Page 54 of Captured By the Bratva

I crossed my arms, staring at the call on speaker. “Then tell me. Whatisat stake, Steven?”

He snorted. “Stop being difficult.”

I shook my head.

“Don’t be such a gullible idiot and think you’re better off siding with them.”

Biting my lip, I watched Margie make Emily smile wider, pretending the spoon was a mute airplane.

“You’re not,” Steven said. “Do you even know what kind of a sicko Ivan Valkov is? Do you?”

He’s a better man than you’ll ever be.

“Do you know what you’re doing by siding with those criminals?”

Ensuring my safety. The world will be a better place without you in it.

“He’s a ruthless, violent man, Becca. He’ll chew you up and spit you out like you’re nothing.”

I stayed silent.

“Because youarenothing!” His temper rose as his faint patience fell. “You hear me? You arenothingbut a traitorous fucking bitch, a stupid whore to think you’d be better off siding with the Bratva. You are dead to me. Do you understand?”

No.I narrowed my eyes.You are. And soon, you will literally be dead by Ivan’s hands.

“See if I give a shit,” I retorted.

He growled.

“See if I give a damn about anything you say.”

“I know what I’m talking about.”

I fisted my hand. “I don’t care! All you’ve ever wanted to do is use me.”

“What the fuck do you think he’s doing? Huh?” He raised his voice even louder. “He’s only using you too.”

To lure you out.And arguing with him, letting my emotions and anger get the better of me, wasn’t helping.

“You’re missing one difference there. He’s not an abusive asshole like you.”

“He’s not?” Steven scoffed. “He’s a sadistic freak who manages countless sex clubs in the city. He’s a fucking meathead who tortures his enemies before he lets them die. And you want to be a dumb bitch and think he’s some hero you can count on?”

“It’s a lot better than ever counting on you.”

He screamed, then hung up.

Once the call was done, Margie pressed the button on her phone to stop recording. “Oh, Becca…”

I covered my face, drawing in a steady breath. “I screwed that up.”

“What? No.” She took my free hand, and I looked up.

“Ivan told us to be prepared to record it, and we did. He said the longer we keep him on the phone, they might be able to trace the call.”

I smirked. I knew that. But I’d lost my temper and prompted him to hang up well before the length of time Dmitri had advised me to stay on for.

“I’m supposed to be bait,” I told her. “Ivan is holding me hostage to make Steven come out of hiding.”

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