Page 22 of The Bratva's Arranged Bride

“You okay over there?”

That voice snapped me out of my thoughts, and I tore my eyes away from the back window of the SUV to find Val on the other side, looking at me somewhat expectantly. If I hadn’t known better, I would’ve thought there was a trace of worry in his eyes.

“I’m fine,” I muttered, tone colder than it needed to be. But I didn’t care, anyway. What did it matter? I already lost everything.

In truth, I was far from fine.

My whole body felt numb, and my pulse pounded in my ears. I wanted to run so badly, but being in a moving vehicle made that impossible without getting myself hurt. And even if we weren’t moving, Val, the driver, and whoever the man in the passenger seat was would catch me before I could get far.

I knew Val had money, but to have a guard? That seemed like a bit of a stretch to me. It didn’t make much sense, but I didn’t question it.

“I’m not so sure I believe you,” Val mused, eyes gleaming with a touch of humor that only made my blood burn more.

“I don’t care whether or not you believe me.”

“Is that any way to talk to your husband?” he questioned, finding far too much joy in knowing he had me at his mercy.

Scoffing, I narrowed my gaze at him. “You could at least try to be understanding.”

Without flinching, Val glanced at me. “I am understanding.”

I threw him an incredulous look. “Bullshit. You’re acting like you’ve won some kind of game. Like you don’t care about anything other than your ridiculous agenda.”

Val threw up a brow at that, looking vaguely more annoyed than before. “Oh? And what exactly is my agenda, then, since you seem to know so much about that?”

“I don’t know,” I mumbled, irritated for a multitude of reasons. “But whatever it is, it doesn’t have my best interests in mind.”

“That’s what you think, hm?”

“Yes. It is,” I returned, feeling the building resentment inside me.

His gaze lingered on me for a long moment as he seemed to study me, getting some kind of read on me. Then, the briefest smirk pulled on his lips.

In an even, slow movement, Val reached up and hooked his finger beneath my chin while he moved the slightest bit closer, eyes examining me further.

The feeling of his skin against mine sent small, barely-there shivers through me, and as warm as he was, I didn’t want to give in to it.

“I hate to break it to you, but I’m not trying to ruin your life, Tia,” Val murmured, focusing on the line of my jaw while his finger slowly grazed it. He hummed to himself. “But either way, you’re a Novikov now, which means you’ll only have the best of the best. It’s up to you to accept it, or make things harder for yourself.”

Despite his touch and the way I had half a mind to lean into it, his words set in with the damning truth, and I scowled at him before pulling away.

At my abrupt movement, the corner of Val’s lip turned upward, and a small huff of amusement escaped him.

“Feisty…well, I suppose I can’t make that decision for you. Either way, you better get comfortable, wife.”

Wife.

That title was enough to make my skin crawl.

Far too angry to put up with him then, I tore my eyes away and looked out the window again, silently pleading for the drive to be over before I completely lost my mind.

Neither of us said anything while the driver made his way through the city, heading towards one of the swanky gated communities.

After some time, the silence was unbearable and suffocating.

I hated everything—I hated Val.

Even so, I was stuck with him, and stuck in that meaningless marriage.

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