Page 51 of Forced Bratva Bride

“You knew exactly what you were doing.” I turned away from her, anger and something like disappointment washing through me. “We're leaving.”

“Gio, please—”

“Now, Larissa.” I walked toward the exit. I heard her quick footsteps behind me, heard her making hurried goodbyes to the staff.

In the car, the silence was heavy and charged. I gripped the steering wheel too tightly, focusing on the road ahead. The day that had started with unexpected pleasure had soured completely.

“It wasn't like that,” she said finally, her voice small.

“Save it.” I kept my eyes on the road. “I'm taking you home.”

Chapter 16 - Larissa

The boat rocked beneath my feet, salt spray stinging my face as we cut through the dark water. I knew Gio was still reluctant to have me here observing his operations, evident from the tight line drawn across his jaw. Not to mention, it seemed as though he was refusing to meet my gaze from across the boat.

The only reason he brought me along, I knew, was because I had presented a strong argument. I had convinced Gio that understanding his reality might somehow illuminate the truth about my brothers.

It had taken me three days to wear him down. Three days since our fight in Cold Spring.

“If I'm going to understand my brothers, to know whether they're innocent or guilty, I need to see what this world is really like,” I had told him, standing in his office with my arms crossed, refusing to be dismissed. “You're in the same business. Who better to show me?”

Gio had looked at me with steel. “You know all there is to know.”

“By what? Seeing that one operation you took me to?” I'd countered. “That’s like reading a page and claiming you know the book.”

“It's dangerous,” he'd tried another approach, but I could see the resolve weakening in his expression.

“So is being ignorant,” I had replied. “How can I be objective about my brothers' world if I've never seen it?”

He'd sighed then, a deep, weary sound. “Fine. I’ll take you for one operation. Just one. But you have to promise to stay by my side and do as I say.”

I had agreed without wasting a breath. Now, as the mainland lights faded behind us and the boat sliced through the black water toward an unknown island destination, I suddenly felt nervous.

Gio stood at the bow, very far from me, his broad shoulders squared against the wind, his black hair ruffled by the breeze. He was still angry with me, still hurt by my attempts to prove my brothers' innocence despite his saying I could do so. But with him this angry, I felt it wasn’t the right time to remind him of our deal.

Let him simmer down, I thought, before I broach the subject of what happened that day.

On the other hand, I knew I had used our date for my personal agenda and understood how that could have hurt him. His pain, his hurt, it came from someplace deep. I shouldn’t have tried to prove a point that specific day, of all the days we had. I knew I ruined the lovely time we’d been having. But what choice did I have? Family was everything.

I made my way carefully toward him, balancing against the boat's persistent rocking. The five other men on board, Gio's men, watched me with curious eyes.

“I appreciate this,” I said when I reached Gio's side. The wind whipped my hair across my face, and I tucked it behind my ear. “I know you didn't want me here.”

He didn't look at me. “No, I didn't.”

His coldness stung more than it should have. By now, I had grown fond of his warmth, one he reserved just for me.

“Are you going to be angry the entire night?” I asked in frustration..

His jaw tightened. “I'm not angry, Larissa. I'm concentrating. This isn't a field trip. We’re making our way in the dark, through patrolled waters. If we’re caught…”

I swallowed hard, recognizing the truth in his words. “I understand.”

Half an hour later, the island emerged from the darkness ahead of us, a darker shadow rising from the water and stretching across the night sky. There wasn’t a single light to beckon us, and it was clear that this place was meant to be hidden, to appear untouched.

“We're here,” Gio announced before turning to his men. “We follow the standard protocol. I need two of you on the perimeter,” he nodded at two armed men. “Vito, you stay with the merchandise, and you two,” he pointed at the remaining men, “come with me.”

The men nodded and checked their weapons before moving. I noticed how they moved around Gio with a respectful ease. There was no fear in his presence. It was different from how I'd seen men behave around my brothers.

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