Page 53 of An Arranged Virgin for the Bratva

The room feels empty without Vlad.

Suddenly, a floorboard creaks. My body goes rigid, every nerve on high alert. I strain my ears, listening intently. There it is again—the unmistakable sound of a footstep. I’m about to sit up when suddenly, a large, calloused hand clamps over my mouth, and panic explodes through me. My eyes fly open, but in the darkness, I can't make out my attacker's face. My instincts kick in, and I lash out, my elbow connecting with something solid.

A grunt of pain, distinctly masculine, only fuels my determination. I thrash wildly, my heart pounding so hard I can feel it in my throat. My fingers claw at the hand covering my mouth, desperate to break free.

"Sofia, stop!" A familiar voice hisses urgently. "It's me. It's Vladimir."

I freeze, shock temporarily overriding my fear. Vladimir? Here? My mind races, trying to process this unexpected turn of events.

"I'm going to remove my hand," he whispers, his breath warm against my ear. "But you have to promise to stay quiet. Can you do that?"

I nod, still too stunned to form words. As promised, he slowly withdraws his hand, and I gulp in air, my chest heaving.

"What the hell are you doing here?" I demand in a fierce whisper, my initial shock giving way to anger. "You can't just break into my room in the middle of the night!"

"I had no choice," Vladimir replies, his voice low and urgent.

My eyes are adjusting to the darkness now, and I can make out the outline of his broad shoulders and the intensity in his dark eyes. Despite my anger, I feel a traitorous flutter in my stomach.

"And this couldn't wait until morning?" I hiss, sitting up and pulling the blanket tighter around me.

"No," he says simply, his gaze never leaving mine. "Sofia, I know you're angry with me, and you have every right to be. But we really need to talk.Please come with me…"

Vladimir's jaw clenches, his eyes flickering with a mix of frustration and… is that desperation?

My mind whirls with possibilities. I want to pepper him with questions and demand answers, but something in his expression gives me pause.

"Fine," I say, my voice icy, and step out of bed. “But this better be good.”

Chapter 19 - Vladimir

I guide Sofia through the shadows of Lara and Dima's expansive estate, my movements swift and precise. My hand rests lightly on the small of her back as we slip between hedgerows and statuary, trying to stay undiscovered by the guards.

The last thing I need right now is a confrontation with Dima. I just need to speak to my wife in private, without any interference.

Sofia walks beside me, not bothering to look in my direction. Just then, up ahead, we see a flashlight. Night patrol.

“Fuck,” I whisper, grabbing her by the waist and pushing her against the wall, concealing her with my body. I duck my head low, hoping my black jacket and dark hair will camouflage with the shadows.

We stand like that, pressed against one another, and I’m aware of every point of contact. Sofia’s eyes are wide as she looks behind me at the lights, but from how her chest heaves and cheeks flush, I know she feels the same thrumming in her heart that I do.

“It’s clear,” she says, a little while later, but a little too soon. A pang of disappointment passes me as I release her from where she’s caged between my body and the wall.

We continue walking. Sofia's tension is palpable, her slim frame rigid under my touch.

"Easy," I murmur, barely audible. "We're almost there."

Her green eyes flash with annoyance, but she remains silent as I guide her along the gravel path. The crunch of stonesunder our feet seems deafening in the still night air. I scan constantly for any sign of movement from the house.

At last, we reach a small, unmanned gate. “Through here,” I say, placing my hand on her lower back and ushering her through.

Finally, we reach my waiting car. I open the passenger door for Sofia, who slides in with feline grace. As soon as I slip behind the wheel, she turns to me, her eyes furious.

She waves her hands and, to my shock, begins toyellat me. “I can’t believe you woke me up in the middle of the night in the manner you did! Seriously, Vlad? You crept up on me like a serial killer. Was the hand around my mouth really necessary? All you needed was a knife to make a point. Unbelievable! After lying to me, youkidnapme? Congratulations on your successful kidnapping, Vlad. I'm sure the Bratva will be thrilled!”

It takes every ounce of self-control I have to keep my voice steady and point out the obvious without laughing. "This isn't a kidnapping, Sofia. You agreed to come with me."

However, in my mind, I also know how difficult the past few days have been. More than once, I have thought to come over and put an end to this maddening distance, to bring her back home. And honestly? If she hadn’t come willingly tonight, I might have just considered kidnapping her.

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