Page 42 of Forced Innocent Bratva Bride

My brows furrowed, creating faint creases on my forehead, as I wondered whether sneaking out was a mistake. I could sense another presence, but as I peered around, there was no one else other than me.

My pulse quickened, my heart racing as a bad feeling swelled up within me. But before I could break into a run, a figure dashed out into the street and pressed a cloth over my face. I screamed, struggling against my attacker's strong arms to no avail.

I was forced to inhale an awful smell I assumed was chloroform, and in no time, the world started to swirl. My head was spinning, and I felt the strength slowly drain out of me. My vigorous slaps against their arms now became weak and sluggish.

My vision was blurry, and I struggled to keep my eyes open, even though I knew eventually, I'd lose this fight.

The sound of their heavy breaths echoed in my spinning head as I drifted unconscious. I felt weightless as I got whisked off my feet. My eyelids fluttered, then finally closed, and complete darkness set in.

Chapter 15 – Alexei

I wondered how the doctor's appointment went today. I could've gone with her, but something came up at work that needed my attention.

Guilt of not being by her side at a time when she needed me had started to build within me. However, I'd spent the whole day suppressing it. I kept telling myself that I had two of my finest men with her.

But deep down, the reason that guilt gnawed at me was because I was emotionally unavailable for her.

Since when did that start to bother me? I'd never been the emotional type, nor did stuff like this get to me.

She was a grown woman and had proven countless times that she could take care of herself. Yet, I couldn't help but feel like I should've been there with her. Maybe choosing to go with her to see the doctor would’ve been a much better option than meeting up with those clients.

The traffic this evening was a nightmare. The highway had turned into a giant parking lot, with vehicles stretching as far as the eye could see.

Buckled in the backseat, I let out a frustrated sigh, rubbing my eyes. Delay was the last thing that I needed right now, but the stupid traffic seemed to be at a fucking standstill.

I glanced at my watch, and my face contorted into a frown. My brows knitted, and a pang of vexation swelled within me. It was almost thirty minutes that we'd been stuck here, amidst this streak of motionless cars.

“I'm sorry, sir.” Gordey's deep voice, filled with regret, cut through my thoughts. I jerked my head and met his eyes in the rearview mirror. He continued, “This is my fault, I should've taken a different route.”

It wasn't his fault; this was the usual route we took most times when driving home. Tonight was different, and neither of us had anticipated that traffic would be this terrible.

“It's fine, Gordey,” I said, my voice low but thick as I withdrew my phone from my pocket.

I texted my wife, fingers rattling across the keyboard on my lit screen. “Hey, how'd it go with the doctor's appointment?” I hit thesendicon and clicked the power button by the side to lock the screen.

“Shall I play your favorite music, sir?” Gordey asked, stealing a glance at me through the rearview mirror.

“No,” I replied, my eyes dropping down to my phone. “That won’t be necessary.” I unlocked the screen, waiting for her response.

It never came.

I swiped a palm over my face, my chest rising and falling in anger. I was mad at everything, especially being stuck in traffic—and why the hell wasn't she responding to my text?

This wasn't the first time I'd texted, and she'd never taken this long to reply. Was she not near her phone?

I clenched my jaw and decided to call her instead. But as I dialed her number, I was greeted by an automated voice that said her phone was switched off.

Switched off? That was impossible! Why would her phone be switched off when she never lacked power?

My brows furrowed as I called again. Perhaps there was an issue with our phone signals.

However, I received the same message.

I gritted my teeth, my blood boiling in anger, but a hint of concern crept in. I was unable to fathom what exactly was going on because this was strange.

We both had our differences, but she'd never switch off her phone on purpose. Lorena knew how much this pregnancymeant to me, how seriously I took it. So, what, in the name of God, was going on?

I searched through my contact list and dialed the housekeeper's number. It rang on the other line, and soon, she picked up.

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