Page 16 of Forced Bratva Bride

She said nothing, but the silence now had a confidence to it that hadn't been there before. She watched me like a clever hawk with a new kind of awareness. I'd shown weakness by bringing her up here, and she knew it.

“Rest,” I said, moving toward the door. “We'll continue our conversation tomorrow.”

No nod, no acknowledgment. She simply treated me as though I didn’t exist. I sighed at how quickly she had withdrawn into silence again, but then again, what did I expect? What was I thinking? That I had brought her up here and she would be compliant?

Something told me Larissa Ajello wasn’t the kind of woman who could be bought. I could treat her as well as I damned wish, but it would change nothing. She’d talk only when she was ready.

But, I’d make sure to push her enough for her to be willing. Over the next few days, weeks or more, if needed, I’d be back. Day after day, hour after hour. She’ll see.

“Bye,” I said, turning back. She said nothing in return, just watched as I left, locking the door securely behind me.

I leaned against the hallway wall, pressing the palms of my hands against my eyes. What the hell was I doing? Any other man in my position would have left her in the basement, panic attack or not. Information was what mattered, not comfort. Not compassion.

But I wasn't any other man. And whatever this woman knew about her family’s intentions against mine, it wasn't worth watching her unravel before my eyes.

I walked away from her room, knowing that for today, we were done. I’d used her as an excuse to push off vital communication, and now, with her in my guest room, I knew it was time to update my brothers on how the business was going.

I hadn’t told any of them about the attack at our warehouse. With Caspian still away, I didn’t want to worry him on his honeymoon. As for my younger siblings, I wanted to protect them from the truth. If I told them what happened and by error, they let the news slip toonewrong person, the Vadims and Ustinovs might stop trusting our family.

For their safety, I had to give justenoughinformation, but not all of it.

I made my way to my office, sending a quick text to one of the household staff to bring food to the guest room. Then I placed a call to my brothers to let them know that the shipment would have to be delayed.

Federico was the first to speak as the conference call connected. “Gio. What’s happening? I was about to call you. The merchant officer said we have to pay for docking fee for a few extra days.”

“Has there been a delay, Brother?” Dante asked.

“Yes,” I said, keeping my voice even. “We have a complication.”

“What kind of complication?” Luca asked.

“Some crates for packing the weapons fell short,” I lied smoothly. “Quality control issue. I need another day, maybe two.”

“Caspian won't like this,” Federico said. “He wants this shipment landed before competitors learn of our plans and infiltrate Europe with their own weapons. He hopes to move fast and be a monopoly.”

“I know what Caspian wants,” I said, an edge creeping into my voice. “I'll handle it.”

What I didn't say was that we had been attacked and that some of our men could havedied.I'd kept that information to myself, not wanting to implicate Caspian and my brothers in what could become a diplomatic nightmare with our allies if handled poorly.

Considering how I’d kidnapped a girl andall that. I needed to fix this problem fast before the Italians realized I was behind taking an Ajello woman, and hopefully before Caspian returned.

“Fine,” Federico conceded.

I ended the call, knowing there was no point in troubling Caspian about the matter. He was still on his honeymoon and would see through the call. A shipment delay due to packaging issues was a simple problem—one he wouldn’t expect me to call him about, so I refrained.

I sat back in my chair and my mind wandered once more to Larissa.

I thought of her face in the darkness, the naked terror there, and something turned over in my chest. I stood up, deciding to check on her one more time. I remembered all the trays of food she’d left untouched in the basement. I had to make sure she’d eat, at least.

I reached the guest room and unlocked it, knowing immediately that something was wrong when the door swung open to reveal an empty room. The food tray sat untouched on a side table. The bathroom door stood open, revealing no one inside.

“Son of a bitch,” I muttered, turning for the door. She’d made a run for it.How?

Then my eyes caught on something by the door—small scratches in the metal around the lock. She'd picked it somehow, probably with something as simple as a hairpin.

Of course she did. She must have tried the same tactic in the basement, but those locks were escape-proof against such tactics. The bedroom locks, on the other hand, were simply for privacy, not imprisoning.

Shit.

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