Page 9 of The Bratva's Knocked-Up Bride

The more I saw the black car with tinted windows, the harder my heart pounded in my chest, and I could only think about the realities of what happened in the city. The dark things that the Levovs and Novikovs were privy to, and even participated in.

As much as Gemma tried to keep those things hidden from me out of fear of scaring me, she couldn’t always help herself from letting the occasional tidbit slip. Besides, from the few events of theirs I attended, there was no mistaking who they were or what kind of life they led.

Every one of them was beyond intimidating and cold in one way or another, and you’d have to be completely oblivious to remain unaware of their affiliations.

It was a shame, though. They were certainly interesting, but I knew someone like me shouldn’t get mixed up with any of them. Associating with Gemma was pushing it enough already.

Forcing a deep breath in and out, I tried to keep my wits about me as I moved with the crowd. Every part of me wanted to run and hide somewhere for my peace of mind, but I couldn’t. I had to get to the office, and I didn’t want to draw any attention to myself.

Instead, I found myself stuck at a crosswalk while we waited for the signal to walk.

It felt like an agonizing wait, but when I glanced over and didn’t see the black car again, I felt relief as it moved through me.

Maybe I was just being paranoid…it was nothing after all.

Then, that sleek paint job pulled up right beside me as the window rolled down, and my heart clenched all over again. More cars honked as drivers cursed the person out while they wheeled around the vehicle and pulled away, obviously annoyed by the interruption to the flow of things.

I was prepared to scream as my stomach squirmed, but the moment I saw Damien’s face, I sighed and put a hand against my chest.

Damien leaned toward the passenger side with a lopsided grin. “Need a ride?”

“Jesus…you scared me,” I said, taking a small step closer as the crosswalk signal changed, and everyone around me continued walking. I crossed my arms over my chest, feeling slightly relieved that I knew the driver after all.

“Apologies…I noticed you there and thought I’d offer.”

Nodding my understanding, I adjusted my bag on my shoulder, not missing how his eyes discreetly trailed up and down my body, surely taking notice of my different attire.

“I appreciate the offer, but I’m fine walking.”

“You sure?” Damien asked again, lifting an expectant brow at me. “It’s no problem…I’m on the way to the same place anyway.”

A vague spark of irritation moved through me despite how I tried to appear pleasant on the outside. “Yeah, I’m sure. There’s no need to hold anyone else up,” I murmured, aware of the other honking cars and the lingering stares we were earning.

Damien scoffed quietly. “Everyone else can wait for all I care. I insist.”

More frustration bubbled within me. He just wasn’t getting it. “I’m fine, Damien.”

He narrowed his eyes at me slightly. “Don’t be so uptight. Just get in.”

“I’m perfectly capable—”

As our bickering continued, more cars honked and other pedestrians glanced over at us, likely questioning if there was a problem, or if I needed them to interfere.

For half a moment, I wished someone would just so Damien might take the hint, but those lingering gazes made my skin crawl, and I sighed. I hated causing a scene, and I hated how willing he was to make it happen even more.

The passenger door popped open, and Damien threw me a look that said he wasn’t willing to take no for an answer.

Tired of feeling like an interruption on the street, I forced out a breath and approached the car wordlessly.

“I’ll take that,” Damien said, reaching for my bag as his grin returned, looking more smug than before. When I gave itup, he put it in the back seat before correcting himself and turning his signal on while I sat down and buckled myself in, closing the door behind me.

Easily enough, Damien merged back into the line of traffic and rested his arm over the steering wheel casually.

As attractive as I found him, I was beginning to see those small habits and patterns in him that reminded me of how entitled he was. Impatient, too.

There was something beyond appealing about his strong features and the tan that never faded from his skin, along with the way his dark lashes framed those hazel eyes that seemed too expressive for his own good at times. Everything about him felt like an invitation to fall completely for him, but it was those small things that irritated me. That made me somewhat indifferent to him.

I wasn’t used to anyone trying to interrupt my morning like that or go out of their way to give me a ride, but the scene on the sidewalk was something I could live without.

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