Page 44 of Owned Bratva Bride

Perfect.

I buried myself in the story.

“Marielle? Are you okay?” Agatha called.

Still sniffling, I wiped my face with the back of my hand as I looked up to find her approaching.

“I’m fine,” I answered, chuckling in spite of myself.

“Are you sure? I’m going home, so I thought to let you know the milk cookies are now cool enough so you can help yourself to some.”

“Oh, thanks. That’ll be tomorrow.”

“Sad story?”

“So sad,” I answered, a fresh batch of tears threatening to spill. “It’s sad how we have no choice in what type of families we’re born into.”

“Very true,” Agatha agreed before chuckling. “I never thought you were the type to cry over a sad story.”

“Funny, right?” I asked, wiping my face again.

She shook her head from side to side, but her pursed lips said otherwise.

Such a kid in an adult’s body.

I rose to my feet.

“Goodnight. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Goodnight,” I rasped.

As I returned the book and got ready for bed, I couldn’t stop thinking about how the main character in the book was similar to me. I considered the possibility that Eduard might not have had a choice in becoming a mob boss. I thought of Agatha and how she was also born into the criminal world. If it were so easy to leave, she would have left.

Right?

What if Eduard had no choice, too?

***

I couldn’t be called a late riser, but I wasn’t much of an early riser, either.

But on Sunday, I woke up too early.

I had a long bath and went to the kitchen. They were just starting to make breakfast, so I stayed, even though I had nothing important to help them with.

“How did you get here?” I found myself asking Sofia.

She gave me a small, dimpled smile.

“My dad is Uncle Max’s elder brother.”

Seeing my confusion, she explained, pointing at Agatha. “Uncle Max is her husband.”

“Oh…so, you were also born into this world. But should you be in school?”

“My father won’t allow it,” she revealed, shaking her head in the negative.

“Oh….”