Page 30 of Plus-Size Bratva Bride

Before I could respond, two more figures emerged from another door. The younger man bore a striking resemblance to Abe and Ivan, though his features were softer, less weathered by time and hardship.

"Vlad." He introduced himself with a nod. "And this is my wife, Emory."

Emory, a vibrant woman with the most beautiful, tanned skin, beamed at me. "We're so glad you’re safe, Pippa! Last night must have been harrowing.”

I blinked, caught off guard by their warmth. "I…I’m alright."

Abe cleared his throat, bringing the focus back to himself. "Let's get you settled in, shall we?"

As he ushered me toward the stairs, I couldn't help but feel a spark of curiosity. All this time, Abrahim Ustinov has been living in a joint-family home?

Who would have thought?

I followed Abe up the stairs, thinking of what I had just witnessed. The family dynamic was so warm and loving, completely at odds with what I'd expected from the infamous Holy Trinity.

We reached the top of the stairs, encompassed with the heavy silence that had now settled between us. Each step echoed loudly in the hallway until at last, we reached a door at the end of the corridor.

“Your room,” he said, his voice sounding oddly strained. I could feel his eyes on me, intense and unwavering as he opened the door for me.

I hesitated for a moment, feeling the weight of his gaze like a physical touch. The room was bathed in warm golden light filtering through the sheer curtains and was impeccably neat, with a large mahogany bed dominating the space and a cozy armchair by the window.

As we stood at the threshold, our proximity suddenly felt charged with an electric energy that made my heart race. I could practically hear the thudding of it in my ears as he cleared his throat and stepped aside, letting me pass.

I walked in and he followed, placing my bag on my bed.

“Thank you,” I said, turning to face him. “For… everything.”

“Anytime,” he nodded, giving me a small smile.

“So, you live with your family, huh?” I asked, trying to make any attempt at conversation. “That must be nice.”

“It is, until one of the kids has a tantrum,” he chuckled.

“The kids?” I asked, even more surprised at this new revelation.

Abe's smile softened at the mention of the kids. "Yeah, little terrors, but they're family. Keeps things interesting around here. Ivan and Adley have two little toddlers, and Vlad and Emory have the sweetest little baby boy." His expression turned wistful for a moment, a faraway look I couldn’t decipher that made me realize there was a side to Abe I hadn't seen before.

“That’s lovely, Abe,” I said, and watched his attention flicker back to the present.

"Well," he started, rubbing the back of his neck in an uncharacteristically nervous gesture. "I’ll leave you to settle in now. But would you like to join us for dinner tonight? The food's always good."

“Oh, Abe,” I protested, suddenly feeling strange. “I don’t want to intrude on your family time. I could just go out and grab a meal, or eat in my room.”

“Go out and eat a meal?” He raised his eyebrow incredulously. “I’m supposed to be protecting you, remember?”

I groaned playfully and pretended to look disappointed.

“Come on,” Abe encouraged me gently. “You’ve got to eat, and besides, it’ll help take your mind off things. Not to mention, we’re all pretty bored of listening to the same stories around the dinner table. I know that Adley and Emory would certainly be glad to have another woman for company.”

I pondered his invitation, feeling a mix of apprehension and curiosity tugging at me. The idea of sitting down to dinner with the infamous Unholy Trinity and their wives felt like stepping into a lion's den. But there was an underlying sense of safety in Abe's presence, a feeling that maybe, just maybe, Icould let my guard down for a moment in this warm, familial setting and perhaps even have a good time.

"Alright," I relented with a soft smile, giving in to his persistent charm. "I'll have dinner with you all."

Abe smiled, a flicker of joy crossing his features. “Great, I’ll see you downstairs in an hour then.”

He turned to leave but paused at the doorway, looking back at me.

"You can explore or rest if you want. Just… don't wander into Ivan's man cave unless you want to be scarred for life," he teased, a playful glint in his eyes.

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