Page 58 of Plus-Size Curves for the Bratva

“Nat, please,” my throat aches when I speak, I’m choking on the pain I feel.

“Sofia!” she cries, closing her eyes. I swallow the lump in my throat. For a moment, I'm at a loss.

Natalia looks terrified, and I can put her out of this misery with just one call. Sofia. She always knew how to calm Natalia down. I muster what little control I have left and fumble for my phone.

"Okay, Sweetheart," I say gently, trying to sound calmer than I feel. "I'll call Sofia."

As I dial, Natalia continues to tremble and sob against the far wall.

When the phone rings, I try once more to bridge the gap. "Natalia, I—"

"Just call her!" she screams, cutting me off. Her outburst startles us both, and I see tears welling in her eyes.

My heart is breaking, but right now, Natalia’s well-being matters more and I need to do all I can to help her calm down. If It’s Sofia who she wants, then there’s nothing more to be said.

Sofia answers, her voice sleepy. "Denis? What's wrong?"

"Sofia, I need you to come to Natalia's store. Now." My voice is barely containing my harrowed emotions. "There's been… an incident. Natalia needs you."

"What kind of incident?" Sofia's tone sharpens instantly. "Is she okay?"

I glance at Natalia, huddled against the wall, her arms wrapped tightly around herself. "She's unharmed but shaken. Please, just come quickly."

As I end the call, I turn back to Natalia. The silence between us is deafening. I want to comfort her, to explain, to make her understand. But I know now isn't the time. Her well-being has to come first, even if it means pushing aside my own desperate need to explain.

"Sofia's on her way," I say softly. "She'll be here soon. I… I'm sorry, Natalia. For everything."

***

I watch as Sofia's car pulls up outside the store, my heart sinking with each passing second. Natalia's eyes dart between me and the door, her body tense like a coiled spring. The moment Sofia rushes in, Natalia practically leaps into her arms, burying her face in her sister's shoulder.

"It's okay, I'm here now," Sofia murmurs, stroking Natalia's hair. She shoots me a look that's equal parts confusion and accusation.

I take a step forward, my hands raised. "Sofia, I can explain—"

"Not now," she cuts me off, her voice sharp. "We're leaving."

As they turn to go, I can't help but call out, "Natalia, please…"

She pauses at the door, her eyes meeting mine. For a moment, I see what she sees. A monster.

The door closes behind them, and I'm left alone in the wreckage of the store. My fists clench at my sides, frustration coursing through me. How did everything go so wrong so quickly?

Chapter 23 - Natalia

I jolt awake, my heart hammering against my ribs like it's trying to escape. Sweat plasters my pajamas to my skin and I gasp for air, the nightmare still clinging to me like it’s happening all over again. The violent images from the store flash through my mind in vivid, terrifying detail.

"It wasn't real," I whisper to myself, willing my racing pulse to slow. "You're safe now."

But am I really? The memory of Denis's cold, merciless eyes as he beat those men to death sends a shiver down my spine. They were living, breathing human beings, and he turned them into corpses. Denis became a stranger to me when he bashed their heads in and slit their throats open—not the thoughtful, kind man I've come to care for.

Pushing myself up, I perch on the edge of the bed and stare at the curtains. Pale morning light filters through the fabric. I try to focus on the gentle play of light and shadow, anything to quiet the chaos in my head.

"Get it together, Natalia," I mutter, running a hand through my tangled blonde curls. "You can't fall apart now."

But the internal conflict rages on. How can I reconcile the Denis I know—the one who helped me set up my career and listens attentively to my silly stories—with the ruthless murderer I witnessed? The duality is dizzying.

What else is he capable of when angry?

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