Page 42 of The Bratva's Innocent Forbidden Bride
“I like hearing you admit I’m right,” I told her, and her adorable tongue jutted out at me. “Careful,” I said. “That gets me thinking.”
Instead of a crack, she leaned across the table, her eyes drifting shut as I gave her the kiss both of us craved. At least we were on the same page about this one thing, and we were definitely compatible with it. As her lips opened for my tongue, I shoved the takeout aside and wrapped my hand around the back of her neck to pull her closer.
At the sound of something hitting the floor, she broke away, her eyes slightly glazed but a happy smile on her face. The raucous mariachi music shifted to something slower, and she stood, sliding her hands down her sides, her eyes never leaving mine.
“More dancing,” she said.
She was in my arms again a second later. No way I could resist her, no reason to try. Wasn’t she mine after all, at least for now?
Her body melted against me and her hands slid up my chest to lock around my neck as we swayed. This was better than fighting, better than worrying. As her chin rose, I dipped my head to kiss her again, smiling at the feel of her mouth, warm and sweet and pliable.
Nothing like the Tati who had faced off with me earlier, making demands and wringing promises out of me. Which one was the real Tati? Didn’t matter, I wanted all of her.
The music sped up again, and she pulled back, holding up her hand so I’d twirl her. And then the playlist ended, and we were breathless and laughing as we fell onto the couch.
“What’s next?” she asked.
“I can think of a few things,” I said, reaching for her.
She smiled, but her eyes were no longer carefree. “I meant when CJ finds the shooter. What part will I play to help out?”
My mouth dropped open, and I shook my head, ignoring the storm brewing in her eyes. “You’ve already done the most important thing in identifying him as working with your father.”
“But he knows me. I can—”
“No, you can’t.” It took all my strength to keep my voice level. “Didn’t I tell you you’re not leaving this apartment again?”
“You’re being ridiculous.” Her jaw was set, her hands clenching in frustration. She was mad, but I was madder.
“What’s ridiculous is trying to serve yourself up on a platter to the Yakuza.” Before she could say another word, I turned to her and let it all out. The exact reason I wanted to keep her from those men. “Let me tell you what I know about them, Tati, and listen well. The last person we lost to them came back to us in pieces. The one and only person I know about who ever escaped from them shot himself in the head to stop the nightmares. And those are big, strong men.”
She shook her head and turned away, but I gripped her chin and made her turn back. “If they get you in their clutches, they’ll pass you around. Dozens of men will be all over you. Then they’ll sell you to the highest bidder, and he’ll sell you to someone else when he’s bored. You won’t be in a nice apartment with massages or pedicures. You’ll be lucky if you get a closet instead of a dog kennel when you’re not in use.”
Tears streamed down her chalk-white face, and I finally stopped, sick at what I told her, though it was the truth. I refused to apologize even though I’d scared her half to death. But it wasn’t herself she was afraid for.
“Those are the people who have Papa,” she said, voice breaking.
Damn it. I reached for her, but she was already on her feet, hurrying from the room. A moment later, the guest room door slammed shut.
Chapter 25 - Tatiana
Kon’s words were worse than slaps, and hiding in the guest room with the covers over my head couldn’t keep the ghosts from finding me. It seemed like as soon as I dropped into a fitful sleep, the nightmare was upon me, its grip tight enough to keep me from opening my eyes and making it all go away.
I couldn’t run. I couldn’t scream. The hands held onto my arms and shoved me forward, into a darkness that would surely consume me. There were voices I recognized, along with cruel laughter.
This was all a joke. At least to some of them. Some of them were deadly serious.
For the first time, I was able to jerk free. Whirling around, I expected to see familiar faces, but instead they were shadowy figures, converging on me with outstretched claws. Not human. No longer people I knew. Now, instead of the dream I hated but had grown used to over the years, everything was different.
They’ll pass you around. They’ll sell you to the highest bidder. All I’ll find are the pieces.
Kon’s voice echoed from all around, but it was no comfort. The strange men who surrounded me moved closer, laughing as if they could also hear him. Then I was in a closet, black as pitch. No, a cage.
But then I was back with my original tormenters, shoving me to my knees and jabbing me. When I fought back, they became the men that Kon warned me about. The men who might have my father. Who might have already made it so I’d only ever find…
My own scream woke me up, tearing my throat. I had already sat up and was blindly clawing at the blankets I had been huddled under. I was trapped between the past and what really happened to me and what might happen if I kept looking for Papa, at least according to Kon.
My heart hammered, and sweat poured between my shoulder blades, making me shiver. By the time I was fully awake, Kon was once again at my side.
