Page 190 of Bratva Jewels Box Set
Thank goodness Zoe is beside me when I walk into the living room where our entire family is sitting. They’re all chatting away but stop when they see me walk in.
“Morning, gorgeous. How are you feeling?” Mateo greets me first, pulling me into his side and kissing the top of my head.
“Rested.”
“You look good,” he states, giving me a once over.
“Hey, Grace,” Enrique says, giving me an awkward wave from the sofa.
My stomach rolls and I give him a tight smile. “Guess you have questions for me, then?”
I notice Sophie is in the corner with Brooks by her side and is shooting daggers my way.
Zoe places a reassuring hand on my shoulder as she moves me toward the sofas.
“It’s good to have you back,” Enrique says, patting my knee but the look I give him has him removing his hand quickly.
“Do you mind if I talk to Enrique without everyone here, except Zoe?” I ask the room.
“Of course, my dear,” my father says, scooping up my mother who doesn’t look happy. “Let’s go for a stroll through the gardens, sweetheart.”
“I’ll be in my studio,” Mateo says, giving Zoe a kiss as does Tomas as he leaves with him.
I look over where Sophie is standing with her arms folded angrily across her chest, and her eyes narrowed on me.
“Come on, Soph, we have work to do.” Brooks grunts, pulling a pissed-off Sophie with him.
Zoe links her hand with mine and gives it a squeeze.
“Right, do you want to start from the beginning?” Enrique asks.
And so, I do. I explain to him how I was kidnapped. How I was taken to a boat and sailed to an island. I explain that the first two weeks of being kidnapped were fuzzy because I was detoxing from the drugs. I’m selective in what I say to him, giving him some information but not much. There’s a high probability that Interpol know exactly who Maxim is and I won’t give them anything that will put him back on their radar. He knew they were Russian because of Gabriel’s testimony. They already knew I was in Italy thanks to my phone call from Pisa, there wasn’t much else I could give them.
“If you think of anything else, Grace, please let me know,” Enrique tells me. He stands up and shakes my hand before leaving.
“That went well,” Zoe says.
“You think?”
“You answered all his questions. You gave him enough without giving anything away.”
“Can I ask a favor?”
“Anything,” Zoe says.
“I need a new phone. I realized when I got home that I’d lost mine when I was kidnapped. I have no one to call, but I’d like to see what’s been going on in the world since I left.”
“Of course. I’ll get Tomas to order one for you today.”
She really is the best sister.
22
MAXIM
Letting Grace go was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do, but it was the right thing no matter how much my heart feels like it’s being pulled from my chest. No matter how much my soul feels like it’s missing its half, it was the right thing to do. I will go to the ends of this earth to keep Grace safe from him. Seeing her tear-soaked face watch me for as long as she could told me there was no way in hell I wouldn’t go back to get my girl. That this bullshit with Dmitri needs to be over and done with so I can bring Grace home.
It's early morning by the time Sergei returns, and he finds me sitting at my desk in my office with a whiskey in my hand.
