Page 51 of Plus-Size Bratva Bride

“He was a nobody. Those Italian bastards won't be causing any more trouble. And I’m fine, Pip. Just a scratch or two."

Pippa's eyebrows shot up. "And what about this mob? Won’t this cause more trouble?”

I nodded, a smirk tugging at the corner of my mouth. "Let's just say they won't be underestimating the Vadims or the Unholy Trinity again. In fact, they don’t have enough people to come at us again. We killed as many as we could."

Pippa shook her head, her beautiful eyelashes fluttering as though she was trying to clear her head. Her gaze settled on me at last, wide-eyed. "You killed them?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "All of them?"

“Whoever was at their stakeout,” I said carefully, knowing that the truth might hurt, but she deserved to know it. The truth was, even after everything we'd been through together, it still gave me an uneasy feeling to see Pippa's reaction

This was my job, my life—and yet I couldn't shake the feeling that she didn't really understand what it entailed. "The Vadims and the Unholy Trinity don't take kindly to anyone trying to undermine us, especially not some small mob thinking they’re David and we’re Goliath.”

I watched Pippa's face carefully as she processed the news. Her brow furrowed, and a flicker of something—worry? Fear?—passed through her eyes. She bit her lower lip, a habit I'd come to recognize as a sign of internal conflict.

"That's… good," she said hesitantly, her voice lacking its usual enthusiasm. "I'm glad you're safe, Abe."

I frowned, sensing there was more she wasn't saying. "But…?"

Pippa shook her head, forcing a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "But the guys you were protecting me from have been taken care of, haven’t they?”

"That's right," I nodded, trying to read her expression. She looked so… pale. Was it because of the news about the Italian mob? Or was it something else? "They won't be causing any trouble anymore."

She nodded, looking down at her hands as if they were a foreign object to her. "Okay."

But there was a hint of sadness in her eyes, like she was holding back tears.

“Pip…?” I started, reaching out to grab her hand. Her skin felt surprisingly cold. "What's wrong?"

She looked up, her eyes rimmed with unshed tears. "I need to leave," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

The weight of her words hung in the air between us, and I felt a sudden, inexplicable tightness in my chest. Something wascoming, something big, and for the first time in a long while, I felt unprepared.

She stepped out of bed, started putting on her clothes, and I just sat there like I’d been hit by a truck of bricks.

I remained quiet for a whole minute while she dressed, certain I'd misheard. "What?"

She didn’t answer my question. Instead, she was fumbling around the side table, looking for something. It was as though she didn’t hear me, or perhaps, didn’t want to.

Chapter 19 - Pippa

I slipped on my shoes, the slide of it against the wood echoing in the quiet room. Abe sat on the other side of the bed, watching me.

I heard him when he asked why, but the truth is I didn’t know what to say. My head was spinning and my heart felt like lead in my chest. The threat was gone now. I was safe. And that meant…this was over.

My fingers trembled as I buttoned my shirt. How had I let myself fall for him? Abe Ustinov—arrogant, cocky, criminal, infuriating Abe. The man who'd protected me, challenged me, set my world on fire.

I stood slowly, willing my legs not to shake. Abe didn't move, didn't even seem to notice. Of course he didn't. To him, I was just another conquest. Another notch on his bedpost. This was exactly why I needed to leave. With a child on the way, I’d only have tied him down from a sense of duty. That is, if he would ever have chosen to be a part of this next journey.

My eyes burned as I gazed at his profile. The sharp line of his jaw, the curve of his lips that I'd memorized with my own. God, Ilovedhim. The realization hit me like a punch to the gut. I loved this maddening, beautiful man with every fiber of my being.

But Abe would never love me back. Not really. Oh, he might care for me in his way. Might even miss me for a while. But a man like Abe—with his power, his wealth, his devastating good looks—he'd never truly want someone like me. Curvy, stubborn, damaged,pregnantme.

I took a shaky breath, squaring my shoulders. It was better this way. Leave now, before he could break my heartcompletely. Before I lost myself entirely to a man who could never be mine.

"Goodbye, Abe," I whispered, my voice barely audible.

As I turned to go, a single tear slipped down my cheek. I didn't bother to wipe it away.

Suddenly, the bed creaked behind me. I froze, my hand on the doorknob.

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