up straighter, a hopeful pang in my chest sprouting from what he’s revealed so far, hoping to figure out more. “What do we know about them? What do they want?”

“The basics,” Roman answers, and it’s obvious he’s keeping everything short and sweet. “Money, power, territory. Nothing special, and nothing they’ll be getting.”

“And what about Riley?” I continue. “If they think she is important to you guys, surely they’ve offered some sort of deal by now? Asked for a ransom?”

Roman meets my eyes and makes a ‘hmph’ sound. “You sure put the pieces together fast,” he says with raised brows, leaning back and shooting me an impressed look that, to my annoyance, makes me feel good about myself.

He seems to think for a moment, then sighs. “We met with one of them last week. Yes, they asked for a ransom. No, we will not be giving them any sort of money. Right now, my brothers are looking into everything they’re involved with, everybusiness and every property they own. We’re leading them to believe we’re ready to offer them a chance to expand their territory while we figure out where Riley is in the meantime.”

A few moments of quiet pass. Questions float about my mind, but he’s already extended the generosity of sharing just a bit of information he initially had no intention of sharing, so I don’t push my luck. “Why didn’t you just tell me this earlier?” I ask minutes later, my voice softer now, the fight slowly draining out of me.

Roman’s eyes meet mine, steady and unreadable. “Because I don’t want you to worry.”

I let out a bitter laugh. “Worry?Roman, I’m already worried. Every second of every day. Hiding things from me doesn’t make it better.”

He leans forward, resting his elbows on the table, and there’s something different in his expression. A hint of vulnerability, maybe? It’s subtle, but it’s there. “I’m trying to protect you, Gwen. I don’t want you involved any more than you already are.”

“Maybe I don’t need you to protect me all the time,” I mutter, even though a small part of me appreciates it. He’s overbearing, yes, but his intentions are clear. He’s trying.

“Maybe you do,” he counters, his voice firm. “These people... they’re dangerous,Moya Lyubov. This isn’t just about your friend. They want leverage and think using you against me is their way in. I can’t let that happen.”

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