Page 20 of Innocent Prey of the Bratva

“Then why am I still here?” I snap.

“Because Kaz is Kaz,” Arina mutters, looking at the ceiling like they’re asking the universe for patience. “And when he gets an idea in his head, he doesn’t let go. Especially when that idea has legs and a sharp tongue and eyes like yours.”

I flush. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

“It means,” they say carefully, “he’s keeping you here for more reasons than just your camera.”

I stare at them.

They lean in, lowering their voice. “I’m not defending him. I just want you to know you’re not alone in this place. And Kaz might come on a little strong, but he’s a sweet man.”

“Sweet? That’s one word for kidnapper.”

They raise an eyebrow, but I barrel on.

“So what now? You come here to play good cop? To tell me I’m innocent but still let me rot in this gilded cage? Great. Wonderful. Truly. You and your Hades can go to hell.”

Arina blinks. “Hades?”

I wave a hand dramatically. “You know—tall, dark, terrifying? Bleeds power and talks like he owns your soul? He’s practically a Greek villain. Might as well give him the nickname. He probably lives for that kind of attention.”

A slow grin spreads across Arina’s face. “Oh, so you do think he’s hot.”

“What—no!” I snap, heat rising in my cheeks.

“Mhm,” they hum, clearly entertained. “You just compared him to the god of the underworld. That’s at least a seven on the ‘I hate him but he’s sexy’ scale.”

I glare at them, folding my arms. “You’re impossible.”

“And you’re not very subtle.”

I turn away before they see the truth flash across my face. Because fine—yes, Kaz is a monster. He’s cold, arrogant, and violent. But the problem is…that’s not all he is. And no matter how hard I try, I can’t ignore the way my stomach flips every time he enters the room.

Arina doesn’t press. “Look, Violet. I’m not saying any of this is fair. It’s not. But I also know Kaz well enough to say this—he’s not keeping you here for the photos. He deleted those the second he got them.”

I whip around. “What?”

“They’re gone,” they confirm.

I sit back on the edge of the bed, arms wrapped around my knees. “So what now? I just…stay here and hope Kaz wakes up one day with a change of heart?”

Arina exhales softly, then lowers themselves into the armchair across from me. “No. Not just hope. I’m working on him.”

I lift my gaze to them, skeptical. “You are?”

They nod, twirling a ring on their inked finger. “Every day. I’m not the one in charge, Violet—but I do talk to him. A lot. And trust me, he listens to me. Sometimes.”

I search their face, unsure why I believe them, but I do. There’s something honest in the way they speak, like they’re just trying to soothe me. They reach into the deep pocket of their cargo pants and pull out a sleek black phone.

“What’s that?” I ask, eyeing it warily.

“A phone,” they say simply, crossing the room and placing it into my hand. “Limited access, but it works. You can text. No calls. No location tracking.”

I blink. “You’re giving me a phone?”

“Don’t make it weird,” they mutter with a smirk. “You’ll need something. To talk to someone. Keep your head on straight. But listen carefully, Violet—only use it when you’re in the bathroom or the walk-in closet. This room has cameras.”

I tense. “What?”