Page 31 of Virgin Bratva Hostage

“Royce, do you have anything to report?”

“Sir, I was thinking about the girl,” he pauses for a moment.

“What about her?” I ask cautiously. Why is he thinking about her at all? She is not for him to think about.

“She must be a burden to you. I thought that perhaps if I took her off your hands, I could watch over her myself and then you would have your time freed.”

I watch his expression and his body language.

Why would he offer this? Somehow, whenever I speak to Royce, he asks about her or makes this kind of suggestion.

Why is he so keen to watch over her himself?

“You want to watch her? Why?”

“Uh—to make things easier for you,” he answers quickly, but his eyes are averted.

It annoys the hell out of me that he wants to take her from me.

I want to tell him to mind his own fucking business and focus on the job I tell him to do instead of worrying about Ruslana. But instead, I bite back my words and clench my jaw.

“The girl is fine where she is. There is no need for you to—“

“Sir, I’m sure you have much better things to worry about and if I could just take her off your hands—“

“Royce. I said no,” I snarl at him, even more agitated that he is still pushing for her.

Is it me that’s overreacting in this situation?

Why would I feel so annoyed when he was just offering to help?

But was it just a normal offer or was there some undercurrent to it that spiked my nerves?

It must be me.

I’m too protective over her. I think about her too much and it’s starting to effect the way I deal with my employees even.

“Thank you, for the offer, Royce. But the girl is no problem where she is. I have it under control.”

He nods, incredibly tight-lipped after having been called out in front of the other guys. I still feel angry towards him that he was even thinking about spending time with her or interacting with her at all.

I’m being completely ridiculous.

Ending the meeting early because I need air—and to be away from Royce—I climb into my car and head home.

It’s getting dark outside. I’m eager to get home and see what Ruslana is up to. Today is the first day that I have left her free to roam the mansion and my thoughts were on her all day—worried about how it was going and if she was trying to escape. But I know she can’t. There is no way for her to get outside.

I walk up the stairs towards the front door.

“Good evening, sir,” the security guard positioned outside greets me.

I nod in response.

The front door swings open and I glance around inside. I don’t know what I expected to happen. I kind of thought she might come flying out at me, diving for the open door.

I chuckle at the thought.

Inside the house, I find her curled up on the sofa in the living room, watching a series.

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