Page 46 of Immaculate Deception (Romanoff Bratva)

“I know that’s a sensitive subject for you and a total invasion of privacy. But I didn’t know where you were and I was freaking out. My flight got in late last night and I couldn’t just go home and do nothing. I had to find you. I was able to pin you to this general area, but the service is so shitty that it couldn’t narrow it down any further.”

My instinct is to be angry. Brigitte knows how much being tracked bothers me, especially after everything I ran from in my old life.

But right now, I’m so relieved, I don’t care.

“Drive fast,” I say. “I need you.”

* * *

I hear tires on the gravel and throw the door open before Brigitte can even knock.

Seeing her in her standard Brigitte outfit—skinny and hot as hell, dressed head to toe in black, sporting bright red lipstick—feels like hugging a favorite stuffed animal. A comfort my body needs.

I throw my arms around her. “Oh my God, I can’t believe you’re here.”

Brigitte hugs me back and pushes me into the room, closing the door behind her. “I can’t believeyou’rehere. You should be at home with your baby.”

Speaking of Lukas, Brigitte lets go of me and rushes over to the bassinet where he’s sleeping.

“Ohmygod, Arya, he’s perfect. The actual cutest.” She sighs and then spins around, hands on her hips and a fierce glint of determination in her eye. “That’s it. I’m getting you out of here.”

“What do you mean? We’re being chased, I think.”

“Youthink?” Brigitte raises a blonde brow. “That is not a good enough reason to stay trapped in a motel room with a man you don’t know.”

“He’s the don of the Romanoff Bratva.”

“You’re oh-so right,” she drawls sarcastically. “Thanks for the correction. A man you don’t know—aside from his title as the most dangerous mobster in the city. What an improvement. We have to get you out of here.”

“He isn’t themostdangerous,” I argue pitifully.

I remember what Dima said about his code. About not participating in human trafficking. He may not be a saint, but he’s not a monster. Plus, he came back for me and Lukas when he didn’t have to.

Somewhere in there is a heart.

I hope.

“You’re right,” Brigitte agrees. “The problem is that if you don’t get back to the city soon, the person who actually is theactualmost dangerous might think you’ve tried to skip town. You could have someone much worse on your trail soon.” She gives me a knowing look.

I shrug, but even I’m not buying the nonchalance I’m trying to project. “Maybe he’s stopped tracking me. He has better things to deal with, I’m sure.”

“Doubtful. We both know a man scorned can turn into a real psycho.”

She’s right about that. Brigitte and I both have experience in that department.

We’ve each got some demons in our rearview mirrors.

Brigitte grabs my hands and sits on the edge of the bed, one leg curled up underneath her. Her blonde hair is curled in loose waves that flow effortlessly over her shoulders. I feel like a goblin in comparison. Granted, I just gave birth yesterday, but still. I haven’t even showered yet.

“Let me take you home,” she pleads.

“My house isn’t safe.”

“Then to my house. You and Lukas can stay there while Dima runs around fighting bad guys,” she says with a flippant wave of her hand. “If anyone comes for you, I know how to use a gun.”

I shake my head. “I can’t put you in that kind of risk, Bridge. It’s not fair to you.”

“Who ever said life was fair?” she asks. “Or love, for that matter? Because I love you, Arya, and I’m not going to let you be dragged around by this guy who got you into this mess in the first place.”

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