Page 59 of Plus-Size Bratva Bride

The moment I said his name, I saw Adley and Emory exchange a quick glance. My heart rate picked up.

"Actually," Emory began hesitantly, "Abe's been… different since you left."

I raised an eyebrow, aiming for nonchalance even as my pulse quickened. "Different how?"

Adley sighed, running a hand through her hair. "He's drinking more, for one. And he's been in a foul mood. Snapping at everyone, even Ivan and Vlad."

"He broke a glass the other day," Emory added quietly. "Just crushed it in his hand when someone mentioned your name."

I felt my eyes widen, a mix of emotions swirling in my chest. Concern, confusion, and something else I couldn't quite name. "That doesn't sound like Abe," I murmured, more to myself than to them.

"It's not," Adley confirmed, her voice soft but firm. "He's not himself, Pippa. And I think… I think it has everything to do with you leaving."

As Adley's words sank in, I felt my world tilt on its axis. My mind raced, replaying every interaction I'd had with Abe over the past few months. The long glances I'd brushed off as nothing. The way his touch seemed to linger whenever we were close. The fierce protectiveness that went beyond his usual bravado.

"I… I don't understand," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "Abe's never been serious about anyone. He's a player, a womanizer. Why would he…"

I trailed off, unable to finish the thought. Emory reached out, squeezing my hand gently. "Maybe you're different, Pippa. Maybe you've always been different to him. Like I said, he’s never brought a girl back home before, let alone let us meet one."

My heart thundered in my chest as I considered the possibility. Abe Ustinov, the man who could have any woman he wanted, actually caring about me? It seemed impossible. And yet…

"Remember that night at the casino you told me about when you came home after working overtime?" Adley prompted, her eyes searching mine. "When that drunk tried to grab you?"

I nodded, recalling how Abe had appeared out of nowhere, his eyes blazing with a fury I'd never seen before. He'd nearly broken the man's arm.

"I thought he was just being protective of an employee," I said weakly, but even as the words left my mouth, I knew they weren't true. He didn’t do that when anyone else was in trouble.

"Pippa," Emory said gently, "I've never seen Abe look at anyone the way he looks at you. It's like… like you're the only person in the room."

I felt tears prick at the corners of my eyes, overwhelmed by the implications. "But he never said anything. He never tried to…"

"What if he doesn’t know how to?" Adley asked, raising an eyebrow. "What if he never learned? Never saw what love looks like.”

I flinched, knowing she was right. I'd spent so long convincing myself that Abe could never see me as more than a convenient fling, I'd missed all the signs that pointed to something deeper.

"Oh God," I whispered, pressing a hand to my stomach where our child grew. "What have I done?"

I opened my mouth, ready to confide in my friends, when a sudden, deafening crash echoed from outside. We all jumped, startled by the unexpected noise.

"What the hell was that?" Adley exclaimed, her eyes wide with alarm.

My heart began to race, adrenaline coursing through my veins. "I don't know," I replied, already moving toward the window. Years of working for the Vadims had honed my instincts, and right now, they were screaming danger.

I peered out cautiously, my fingers gripping the curtain so tightly my knuckles turned white. The street below was shrouded in shadows, but I could make out movement—quick, furtive shapes darting between parked vans.

"Pippa?" Emory's voice quavered slightly. "What do you see?"

I turned back to face them, noting the worry etched on their faces. "I'm not sure, but something's not right," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "We need to—”

Another crash, closer this time, cut me off mid-sentence. My heart leaped into my throat as I instinctively moved away from the window, my mind racing through possible escape routes.

"Ladies," I said, surprised by the calm in my voice, "I think we might have some unwelcome visitors. We need to move, now."

Adley and Emory exchanged anxious glances, the tension in the room palpable. I could see the fear in their eyes, but there was trust there too—trust in me to get us out of this mess.

I took a deep breath, pushing aside my own fears. I had more than just myself to protect now, and I'd be damned if I let anything happen to my friends or my unborn child.

My eyes darted around the apartment, searching for anything we could use as a weapon. I grabbed a heavy brass lamp from the side table, my fingers curling around its cool metal base.

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