Page 72 of The Bratva's Arranged Bride

I was sitting on a tarmac somewhere, out in the open, the crisp air surrounding me. It was otherwise dark, but the place was lit up by tall lights that nearly burned my eyes from how harsh they seemed after not being able to see for so long.

That panic returned to me tenfold as I glanced around, finding Dad in a similar position to my left.

He looked just as afraid as I felt, but there was something even more pained within him…as if he had a better idea of what was going to happen than I did.

That only made my heart squeeze further.

“Tia…dear…” he murmured, unable to conceal the shaking of his voice.

“Shut up,” someone uttered from behind me before kicking at his back, causing Dad to bite back a pained yelp. “Useless old man.”

“Don’t touch him!” I snapped, looking up immediately at the person, only to feel myself physically recoiling within myself.

It was him…Tommaso.

The creep from the club that night. The one Val clearly didn’t like.

Tommaso sneered at me before letting a cruel grin crawl across his lips. “Or what, little bird? You're going to sic your dogs on me? Oh, that’s right…yourhusbandand his bastard brothers aren’t here.”

Ice seemed to move through my veins, then at the mention of it, well aware that we weren’t surrounded by anyone related to Val, as bitter as it was to accept.

Tommaso…why was he there? What did he have to do with anything?

“What is this?” I asked him, managing the words despite how unsure I felt. “Why did you do this?”

Tommaso’s brows furrowed as he glanced between Dad and me, looking somewhat confused himself before the realization seeped into his features, turning them more amused. “You haven’t told her, have you?”

At that, Dad’s shoulders drooped, and a look of complete shame fell over him. With remorse and guilt, he shook his head. “No…I didn’t get there yet.”

Tommaso’s brows lifted at that, and he laughed before returning his focus to me. “Damn, Tia…you have it bad, don’t you? It seems everyone around you takes pleasure in lying to you.”

Concern and confusion flooded my features, not at his mocking tone, but the true meaning behind his words—whatever was still being hidden from me.

I looked at my dad, feeling my stomach twist. “Dad, what’s he talking about?”

“Yes, that’s it—why don’t you tell her all about it?” Tommaso encouraged with a dark gleam in his eyes while he stood over us.

Dad closed his eyes while he collected himself before meeting my gaze.

“Tatiana…before I struck the deal with your husband, we had discussed it, but Val refused my terms. He didn’t want to force you or himself into the arrangement, and he walked away from the deal. So, I took a similar offer to Tommaso’s father, Francesco. He was on board to have the two of you marry instead.”

My brows pulled together in disbelief and disgust at the idea, unable to even consider myself being with anyone but Val.

Before I could say anything, he continued.

“But after the charity gala, Val changed his mind, and I couldn’t refuse the offer.”

“So you…promised me to both of them?” I asked, unable to shake that pure disbelief coursing through me.

Regretfully, Dad nodded. “Yes…and now I’m afraid we both have to face the mistake I made.”

Again, he used me. He made a deal without my permission, and a promise he couldn’t keep on top of it all.

I could hardly stand the way my heart sank at the realization.

We were in that position all because of him.

“I’m sorry, Tatiana,” Dad murmured, not needing to force that regret for even a moment.

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