Page 46 of Forced Innocent Bratva Bride

Where on Earth are you, Lorena?

Chapter 16 – Lorena

A slight groan escaped my lips as my eyelids fluttered open, a dull ache throbbing in my head—heavy with the remnants of sedation.

My gaze was hazy, vision blurry as I slowly came to, blinking with a soft wince. My palm flew to my head, fingers massaging my temples in an attempt to soothe the pain that plagued me.

I was disoriented. My senses were foggy, and my muscles were stiff, not to mention my dry mouth and sticky tongue, both of which were obvious as a wave of nausea washed over me.

In just a few seconds, my vision cleared, and I took stock of the familiar interior—the familiar scent that wafted through the air. I blinked a few times, eyes fixed on the spinning ceiling fan.

I winced at my aching body, which felt like it was weighed down by an invisible force. I still hadn't fully grasped how I ended up here on this couch.

“Where am I?” I muttered, struggling to sit up, eyes darting across the cozy interior.

My heart skipped a beat, and my breath lodged in my throat as I recalled what happened to me in the gardens.

How long ago was that?

But what bugged me the most was the realization of where I was.

My eyes widened first, hardly believing the sight before me, then narrowed.

I recognized the flower vase on the table and the portraits that adorned the walls.

“What the hell?” I whispered, setting my feet on the fine wooden floor.

A wave of nostalgia hit me. Memories of time spent in this place came rushing back into my mind. “No, no, no,” I grumbled, rising to my feet, my heart pounding in my chest.

I stumbled upon the coffee table and tripped, crashing to the floor. My leg ached from the painful collision, but that was the least of my problems right now.

A loud, ear-piercing whistle cut through the air, drawing my attention toward the kitchen, where water in a kettle had reached its boiling point.

“Oh, you're awake,” his calm and tender voice came from behind.

With a swift movement, I jerked back on my feet, ignoring the pain in my leg. My face contorted into a frown.

“Wow, you're even more beautiful than before,” he said, lips curling into a smile as he took a step forward.

“Stay back!” I snapped at him, gesturing with a palm held up in front of me.

He stopped in his tracks, slowly raising his hands in surrender. “Okay, I may have deserved this reaction considering how….” He paused, tilting his head to the side. “Well, considering how I got you to come with me.”

“I didn't come with you. Youkidnappedme, you moron!” I snarled, my tone laced with venom.

Seeing him now after all this time made my skin crawl, and my blood boiled with rage. I glared at him, my scowl deepening by the second. How dare he bring me here without my permission? How dare he kidnap me?

“Don't look at me like that, Smurfette,” he said, eyes locked on me. The expression on his face was soft. “You know I'll never hurt you.”

My brows arched in disbelief, and an abrupt chuckle escaped my lips as I recalled the multiple times he'd actually hurt me.

“Well, not physically, anyway,” he added almost immediately, that friendly smile never slipping.

I maintained a straight face, my expression unreadable. “Why did you kidnap me, Bryce?” I questioned, glaring at him.

He rolled his eyes as though he was contemplating his response. “Do you want the long version or the summarized version? Because honestly, I went through a lot of trouble bringing you—” The words tumble from his lips frantic rush.

“Bryce!” I thundered, brows furrowing as I cut him off.

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