Page 43 of Forced Innocent Bratva Bride

“Good evening, sir,” she greeted me, her voice calm and gentle.

“Good evening, Alex,” I replied, the sound of my car's engine roaring to life catching my attention for a fleeting moment.

The traffic's grip on us had loosened, and the road ahead was starting to clear. Gordey eased the car forward, gradually picking up speed.

“Is my wife home?” I asked Alexandra, hoping for a positive response.

“Yes, sir. She returned from the hospital about an hour ago,” Alex replied.

That was a relief, and I lowered my head, massaging my eyes. However, it wasn't enough because if she was truly at home, her phone wouldn't be turned off.

“Alex, put her on the phone. I'll stay on the line,” I instructed, my heart racing in my chest.

I wasn't sure what I felt: anger or worry? Or maybe even both.

I could hear her hasty footsteps as she hurried to our room, and in no time she reached the door and knocked. “Lorena, you in there?” she asked, her voice polite.

There was no response.

Now, my chest was starting to heave rapidly as a myriad of thoughts occupied my mind.

“Lorena?” she called again.

I ran out of patience and snapped through gritted teeth, “Damnit, Alexandra, open the door!”

She pushed it open on my words and barged inside. Alexandra was silent for a moment, but I could hear her moving around the room. “She's…she’s not here, sir,” she announced, her voice wobbling.

I balled a fist, my jaw tightening in anger. “Where is she?” I questioned, my tone laced with venom.

“I… I don't know, sir,” Alexandra stuttered on the other line, her rapid footsteps and heavy breaths indicating that she was roaming the house, checking other rooms.

“Alexandra, you said that she returned about an hour ago.” I reminded her of her words, my voice almost a menacing whisper.

“I swear, she was home, although later, I saw her going….” She stopped mid-sentence, like she'd just realized something.

“Going where, Alex?” I demanded, my tone impatient.

“Going into your study,” she said, picking up her pace.

“Why would she…?” I wondered out loud and then paused as it hit me.

I understood why Alexandra had gone mute for a moment; she knew there was a secret passage in my study. Could it be possible that Lorena had used it to get out of the house?

It wouldn't be the first time she was leaving the house without my permission, anyway. But something about this time seemed off.

I heard a door open, and Alexandra walked inside. “Oh, my God,” she whispered. “Sir, she knows about the passage.”

This meant that Lorena had left the house…again. My chest swelled with anger, and my eyes narrowed at her defiance. The last time she pulled a stunt like this, I was able to reach her—at least then I'd tracked her phone.

This time it was different. I had no idea where she was, whom she was with, or how to get through to her.

I knew she didn't like this marriage, but I also knew that she'd never run away like this; she knew better. Something didn't add up.

Lorena might have used the passage to leave the house in hopes of returning within a few minutes. I knew the mansion was somehow suffocating her, and maybe she just needed some time to think, considering the situation with the baby.

She'd never switch off her phone if she went out for a walk.

“Everything okay, sir?” Gordey asked, his tone laced with a hint of concern.

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