Page 29 of Trapped By the Bratva

He threw me off balance. He fought me with every breath. And each time he laid his green gaze on me, I felt closer to snapping and surrendering all over again.

How could I work like that? How could they expect me to maintain my dignity going forward?

“Don’t judge,” Becca advised, softening her tone. She had to see the indecision on my face, but she was misunderstanding why I was on edge. I wasn’t about to confess to her that Dmitri and I had… messed around.

“Please don’t judge these Bratva men. Don’t leave.”

I whooshed out a long exhale.

“Dmitri needs someone like you.”

Smirking quickly, I waited for her to explain. “How so?”

Dmitrineedsme?I laughed, almost too loudly, at the absurdity of what she just said. I had told the man that myself—that he needed me. That he needed my help.

Then he put me in my place and showed me how much I needed him, sexually.

While she seemed to search for words, I shook my head. “He’s so gruff. And angry.”

Becca shrugged. “He’s always been an impatient, cocky sort of man. Hard but not an asshole. He’s so sweet around Emily and Alana, Mila and Alek’s baby.” She grabbed the tablet she’d been carrying. “I was going to come find you and give you this.” She handed it over. “All his medical reports and diagnoses, all the therapy protocols and regimes.”

“Thanks.” I took it, glad for the resources.

“Since he was captured and tortured, he has been behaving differently, but I suppose if we imagined putting ourselves in his shoes, maybe we can’t fault him for being so bitter.”

My phone buzzed, and seeing the notification of a text from Melissa, I shoved it back in my pocket. “But why are you adamant thatI, specifically, would be good for him?” I laughed once. “Because I’m motivated by money?”

She shook her head. “Because you are sweet, but not a pushover.”

“I feel like one—with my sister.”

“That’s different. She’s manipulating you with mental abuse. You are firm when you need to be. I witnessed it myself when you watched Emily.”

I smiled. “Should I tell Dmitri that you’re basically comparing him to a toddler?”

She grinned. “I’ve told him already that he’s behaving like one. Really, though. You are scrappy, Hannah, determined to always be optimistic no matter how shitty life can get. He needs a stubborn ray of sunshine like that. We’re all hoping you can work with him.”

I glanced again at my phone. Another text from Melissa came in, and I silenced the device.

As if I need another reminder of why I took this job.

I had to stay here. I had to get away from my sister.

“Do you think you can work with him, now that you’ve seen what you’re up against?” Becca seemed to hold her breath, waiting for my reply.

I opened and closed my mouth, stalling.I have no other choice.“Yes, I think I can work with him.”

So long as I put a firm, lockable lid on my desire.

And never consider caving to that man again.

10

DMITRI

Ididn’t see Hannah for the rest of that night. I wasn’t sure whether I was bothered about that or pleased.

Mila prevented me from being alone. She stopped in my room to be nosy, but I didn’t mind. I was fond of seeing Alana, and I treasured the chance to see my niece grow up. It was at warp speed, too. She was almost three months old and already so different since her newborn status.