Page 108 of His Forced Bride

"Everything that's happened is connected to me. My wedding, my business… Alina got caught in the crossfire because she's loyal to me."

I force myself to remain calm.

"I just want to see my friend."

But even as I say the words, my mind drifts to the call I made this morning.

It took three attempts to pickpocket a phone from Kirill when he was distracted by Rosa's baking.

His attention had wandered to the fresh bread cooling on the kitchen counter, and I'd slipped the device from his jacket with fingers that barely trembled.

I need connection to the outside world that is more than just more bad news about yet another bombing at one of my facilities.

I wanted to hear my mother's voice, even if she refused to be the mother I needed.

So I called her, and I don't regret it.

The conversation replays in my mind, her honeyed voice promising rescue, insisting she only wanted to bring me home where I belonged, away from Yuri's grip.

I'm not sure I need rescuing from him anymore, but her desire to mend the burnt bridge moves my heart.

The call lasted maybe ninety seconds before I heard footsteps and had to end it, but those brief words reignited hope I've had since I was a child that somehow, I could find a way to heal my family.

"Inessa."

Yuri's voice cuts through my thoughts.

"Where did you go?"

Back to the present.

Back to him watching me with those dark, knowing eyes.

"Nowhere. I'm right here."

"Your body is. Your mind went somewhere else entirely."

I straighten in my chair, drawing on the composure that's served me through many a client meeting or fatherly lecture.

"I need this, Yuri. One afternoon with my friend. Two hours, maybe three. I'll take guards, I'll follow whatever security protocols you require. But I need to see her."

"Why is it so important?"

The question is simple, but his tone suggests he already knows there's more to this request than friendship.

I lean forward, letting vulnerability creep into my voice.

"Because I'm drowning here. Because I lost my father and my entire world changed overnight, and the one person who might understand what I'm going through is lying in a hospital bed while I sit in this compound feeling useless."

Yuri's expression doesn't soften, but something shifts in his posture as I continue, and I realize maybe I do have some sway here.

He's actually listening.

"Because you've been incredible to me."

The words spill out of my mouth even as I'm wrapping my mind around what I'm doing, and they're not entirely false.

I may just manipulate him into giving me what I want simply by playing into his desire for me.