Page 1 of The Bratva's Pregnant Bride

Chapter 1 - Grace

Mel’s café was bustling with activity and the warmth was accompanied by the quiet clinking of cups and the low murmur of conversation in the background. The air was filled with the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and the tantalizing scent of pastries. The bell above the door jingled and I jerked my head up. I spent the last thirty minutes waiting in the café for my friend Vanessa.

Every jingle of the bell was almost annoying, especially when other customers rushed in and there was no sign of her. I looked at the long line of college jocks making their way to the counter. Up front, the barista, who happened to be Mel’s granddaughter, Trisha, greeted the jocks with a bright smile on her face and a singing voice.

Despite myself, I smiled at the sight and buried my nose in my book. In the background, I heard the hissing and clanking of the espresso machines behind the counter and another bell rang out. This time I didn’t bother to look. But I glanced at my watch. Ten more minutes and then I would leave.

“Grace!”

I lifted my head and her beautiful brown eyes met mine. A pout formed on her lips as she hurried to occupy the chair across from me. “Oh, Grace...” she pleaded with puppy eyes. “I'm so sorry.”

I closed the book, laid it on the table, and leaned back against my chair, resting both elbows on the armrests and interlacing my fingers.

I shook my head slowly, a coy smile playing on my lips. “There’s nothing I can do, Nessa. Lunch is on you ‘till next Friday.”

“Next Friday!” she groaned. “That’s not fair. I was only... what, twenty minutes late?”

“Almost forty,” I tapped on my watch. “Hey, I didn’t make the rules.”

She laughed and put her books on the table. “Yes, you kind of did.”

“And you agreed,” I added, to which she laughed even louder.

“Why did we make up these stupid rules in the first place?” she asked, I shrugged and grinned.

“Young people do crazy things all the time, Nessa,” I said. “Like making up rules we both know we won’t keep.”

She laughed again and her eyes sparkled mischievously.

Vanessa looked stunning as always, like a typical final-year fashion design student, with a short skirt and extravagant printed silk blouse. Her sleek, silky dark hair fell over her shoulders and was loosely held back, fringe-locks shaping her oval face and her white leather sneakers gave her an edgy look.

She reached for the book I had been reading, lifted it, and studied the cover. “Is this yours?” Her eyes darted between the book and mine, and I nodded.

Vanessa and I had been friends since my first semester, and I never once regretted meeting her. We were complete opposites, but we complemented each other very well. While I was a social butterfly, Vanessa was more reserved. She treasured her quiet times and always read a lot. Me? Not so much. I had different ideas of fun.

“Yup,” I grinned. “It’s mine.”

“Since when?”, her eyes widened.

“What do you mean ‘since when?’ Idoread, sometimes.”

“You do,” she smiled, “not.”

“Touché,” I smirked.

She flipped through the pages, and I could see her curiosity growing. With an approving nod, she closed the book and looked at me again. “I didn't know you were interested in mafia and things like that.”

“Nope,” I reached for the cup of macchiato on the table and took a sip. “I'm not into that kind of dark stuff, but I've read a lot of good reviews about the book online, so I decided to give it a try.”

“So far?” Nessa asked with a quirked brow.

“It wasn't bad,” I said with a knowing smile. “Well, what girl doesn’t like a bit of a bad guy sometimes? But I still don’t understand the whole bad boy and good girl vibe... I mean, why would anyone fall in love with someone who not only kidnapped and tortured you but is fucking bipolar?”

“Hmm,” she crossed one leg over the other and placed her hands on her knees like a graceful lady. “Unless he’s a hot, absurdly good-looking guy. I guess we can’t help who our heart chooses, am I right?”

I took another sip of my macchiato and shook my head disapprovingly. “Crazy shit, Nessa.”

“Okay, okay, ... enough about the book,” Nessa chirped. “While I’m glad you’ve developed a new interest, there's something else I need to tell you.”

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