Page 83 of Forcibly Sold to the Bratva
He studies me for a long moment, then gives a single nod. “Thank you.”
“Just take care of her,” I say, the words scraping my throat raw. “And when she’s recovered, tell her... tell her I understand if she wants to stay with you.”
Tikhon hesitates, then says, “Maybe you can call her and tell her yourself.”
It takes everything in me not to let my mouth hang open. Did Tikhon just say that I could call her?
I watch them go and fight against the urge to call them back, to claim her as mine. But she’s not mine to claim. She never was. She’s her own person, with her own choices to make.
And if she chooses her family over me—well, isn’t that what love is? Wanting someone’s happiness even when it costs you your own?
I stand alone in the empty room, and though I made the right choice, my heart aches like never before. Though I got what I wanted, seeing her safe, I feel hollow. For once in my life, I’ve put someone else’s needs before my own. I’ve given her the freedom to choose.
And I know that all I can do now is pray that she chooses me.
Chapter 24 - Arina
When I wake up, my head pounds. For a brief moment, I panic and think I’m still in the Kuznetsovs’ clutches, drugged and tied.
But then, the room begins to look familiar, and I steady my breathing, remembering that I am safe. I’m with my brothers, and the doctor said the drug could take some days to leave my system.
This morning, my brain feels less foggy. The past two days were a haze. On the first night back, Tikhon told me I slept for eighteen hours straight. It was only when I woke up that he told me everything that had happened.
Ilariy had helped. I feel, with a hollow ache, like I’m not home. Home is where Ilariy is.
I push myself up against the pillows, wincing a bit as the blood gushes from my head.
Just then, I hear Tikhon from the doorway. “You’re awake.”
I look to see him walk over to me with a glass of water and some pills in his hand. He gives me the medicine, which I chase down with the water, before handing the glass back to him.
“How long was I out?” I ask.
“It’s around noon.” He perches on the side of my bed.
“Mm-hmm,” I murmur.
Tikhon leans over and tenderly pokes my nose. “How are you feeling? Andrei and Alexey keep checking on you, and I tell them that if they accidentally wake you, they’ll get a solid whooping.
I let out a snort at the image. The truth is, my brothers have taken such extraordinary care of me, and in these few days, I’m starting to remember them the way I knew them before. It’s hard to stay angry with them when I’m also forced to reckon with the good.
“I’m feeling okay,” I sigh. “Bored.”
What I don’t say is that I miss Ilariy. I look down at my hands, not wanting Tikhon to see the longing that must be written all over my face. There are so many questions I have about that night, but for some reason, I’m afraid to ask them.
I’m afraid that if I let it be known just how much Ilariy means to me, Tikhon might continue his threats. But I have to know exactly what happened. I know they fought together, but are the Letvins—is Ilariy—okay?
I clear my throat and look at Tikhon. “I wanted to know…was it very difficult that night? Was anyone hurt?” I try to ask casually, but something in Tikhon’s eyes shifts.
He looks gentler now. “Everyone on our team was fine,” he murmurs.
I nod, trying to hold back a choke, but my throat bobs. A flash of understanding passes through Tikhon’s eyes.
“I never told you, you know? But that night, Ilariy let me bring you back here,” Tikhon sounds hesitant, but tells me what he needs to. “He said you needed your family.”
I smile. “That’s Ilariy for you.”
“Is he really?” Tikhon looks doubtful.
