Page 73 of Forced Bratva Hostage

Sleepily, I reach across to pull Tia closer to me, but she isn’t there.

I groan in disappointment to find she’s already up. But the smile on my face still stretches wide.

Ireallylike that girl.

What a crazy situation this turned out to be.

Last night, on the sofa, I thought about telling her how much she means to me, but I’d rather wait until I have Boris under control. When everything is safe, then I’ll share my heart with her. I want to ask her to move in with me—officially. I want to find out where our relationship will lead us. I’ve never met anyone like her before.

With a loud groan, I climb out of bed and stretch again to force my muscles to wake up.

“Tia?” I call into the villa, but she doesn’t reply. Peeking into the bathroom, I don’t find her there or in the kitchen. I tug the fridge open to get milk out for a cup of coffee, yawning lazily, and enjoy the slow mornings here in the Bahamas. We were up late last night. I wonder if Tia got enough sleep.

Her not being here isn’t bothering me in the least.

I have no intention of keeping her a prisoner anymore, and after everything that’s happened, I’m comfortable with the idea that she’s gone for a swim or a walk on the beach or maybeto get us some of those amazing breakfast bagels from the cafe nearby.

We’re far from home and the dangers of her family, so I know wherever she is, she’s safe for now.

We’ve grown so close, I’ve never felt this way about someone before. She’s so freaking special to me. And I think she feels the same way about me. You can’t fake that kind of connection.

I scoop some sugar into my coffee and pick up the cup, roaming out onto the balcony to look at the water, half expecting to find her swimming, naked, laughing in the cool water.

But she’s not there, and she’s not up either stretch of beach, to the left or right of the villa. I guess that means we’re getting bagels for breakfast. My stomach growls excitedly. That bacon avocado bagel is incredible.

After my coffee, I have a cold shower and get dressed.

Tia is still not back when I come downstairs again.

My stomach tightens; despite my mind telling me she wouldn’t run, it’s been over an hour, and she’s not here. Something else might have happened. She might need me.

I decide to take a stroll to the café—I’ll probably find her along the way.

She’s not there. The cafe is busy with customers, but there’s no sign of her.

She’s not at the bookshop; she kept telling me she wants to explore. I planned to take her there today.

She’s not at the antique shop on the main street either, or the weird artsy shop filled with oddities.

I walk through the small town, and a heavy weight settles onto my shoulders.

She’s not anywhere.

This isn’t possible. I’ve been looking for hours, and she’s just gone.

With reluctance, I start to accept the only possible answer.

She left.

She took her chance the moment I let my guard down.

She ran.

Still refusing to believe it, I make my way to the resort security office. There is a camera right outside our villa, pointing towards the car parking area. I need to see it.

It might give me a clue about what’s going on.

At first, the guard is reluctant. He tells me he might lose his job if he shows me.

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