Page 59 of The Bratva's Prisoner Bride

Wiping at my eyes, I pulled in another breath that died in my throat at the vibration against my palm.

My heart almost stopped at the sight of that number calling me.

With my skin turning as cold as ice, I trembled faintly and struggled with the mere idea.

He was calling me. Or at least, whoever had been messaging me.

Compelled by nothing more than sheer curiosity and that helpless feeling, I slowly pressed the accept button with my thumb and raised it to my ear.

"...Who is this?"

"You know exactly who."

My eyes widened at the confirmation I was afraid of hearing, and my breath turned shallow.

A moment passed before he sighed, and his voice sounded irritated like usual. "And you've been ignoring me. For a second, I thought I had the wrong number, but now I know."

Willing myself to keep my frayed nerves intact, I looked out across the backyard and mustered as much courage as possible. "What do you want?"

"What do I want? I want my sister to know I'm okay," he said, tone sounding suspiciously nice. "I'm holding down the fort and ready for our plans to continue...but I need to know everything you know about the Fokins."

My brows furrowed at his words, bristling at that single word...sister.

We were indeed blood-related, but Rurik never held that fact in high regard. He certainly never let that influence his treatment of me.

And he wanted me to sell the Fokins out...just as I expected.

"I thought you were locked up?"

"I was...but now I'm not."

The thought alone sent a painful jolt through my body, even if I had my suspicions. I swallowed hard. "How?"

"That's not important. Right now, I just need you to brainstorm...you're in an opportune position, Daria. You have direct access to the Fokins. I need you to get more dirt on them and report it to me."

The way he spoke flared that pain and fury in me all over again...how he made it seem like I owed it to him. Like I would appease him by doing so.

But I knew that never worked. He was never satisfied.

"No..."

He paused, then muttered, "What?"

"I said no," I forced out, shaking more but with anger instead of fear. "I won't do it."

That second beat of silence said more than his words ever could, and his next words weren't as controlled as before,"There's no room for negotiation here...I told you what needs to be done, and you're going to do it. I reached out to you to bring you back into the fold...to save you from that sham marriage, and this is how you respond? Maybe I should've just forgotten all about you...I should've just let you rot—"

Pulling the phone from my ear and pressing the end button, his voice cut off before he could finish.

In the sudden silence, my heart pounded, but the absence of his usual tirade was immediately calming.

Taking a breath, I let go of that tension in my body and sat in that moment. It was a slight victory, at least.

I didn't know how much time had passed since I went outside, but the sun moved closer to the horizon as bright, warm colors splayed across the sky above.

Taking in how beautiful the sunset was, wishing I could capture that sight for myself, I tried to forget about everything...Olivia, my brother, the pregnancy...

But the door closing behind me broke that quiet reverie. He approached with a few measured steps until he stood beside me.

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