Page 48 of Forced Prisoner By the Bratva

“Be good,” Mom said, her voice soft and smooth as her arms wrapped around me in a warm embrace.

I struggled to beam a faint grin, my head nodding in mock affirmation.

Ravyn was the last to hug me, her smile broad and genuine. “Don't lose hope yet. It'll all make sense soon,” she whispered in my ear.

Her words seemed impossible, but maybe I'd have to trust the process.

But for now, I just needed some space to breathe.

By the time everyone else had left, Erik shut the door behind the last guest and turned to face me. From the head of the steps, I held his gaze for a fleeting moment, a flutter rising in my chest.

His expression softened ever so slightly, and his eyes never left mine. I could sense his willingness to engage me in a conversation, but his hesitation was palpable. My heart raced in my chest, and I was unsure whether I was ready to listen to him now.

Despite my anger, I couldn't deny how charming and dashing he looked in his impeccably tailored ash-colored suit. As usual, his hair was neatly styled, with every strand in place. In his sharp green eyes was a faint glint of something that resembled passion.

The staring contest went on, my heart hammering with each passing minute. A flame of desire ignited within me, but I was quick to blow out that fire. I couldn't let him see how much effect his gaze had on me.

I blinked, breaking eye contact and shoving aside the illicit thoughts creeping into my mind. Without a word, I tore mygaze off him and headed to the guest room—my new fortress and comfort zone. Was it really those things, though? Because it sure felt more like a prison.

I waltzed into the room and collapsed on the unfamiliar bed, my head spinning and aching terribly. A deep sigh escaped my lips as my body released all that fatigue I'd been battling all day.

My fingers flew to massage my temples, the soothing motion easing me of stress.

Alone with my thoughts, I realized just how lonely I was and how emotionally abandoned I felt. While gazing at the ceiling, I let those tears flow I'd been holding back all day. My heart ached so much, and I wondered how much more of this pain I could hear until I finally broke.

This distance between Erik and I was killing me—it unsettled me more than I cared to admit. Who was I kidding?

I grabbed a pillow and pressed it against my chest. It was the closest thing to a physical touch that I could get anyway.

What would the coming of this child mean for Erik and me? How was I supposed to endure this life of pain and torment? How long would this distance between us linger for?

I sniffled, tightening my grip around the pillow, overwhelmed by a mix of sadness and fear. As I lay in silence, the emptiness of the room echoed my turmoil, hot tears streaming down my cheeks.

Chapter 20 – Erik

Today, I decided to stay home and relax—no work or work-related calls. Just me and my thoughts. A lot was going on in my mind, and I needed some time to plan and figure things out.

My marriage was barely three months, and everything was already falling apart right in front of me. Why? Because ofa misunderstanding, neither of us had created the time or an atmosphere conducive enough to address the elephant in the room.

All day, myriad thoughts overlapped in my mind, keeping me busy and mentally stressed. I hadn't done anything meaningful other than think of this really stubborn woman.

Tessa’s secret meeting with Connor, her defiance, and her ability to hold a fucking grudge for so long had my brain in a tangled mess. I couldn't comprehend her stubbornness, and thinking about it only fueled my rage.

Yesterday, she was absent-minded almost the entire time at the dinner table. It was embarrassing, and I had to fill the void her nonchalance had created. My brother, Lev, and his wife, Ravyn, had both noticed my wife's behavior, but neither of them said anything.

Did she really hate me that much? Did she despise the child in her belly so much that the pregnancy brought her no joy at all?

A mix of emotions flooded my mind, keeping me frustrated and angry at the same fucking time. Why was this so goddamn difficult? Why did I feel so useless and powerless in such a petty situation?

I'd dealt with worse problems with little effort and faced off against men twice as hardened and dangerous as me. But none of those scenarios had bothered me the way that this one did.

It was like I had no control over the situation, and I hated it—I hated the feeling of not being able to solve my own problems. Nothing had ever had me so riled up before, and it was concerning.

I'd grown so attached to Tessa that she now had the power to control and manipulate my mood even without intending to. No one had made me feel this way before. No one.It felt like I was becoming too soft on her, but I couldn't help it; she'd snaked her way into my heart.

However, beneath my anger, something else lingered—seeming to pull me to her like a moth to a flame. Worry.

I tried to dwell on my rage and frustrations only, but I couldn't easily shake off this feeling of worry. It gnawed at my mind, urging and challenging me to be a man and reach out. Why would I do that? I'd tried that twice already, and it didn't end well. Why go again a third time?

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