Page 17 of Forcibly Sold to the Bratva
I’m in the middle of reading a report, but push it aside immediately upon noticing who is calling.
“Hello?” I pick up, feeling a nervous energy hum around me. Agafon doesn’t know what I did last night. If he did, I don’t know what might happen.
“Brother,” he greets me. “I was calling to check on you after the meeting yesterday. You were upset.”
“Yes,” I say, my throat tightening. Just thinking about how easily my brothers and our allies gave up makes me so very angry.
“Well…” He clears his throat and sounds guilty as hell. “I just wanted to say, we might have officially put the hunt for the Sokolovs on hold for now, but if you find any leads, please don’t think twice to call for support.”
“Alright,” I say, curtly, now the guilt is turning on me from what I’m keeping from him.
“Did you find anything yesterday? When you went out to make your inquiries?” he asks with keen interest.
“No,” I say, immediately lying. “I came up empty-handed.”
I don’t know why I lie, but there’s a whisper in my heart telling me to do this for Arina. If my brothers and allies find out I have her, they might put everything into questioning her. I lie…to protect her from their wrath.
“Well,” Agafon sounds disappointed. “Maybe next time.”
“Maybe,” I say, and we end the call. I toss the phone on my desk and feel a headache coming on. Lying to my brother doesn’t sit well with me. But if he knew Arina was here, how I married her in a fit of miscalculation, he’d rain down fury on me.
I rub my forehead and groan. What the hell am I supposed to do with her now? She’s completely innocent.
And of course she’s upset. She’s trying to make the best of a situation she should never be in. I should go check on her. Not because I care. Just to make sure she’s not doing anything stupid. That’s all.
But I also don’t want it to seem like I’m spying on her. On impulse, I head into the kitchen and brew a cup of tea, taking to to her room. As I thought, the lights are on, which I can see from the crack in her door.
I knock and hear her soft voice. “Come in.”
When I enter, I’m hit with a punch to my gut. She scrambles to wipe her face and puts on a small smile, and I know I shouldn’t ask. She’s been crying. But she doesn’t want me to see, and for some reason, I want to let her maintain that dignity.
“Needed something?” she asks, her voice hoarse.
“I…brought you some tea,” I walk over and set it by her table.
“Oh,” a flash of surprise crosses over her face. “Thanks.”
“You okay?” I ask, before I can even think.
She looks at me like I’ve sprouted leaves. Incredulous.
“Sorry,” I murmur, shaking my head. What was I thinking, asking her that when I already know the answer. “I should let you get some rest.”
She nods, and I’m at the door when I hear her soft voice. “Good night, Ilariy.”
I turn and see her watching me, confusion etched across her face. I shouldn’t have come in here. My innocent gesture ofkindness is one she can’t comprehend, and that makes me feel like an even bigger monster for putting her in this situation.
“Good night, Arina,” I manage to choke out before leaving her to rest.
Chapter 6 - Arina
I hear a knock on my bedroom door and imagine I must be dreaming. Still riddled with sleep, I force one eye open and, on seeing the time on the digital clock read 5 AM, I confirm I’m definitely dreaming. I shut my eyes and burrow deeper into my blanket.
“Arina!” Ilariy’s impatient, loud voice echoes through the door, and his knocks get even more aggressive.
I groan and sit up. Okay. I’m definitely not dreaming. What the hell is going on?
“Coming!” I bellow in a hoarse, sleepy voice and put on a robe before getting to the door.
