Page 67 of Used Bratva Bride

Her lip trembles. “Please,” she whispers, lifting her gaze to mine.

Something stirs inside me. Damn her. I don’t like this feeling.

The weight of her plea settles in my chest, pressing against the barriers I’ve spent years building. I should say no. I should shut this down before it turns into something more.

I don’t. Instead, I let out a slow breath and mutter, “Fine.”

Julie’s eyes widen slightly, but I hold up a hand before she can say anything else. “Don’t try anything funny.” My voice is sharp, but the threat lacks its usual bite.

She nods quickly, pressing her cheek against the kitten’s fur in silent gratitude. I watch her a moment longer, my jaw clenching as I wrestle with the unfamiliar sensation creeping through me.

Julie isn’t manipulating me. She isn’t playing a game. She’s just… Julie.

I cringe, but say, “Luka will be fine, you know.”

Julie sniffles, her grip on the kitten tightening. She looks up at me, blue eyes glassy with tears, her lip trembling as she strokes its tiny head.

“You don’t know if she’ll be okay,” she whispers, voice unsteady.

I exhale through my nose, jaw tightening. She’s right. I don’t. I can’t have her falling apart like this.

I shift slightly, glancing away before looking back at her. “She’ll be fine,” I repeat, my voice gruff.

Julie sniffles again, pressing her lips together, unconvinced. “You don’t know that.”

I resist the urge to sigh. Comfort isn’t something I do, and yet, here I am, kneeling in the grass, trying to ease the worry of the woman I married by force.

“I wouldn’t say it if I didn’t mean it.” My tone is sharper than I intend, but she doesn’t flinch. Instead, she wipes at her tears and stares at me as if trying to decide whether she believes me or not.

Finally, she sighs and loosens her hold, her fingers trembling as she lets me take the kitten from her.

I cradle the small, frail creature in my hands. It barely stirs, its breath shallow but still there.

Julie watches me, her gaze still pleading.

I don’t give her more false reassurances. Instead, I pull out my phone, pressing a number. “Get a car, we’re going to the vet.”

Julie exhales shakily, nodding, as if my command is the only thing keeping her upright.

I don’t know why it bothers me so much, but it does.

Chapter Eighteen - Julie

The ride to the clinic is silent except for the occasional mewl from the kitten in my lap. She’s weak, barely moving, but she’s still here. That’s the only thing keeping my thoughts from spiraling out of control.

Mikhail didn’t come with me. Of course, he didn’t. He sent two of his guards instead—Arlo and another one whose name I don’t know. They sit stiffly on either side of me in the back of the black SUV, their presence a reminder that I’m not really free.

Not that I care about that right now.

All I care about is getting help for this tiny creature I’ve somehow grown attached to. My fingers stroke over her soft fur, careful not to disturb her further.

Every few seconds, I glance down, checking to see if she’s still breathing. My stomach twists every time I don’t see movement right away, but then I feel the faintest rise and fall beneath my fingers.

She’s fighting. I just hope I got her here in time.

The drive feels endless, even though it’s probably less than twenty minutes before we pull up in front of a sleek, modern-looking building. The words Veterinary Emergency Clinic glow in muted white lettering above the entrance, and before I can fully process, one of the guards steps out, opening the door for me.

I clutch the kitten close, my hands numb from holding her so tightly, and step into the clinic. The moment I do, the sterile scent of antiseptic and something vaguely medicinal washes over me. The space is quiet, far too quiet, with no other patients in sight.

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