Page 17 of The Bratva's Secret Baby

“Does he belong to the Bratva?”

“Darling, every Varkov man is the Bratva.”

“He’s part of the Bratva?” A mirthless laugh broke from my throat.

“You’re kidding me, aren’t you?”

Bella’s concerned expression intensified. “Rosanne, is everything okay? You’re acting strange.”

Tears prickled my eyes, but I couldn’t stop laughing. I would explode like a hurricane if I dared to unleash the pain inside me.

I wasn’t okay. I was far from okay.

Cold sweat pierced through my pours despite the air conditioner, and my head wouldn’t stop spinning. As if a heavy fog just gave way to clarity in my mind, my thoughts started to align.

If Damien was part of the Bratva, then did he approach me on purpose? I was certain there was no one else in that alley that night. Had he been watching me before everything happened? Why?

Oh God. No.

Why would he target me? The Bratva had no business with The Circle… unless …

A knot tied in my throat, refusing to give way to airflow. He had planned all of this. He fucked me so I would tell him everything, and like the biggest idiot, I was so fucking stupid to trust a man I’d only met once.

Fucking stupid!

An ache prowled about my ribs, making it hard for me to breathe. The hallway was too hot, too airless, and my chest was heaving heavy.

“I need some air,” I coughed. And without waiting for Bella’s response, I ran up a brick path winding into the garden.

My legs carried me at the speed of lightning and if I slowed down even the slightest bit, I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to hold back the sadness clawing at me.

Damien would see me break just like he wanted.

I would rather be dead before I let him see how angry and betrayed, I felt.

As I breathed in the exotic fragrance of the flowers in the garden, tears streamed down my eyes. My chest ached; I was nothing more than a pawn on a chessboard to him. I was nothing to him. I clutched my chest, trying to save my heart from exploding.

“Rosanne.” A baritone voice vibrated behind me.

I froze. I reeled around, Damien was standing there, his gaze as dark as the night.

Chapter Seven

Damien

Her eyes were red and puffy when I inched closer to her. She turned away, refusing to meet my gaze or even acknowledge my presence. By now, she must have put two and two together and realized that I’d approached her on purpose. I grabbed her wrist and spun her around.

“Look at me!”

“Leave me alone!” She cried, wriggling free from my grasp.

She wiped her tears away with the back of her hand, sniffled, and tried to pretend she hadn’t been crying.

Something shifted inside me.

It was rage, not at anyone else but me. Then there was that spasm of guilt in my chest like nothing I’d ever felt before. I was a ruthless bastard who’d used people, hurt them, and killed them. Yet, my stomach churned with unease just staring into her misty eyes.

I hadn’t intended for her to find out the truth about me just yet. After our last meeting at the café, I’d decided to keep her a little longer. Just a little. I was taken by surprise when I walked into the party minutes ago and I saw Rosanne standing there with Bella. I hadn’t expected to see her there, and I didn’t know she was Bella’s friend. But this wasn’t going to change anything.

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