Page 4 of Virgin Bratva Hostage

Rodion tilts his head to the side and pulls one corner of his mouth tight. He narrows his eyes at me. “This conversation is over, Ruslana. And every time you try and have it again in the future—the outcome will be the same. Until I decide there is no longer a threat—the guardsstay.”

I roll my eyes and sigh dramatically, waving my arms in the air.

“You are so annoying,” I whine.

“Alright,” he says, not caring at all, returning his attention to his phone.

“Rodion—,“ I try again, and he glares at me—his eyes suddenly fired and dark.

“Ruslana, I’ve had enough of this. I said no. Do you have any idea how lucky you are to be able to have security like this? Do you even have any idea how lucky you are to bealiveafter what happened? Stop asking. It’snot going to change.You are being a brat.”

I slink back, knowing I’ve pushed him too far. Usually, I’m pretty good at reading his mood, but today I slipped up and now he’s pissed off.

But so am I.

How much longer do I have to put up with this shit for?

My whole life is being suffocated because of it and I want to feel normal again. The stupid guards are a constant reminder of what happened and I’m tired of it. No one is coming after me anymore. They tried, they all died, and now it’s over.

I spin out of his home office and stomp all the way back downstairs, making as much noise as possible in order to convey just how pissed off I am about this.

When I get downstairs, marching into the living room, Anya looks at me with a sly grin. “I told you he wouldn’t budge,” she laughs.

“I had to try,” I sigh, flopping down onto their sofa. “Honestly, it’s been almost two months since that whole thing happened. When will he stop all of this drama.”

Anya sits down next to me. “Rusla, we were almost kidnapped—we could havedied. It really freaked your brother out. He laid awake so many nights after that and I think it was because he felt he had failed you. Give him some slack. He’s just trying to protect you. It’s what brothers are for. Mine are just as annoying. I know how it feels,” she speaks gently and I know she’s right. But it doesn’t change the fact that I am tired of having an entire army of security guys following me everywhere.Literally everywhere.

I’ve tried to be patient.

I thought this whole thing would last a month at the most.

Now I’m wondering if it will ever end.

“Ok, well I’m going to head back home. I just popped in to say hi and try talk to Rodion again.” I push off the sofa and sigh heavily. I wanted to go clubbing tonight, but I’m not in the mood for it anymore.

It’s not as fun with so much security.

“Tell Rodo I say bye for me.” I wave to Anya as I walk towards the front door to let myself out. I visit Anya so often here that it’s like a second home to me. I visit her more than I visit my own brother. We definitely became closer after the kidnapping incident. I guess we have an understanding between us. And it’s nice to have someone to talk to about what happened—I mean someone who really understands how it felt.

“I’ll do that,” she calls out after me. “Come over for dinner later in the week. Give me a call or something.”

“Ok!” I shout back as I leave the house and shut the door behind me.

And there they are.

Five, tall, strong-looking men. Armed, dressed in black and driving me mental because they are stuck to me like glue. In fact, the only place they don’t go is inside Rodion’s home and inside mine. But they are right outside the door. Waiting.

Jeez they must be so bored.

It’s not even like I’ve been doing exciting things so most of the time they just stand around, bored out of their brains, with nothing going on and no one to shoot at.

“Come on, guys, let’s go on an adventure,” I say cheerfully.

Not even one of them smiles. They all suck. They are bland and serious, and I want them gone.

I skip over to my car, my bright pink sneakers crunching on the gravel driveway and my ponytail waving back and forth behind me.

I slide into the driver’s seat and start the engine, ready to go.

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