Page 74 of Forcibly Sold to the Bratva
How could she say she never wanted to see me again when she spent hours nestled up to me, refusing to get out of bed?
Had I imagined every moment between us? Was I that blind?
I hear someone knocking, but I’m too shell-shocked to process an answer. The knocking grows louder until I scream in anger, “What?”
"Ilariy," it’s Agafon. "Open the door. Now."
Tatiana and Katya told us Arina had been taken, and immediately, my family rushed over.
I yank it open and glare at my eldest brother. "What?"
"Dinner's ready. Everyone's waiting."
"I'm not hungry."
"You need to eat," he says gently. "And the family needs to discuss our next move."
"Fine," I snap, knowing there’s no point arguing with him.
When Agafon and I enter the dining room, all conversation stops. Melor is the first one with the courage to speak. “Ilariy,” his eyes dart nervously to the rest of our siblings. "Since Tikhon took Arina, I was thinking we could—"
"I don't give a fuck about that," I cut him off, falling into a chair.
Nikandr looks surprised. "Ilariy, we understand you're upset, but we can’t just let him take her.”
Upset doesn’t even begin to cover it. How could Arina tell me that there’s nothing to fix between us, that there’s nothing I can do to see her again.
"My wife just told me she's chosen her psychotic brothers over me. So drop it, okay?”
Their faces turn confused, pale.
"I’m sure that’s not true," Faddey tries to be kind, but it only angers me more.
"She doesn't want to come back! Weren't you listening? She made her choice!" I glare at Faddey, wondering if he’s an actual idiot.
"She was kidnapped," Bogdan points out calmly. "People say things under duress."
"That wasn't duress," I hiss. "That was clarity. She finally remembered who she is—a Sokolov. And she's done playing house with the enemy."
Lilibeth flinches at my tone, and Agafon puts a protective arm around her shoulders. The sight only fuels my anger.
"This is your fault," I turn on Agafon, my voice venomous. "If you hadn't insisted on dropping the hunt for them, I never would have had to take her. I never would have been here."
"That’s enough!" Agafon's voice is sharp. "You're not the only one who's lost someone to the Sokolov family, Ilariy. We all have."
"She wasn't 'lost,'" I mimic with a sneer. "She is willing and happy to leave us all behind."
“You don’t have to be quite so hostile, Ilariy,” Nikandr loses his patience. “We’re all trying to help me.”
"Stop trying to help me, alright?" I shout as I stand. "You all kept saying I should let her go anyway. Well, congratulations. She's gone. Happy now?"
I walk out without waiting for an answer, ignoring the calls of my name, and head straight back to my room. I’m done with the whole lot of them. With everyone.
A minute later, there's another knock at my door.
"Go away," I growl.
Tatiana and Katya slip in anyway.
