Page 19 of Plus-Size Bratva Possession
“Elena?” Gio's voice sharpened with worry. “Elena, is that you? My God, are you okay? Where are you?”
“I'm fine, I'm fine,” I reassured him, though my trembling voice must have betrayed me. “I'm at Gastone's penthouse. He's...keeping me here.”
“We know. Carlo and Dino told Larissa everything.” The relief in Gio's voice shifted to rage. “That bastard. Has he hurt you? Because I swear to God—”
“No, he hasn't hurt me,” I said quickly, glancing at Gastone, who was watching me with those intense green eyes. “He's just...keeping me here.”
“Elena, listen to me.” Gio's voice lowered, becoming more urgent. “We're going to get you out of there. We've been working on it since we found out. Just hang tight, okay? Don't do anything to provoke him.”
I laughed through my tears. “I know that.”
I heard shuffling on the other end, then Larissa's voice came through. “Elena? Oh my God, Elena, I'm so sorry. This is all my fault. If I hadn't—”
“No, Larissa, don't you dare blame yourself,” I cut her off. From across, I saw Gastone sit straighter, a look of worry flashing across his face.
“Your brother is the one who decided to pull this stunt. Not you,” I said pointedly, looking right at Gastone.
I watched Gastone's face harden at my words, but I didn't care. Let him hear how his actions had hurt his sister.
“How are you? Really?” Larissa asked, her voice thick with tears.
“I'm okay. Bored. Frustrated. But okay.” I twisted the phone cord around my finger. “How's little Sophia?”
“She misses her aunt,” Larissa said, and I could hear the smile in her voice despite everything. “She keeps looking for you whenever we play your songs for her.”
My throat tightened. “Tell her Aunt Elena will be home soon.”
“Elena,” another voice broke in—Caspian, my eldest brother. “We're coming for you. I promise you that. We know where you are, and we're going to—”
Suddenly, Gastone reached over and pressed the speaker button, taking away my privacy.
“You're going to what?” Gastone asked loudly. “Please, enlighten me on your grand rescue plan.”
“Gastone,” Caspian roared. “You've made a grave mistake.”
“Have I?” Gastone's eyes never left mine. “I don't think so. I think I've finally balanced the scales.”
“This isn't balancing anything. This is you being a vindictive bastard who can't accept that Larissa made her choice,” Gio bellowed.
“A choice she made after your family kidnapped her,” Gastone replied coolly. “Don't pretend your hands are clean in this, Lebedev.”
“Please, Gastone,” Larissa's voice broke through, pleading. “This isn't helping anyone. Let Elena go. Come see your niece. We can work this out.”
Something flickered across Gastone's face—pain, longing, I couldn't tell—but it was gone as quickly as it appeared, replaced by that familiar coldness.
“Here's what's going to happen,” Gastone said, his voice dropping to a dangerous register that sent shivers down my spine. “Elena stays with me. If any of you try to take her by force, there will be consequences. I have men watching your homes,your businesses. One wrong move, and this becomes a war none of us can afford.”
“You motherfucker—” Mikhail started, but Gastone cut him off.
“Five is up,” he said, and reached for the phone.
“No!” I grabbed for it, but he was faster. “We weren't done!”
“We are now,” he said, hanging up and severing my connection to my family.
I stared at him in disbelief and growing anger. “You are such an asshole.”
“So I've been told,” he replied, unmoved.
