Page 47 of Kept By the Bratva
I nodded, grateful that I wouldn’t have to worry about him.
“The Valkov Bratva does not condone trafficking women. We participate in many avenues of business, but we do not kidnap women like the Cartel and other organizations for the purpose of selling them.”
His words should’ve reassured me, but I still held on to this stubborn doubt.
“What happened to the other women?” I had to know.
“They’ve been secured at locations in our territory.”
I arched a brow. “You didn’t release them?”
“It’s complicated.” He sighed, rubbing his face. The rasp of friction on his stubble shouldn’t have sounded so compelling, making me wonderwhat it would feel like to have his face between my legs again. “Alek has yet to figure out how to release them. The law enforcement’s partnership with the Ortez Cartel complicates things.”
“If I could leave, would you let me?” I was scared to ask it, but I had to. I wanted to be here, safe with Nik, but not without love.
He grunted. “Like I said, where the fuck would you go, Amy?”
“I’d run away. Far. I’d start over, on my own terms, and?—”
“Where?” he repeated. “Where do you think could be safe from a determined, psychotic sadist with billions at his disposal to hunt you down?”
I swallowed. “I’d hide. I wouldn’t tell anyone about your organization. About anyone here. I won’t say anything to anyone.”
He stood, bitter as he scowled. I fought not to look at his bare chest. He only wore gray sweatpants that hung low on his hips. Bandages covered his skin, but even injured and wounded, he was the hottest man I’d ever seen. If anything, the evidence of his beating made him look more rugged, like a true bad boy.
“You’re starting to really piss me off, Amy.”
I furrowed my brow at him. “Why? Why are you so mad?”
“You wereraped!” he bellowed. “I’m angry that such an unspeakable thing happened to you!”
His immediate fury bothered me. Wasthatwhy he didn’t want me? Did he view me as damaged goods—falsely? The idea of another man being inside me made him that mad?
You’re the father!I wanted to scream it.
“I want…” I stood as my stomach revolted at the suggestion of any movement. “I want out, Nik.”
“No.” He crossed his arms, making his muscles bulge. “There is no way you could run far enough. There is no way you could hide from a monster like him. You don’t understand how this world works.”
“You’re right. I don’t. And I don’t want to!”
He clenched his teeth, stalking up to me. I didn’t back down, craning my neck to look up at him defiantly.
“Would it be so bad?” He licked his lips, his eyes sparking with frustration. “Would it be so fucking bad to be near me? To deal with my life here?”
Words dried up on my tongue. I refused to cave to how hard he put me on the spot like this. I’d missed him so much. I’d dreamed of seeing him again. Now that I “had” him, it was with the knowledge that he felt forced to protect me.
“Would you rather risk your life—and the life of your child—out on the streets and know that Diego would always think he owns you, no matter what?”
I shuddered, shaking my head. I didn’t know why that sociopath of a customer had to be at the Cartel’s warehouse that day. I didn’t want to learn the intricacies of events that led to my walking down that specific sidewalk at the exact time those thugs went prowling for innocent women to snatch.
“No. I don’t want that life.” Looking over my shoulder constantly wouldn’tbea life. It would be nonstop paranoia and fear, even if it did mean I had my independence.
“But…” I lowered my gaze for a moment, hating that what I wanted to say sounded like a rejection. After all he’d done for me, and with all he planned to do yet in paying millions for my safety, I had to be honest. “But I don’t want this life either. I don’t want to be trapped and without any choices about my life.”
I don’t want to be with a man who doesn’t want me for anything more than a convenient fuck.
I couldn’t tell him my deepest secrets, my heartfelt wishes.