Page 51 of An Arranged Virgin for the Bratva

Her kindness catches me off guard, and I feel my carefully constructed walls wavering. "Thank you," I manage, my voice barely above a whisper.

As Lara leaves, closing the door gently behind her, I'm left alone with my thoughts once more. They inevitably drift to Vladimir.

He's clearly lost interest in explaining, I think to myself firmly, pacing again. If he cared, he would have reached out by now. Chances are, he’s happy it’s ended the way it has. At least now, he’s succeeded in hindering my attempt to bring down the Crimson Crew.

The sting of betrayal twists in my chest, sharper than I'd like to admit. I'd let my guard down and allowed myself to see him as more than just a means to an end. How foolish.

***

The next morning, a sudden commotion in the hallway shatters my peace as I sip coffee and read the paper in the drawing room. The door bursts open, and my siblings flood into the room, Dima included, their faces a mix of concern and anger.

"Sofia!" Nikolai, my usually calm oldest brother, practically shouts. "What the hell is going on?"

I freeze, my heart racing. "What are you talking about?"

Natalia, ever the protective sister, steps forward, her brown eyes flashing. "Don't play dumb. We know you've left Vladimir’s house. What happened between you two?"

"I don't owe you an explanation," I snap. It's a defense mechanism, one I've perfected over the years.

Artyom, always the peacemaker, tries to intervene. "Sofi, we're just worried. You came here without any warning, and Dima is worried sick.”

I shoot Dima a glare. Dima shrugs, but the concern doesn’t leave his face.

“Did he do something?” Fedor growls. “Cause I’ll fuck him up, I swear.”

“Or are you having a lovers’ spat?” Natalia demands stubbornly, stepping in front of me with her arms crossed, staring up at me with an inquisitive gaze.

I open my mouth to retort, but Lara's voice cuts through the tension. "What's all this commotion about?"

She steps into the room, her presence immediately commanding attention. My siblings turn to her, words tumbling out in a chaotic rush.

"Sofia's hiding something—"

"We think she might be in trouble—"

"She won't tell us anything—"

Lara holds up a hand, silencing them. "Oh, for heaven's sake. Is that what all this fuss is about?"

She turns to me, a mischievous glint in her eye. "Sofia, Darling, did you not tell them about Dima having to cancel on your vacation?"

I blink, momentarily stunned by her quick thinking. "I… no, I just don’t want to involve anyone in my mess."

Lara tuts, shaking her head. "Well, you know your siblings. I'm sorry, Sofia. I know how you were looking forward to it all month."

My siblings deflate visibly, looking both relieved and embarrassed. Natalia is the first to speak. "A vacation? That's what all this secrecy has been about?"

I nod, latching onto Lara's lifeline. "Yes. I wanted it to be perfect. But you know how Dima is. Always choosing work."

Dima runs a hand through his hair, sheepishly glancing between his wife and me. "We feel like idiots now. Sorry, Sofi."

As they file out, muttering apologies, I catch Lara's eye. The gratitude I feel is overwhelming, and for once, I let it show on my face. She winks, a silent promise passing between us. In that moment, I realize I might have found an unexpected ally.

As the door closes behind my siblings, Lara gently takes my arm and guides me to sit on the edge of the couch. The silence between us is heavy, pregnant with unspoken questions. I fidget with the hem of my shirt under the weight of her concerned gaze.

"Sofia," Lara says softly, her voice warm and inviting. "What's really going on?"

I take a shaky breath, my walls crumbling. I need to tell someone, and from how non-judgmental and helpful Lara has been, she seems to be the safest bet. Besides, something tells me that if I come out with the truth that has been burdening me, she’ll be the last person to lock me in a room under the pretense of keeping me safe. "I… I don't know where to start."

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