Page 41 of The Bratva's Knocked-Up Bride

“No,” I spat, firmer than before.

It’s almost as if I can see the smoke blowing from Dean’s ears. “You guys think you’re so big and mighty, eh?” He snorts. “Too important to take a good deal when it’s handed to you on a silver platter. Well, you dug your graves. You can lay in it. And you—”

He turns to Gwen, his fat lips curving into a sickly grin that displays yellowed teeth. “Dig an extra one for your friend as well. She’ll be needing it soon once we’re done with her.”

Anger seizes my chest, and I can feel it emanating from Gwen as well, but we both maintain our composure. That is, until Luther adds:

“On second thought, let’s make a trade. I’ll give you your friend back for that fine piece of ass you have there. I can only imagine the things I’d do to her.”

That was it for me. I surged forward, adrenaline igniting my senses. The punch connected with his jaw, and I relished the satisfying crack of bone against bone. The men at his side rose from the couch, prompting those behind me to stand alert as well. But just as quickly as it started, Victor and the guards intervened, pulling me back. Like Dean, Luther tried to lunge at me, but their brother and men held them back.

“Let’s go, Roman,” Victor said, urgency lacing his tone. Every part of me wants to stay, wants to feed Luther his fucking teeth for saying what he did about my wife, but I know better than to be so reckless—at least, more than I already have been.

“Blyat,” I curse under my breath, shrugging my shoulders as I turned to leave with my people.

“You fucker!” Mark yells at my back, and the anger in his voice is satisfying. Until he finishes his sentence. “Tell that bitch of yours to get ready to say her fucking goodbyes!”

Gwen hesitates in her step, but I have a firm hand on her back, pushing her forward. We leave the club in a rush, the tension hanging in the air like a thick fog. We rejoin our group outside, and I avoid their glances and conversations as I make my way toward the SUV with Gwen, ignoring the stares I can feel burning into my back. I have no intention of explaining myself to them, and there is nothing to explain. I know what I did was painfully stupid, and as we drive back to our place in silence, as I feel Gwen force as much space between us as possible, I quickly regret my impulsivity. I could feel the heat radiating from her, an emotional storm brewing beneath the surface.

Once we arrived at the penthouse, Gwen stormed into the living room, her fists clenched at her sides. “What the hell was that?” she shouted, her voice shaking with fury. There are tears welling in her eyes, but I can tell she’s trying her hardest to push them back. “You just threw away my friend’s life!”

“I didn’t throw anything away,” I shot back, trying to remain calm despite the storm brewing inside me. “You need to trust me.”

“I thought I did!” she yelled, tears brimming in her eyes. “Why would you do that? You sold her out! God, I could fucking kill you!”

She pushes me as hard as she can, but it barely moves me. She tried again, but I stepped forward, grabbing her arms and pushing her against the wall, forcing her to meet my gaze. “Because while we entertained their ‘negotiations,’ Anya and our guards placed tracking devices on their vehicles. Now it’s just a matter of time before we find Riley and ruin those motherfuckers.”

She froze, her anger morphing into shock as the realization sank in.

The weight of my words hung between us, and I could see the conflict playing out in her eyes. For a moment, Gwen was speechless, processing the revelation. Then, without warning, she surged forward, her lips crashing against mine in a wild kiss.

I was taken aback for a heartbeat, but I quickly melted into the kiss, tasting the fury and fear that lingered on her tongue. She poured everything she felt into that moment—relief, frustration, and something deeper that I couldn’t quite grasp yet. My hands instinctively moved to her waist, pulling her closer as if to reassure her that I wouldn’t let anything happen to her.

As we broke apart, I could see the fire in her eyes, the heat radiating from her skin. “I-I’m… sorry. Why didn’t you tell me? God, I’m still angry at you,” she said, her voice a whisper now, filled with a mix of emotion.

“I get it,” I replied, my forehead resting against hers. “I didn’t want to tell you for your own safety.”

“Why does italwayscome down to that?” she breathed, frustration still evident in her tone. “Why does everything feel so complicated?”

“Because we’re in a complicated world, Gwen. And I promise to protect you, even if it means making decisions you disagree with.”

She searched my eyes, seeking something—reassurance, perhaps. “Just don’t let me down again,” she said, her voice steady yet tinged with vulnerability.

“I won’t,” I vowed, feeling the weight of her trust resting on my shoulders. “But right now, I need you to trust me enough to take a breath, and let’s move forward.”

After a beat, Gwen nodded, the tension in her shoulders relaxing just a fraction. “Okay, I’ll try.”

Just as I thought we had reached a fragile understanding, the air between us shifted again. The kiss had ignited a tension that had been simmering beneath the surface for too long. I leaned in closer, brushing my lips against hers once more, just a whisper of contact, but enough to reignite that spark.

“Come on,” I said, pulling back slightly, the thrill of the evening still coursing through my veins. “Let’s forget about everything for a moment. We’ll handle what’s next together.”

I led her to the bedroom, the space filled with shadows and the soft glow of the city lights filtering through the window. My heart raced, the adrenaline from the confrontation mixed with the electricity of being near her. I wanted to lose myself in her, to drown out the chaos of our lives for just a little while.

Once inside, I turned to her, my voice low and teasing. “How about a little distraction? Just for tonight?”

She raised an eyebrow, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips. “What do you have in mind?”

“Let’s start with what you wanted to see,” I said, stepping back and gesturing toward the bed. “And then we can take it from there.”

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