Page 34 of Sexting the Bratva Boss (Text to Touch)

Eva

Ruslan's phone rang, and I watched him answer, putting it on speaker.

"Пахан." Dimitri's voice came through clearly.

Ruslan acknowledged him, and Dimitri began his report.

"The people from the set have been taken to the hospital and are recovering quickly.

We've quietly disposed of the two kidnappers' bodies.

We've identified them—one called Pavel, the other Igor.

Both street thugs with records for theft and robbery, well-known in the East Side black markets.

They don't belong to any stable organization, just take dirty jobs for cash. "

Dimitri's voice was clear and steady. "We cracked one of the kidnapper's phones and recovered data, finding encrypted communication records.

Following that trail, we located their middleman and just paid him a visit.

He was very cooperative and told us everything.

One of Joseph's men, named Vadim, contacted him. "

"Fucking Joseph again," Ruslan's expression darkened.

"Yes. These two kidnappers took Joseph's job for sixty thousand dollars to kidnap Miss Stone.

Our people found out they killed the actual coffee delivery guy.

Through crew member identification, we can confirm that Pavel disguised himself as the coffee shop employee and delivered drugged coffee to the set. "

Hearing this news, I clenched my fists. These vicious criminals had zero regard for human life.

Ruslan had hung up at some point and pulled me into his arms. "Eva, I can't let you stay exposed to this kind of danger anymore.

Starting today, you're staying here and not going anywhere.

I'm terminating all investment in this film and disbanding the entire crew.

The mansion has the most advanced security system and my most trusted men. Here, you'll be absolutely safe."

I knew Ruslan was thinking about my safety, but I couldn't just comply.

"I feel for you," I said. "I feel for you having to grow up in that environment. I can't imagine how you made it through alone to get where you are today. I'm willing to face danger with you, but Ruslan, you can't just disband the crew like that. And I can't abandon my work."

Ruslan was quiet for a moment before his phone buzzed again.

"Talk," he answered.

Whatever they said made Ruslan's face immediately darken. "What happened?"

The other end was presumably answering Ruslan's question as his expression grew uglier. He ordered, "Send more men. No matter where he runs, bring him back to me." Then he hung up.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"Casimir escaped." His voice still carried that icy tone. "He partnered with Joseph to hijack our arms shipment, but we didn't have enough evidence to deal with him. Dimitri just said they found where the cargo went, and Casimir caught wind and ran, killing several men who were watching him."

I felt a chill of fear. These people killed without blinking. If I'd fallen into those kidnappers' hands today, whether I'd still be alive was questionable .

Ruslan seemed to sense my fear and held me tighter. "Don't be scared. I'm here. I won't let anything happen to you."

Then Ruslan spoke firmly, "This film project is fundamentally dangerous—it exposes you to all my enemies' attention. So it has to be terminated now. No discussion."

I looked at him in disbelief, my heart sinking. I thought he'd understand. After everything I'd just said about my position, I thought he'd respect my ambitions and choices. But he didn't.

"You can't do this! This movie is everyone's effort. You've visited the set—you know how hard everyone's been working. For me, it's like my child, part of my dreams. How can you... How can you just casually destroy it like that?" I was still trying to convince him.

"Effort? Dreams?" He laughed bitterly. "Eva, wake up! Compared to your life, that stuff is worthless! It's just a damn movie! You want to act? I can finance ten, a hundred films for you later! But right now, you're staying put until I clean up all the garbage out there!"

He looked at me with no room for negotiation, and his words stabbed into my heart like knives.

Just a damn movie?

In his eyes, the career I fought for, took pride in, was something so insignificant. He didn't understand, never tried to understand what acting meant to me. He just used his domineering logic to measure everything in the world.

I shoved him away hard and shouted, "You're so fucking arrogant, Ruslan!"

Tears welled up in my eyes, but my voice turned ice-cold with anger.

"You're not protecting me—you're destroying my career, destroying me with your methods! How long are you planning to lock me up? A month? A year?"

"This is insane!" He seemed to lose patience too, frustration and confusion flashing across his face. "I'm trying to save your life! Why can't you understand that?"

"I don't need you to save me this way!" I lifted my chin, fearlessly meeting his blazing eyes. "I need respect! Trust! Not being caged like a pet in the name of protection while you ignore my wishes!"

Each accusation was like a knife, cutting at each other while deeply wounding ourselves.

Finally, the raging fire in his eyes gradually died out, replaced by exhaustion deep enough to drown him.

He stepped back like he'd used up all his energy.

"I think we both need to cool down." He rubbed his temples, compromising. "Let's leave it for tonight, okay? We'll talk tomorrow."

Seeing that rare vulnerability on his face, my heart softened, but my position couldn't waver.

"Tomorrow I'll have the same answer, Ruslan," I said clearly. "I can't be caged like a canary. Never."

He looked at me deeply with an expression too complex to read.

After a long moment, he sighed and backed down again. "Fine, Eva. Tomorrow I'll give you an explanation."

Those words were like a ceasefire signal, easing the tension between us.

But that night, we lay back to back, neither speaking, as if the Milky Way stretched between us in bed.

The next morning, when I woke from restless, shallow sleep, the space beside me was empty. I instinctively reached out—the sheets were cold without any trace of warmth. He'd been gone for who knows how long.

Intense unease gripped me. I immediately got out of bed barefoot, searching the kitchen, bathroom, closet, and living room. I looked everywhere he might be, but found no trace of him.

Returning to the kitchen, I found only an unfamiliar middle-aged woman preparing breakfast. Seeing me, she bowed respectfully. "Good morning, Miss."

"Where's Ruslan?" I asked urgently. "Where did he go?"

"Sir left early this morning. I don't know exactly where," the woman said with her head down. "I'm here to take care of your meals and daily needs. Sir said you can't leave during this period. "

Can't leave. Those words hit me like ice water. I realized I'd been tricked.

I rushed to the living room door, frantically turning the handle.

It wouldn't budge. I pounded on the heavy wooden door, but except for making my palms numb, there was no response.

I ran to the balcony—all I could see was an overly manicured private garden.

I could see black-suited guards stationed every ten meters near the iron gate like statues. There was no escape.

With trembling hands, I pulled out my phone and dialed that familiar number.

The call was answered almost immediately.

"Eva." His voice came through the speaker, sounding tired.

"Ruslan Yvannov, you liar!" I screamed with every ounce of strength. "Why did you lie to me? You've locked me up!"

There was silence on the other end, then his voice came through. "Eva, I know you. Once you've decided something, no one can change your mind. I had no choice."

"So deception was your choice?" I couldn't believe this was the first time Ruslan had lied to me!

"I'm doing it for your good." His voice was full of helplessness. "Be good, Eva. Once I've dealt with all the threats, I'll let you return to normal life."

"Did you disband the crew?" I asked with false hope.

He didn't answer. My breathing grew heavier. Just when I thought he wouldn't respond, he spoke.

"I've already notified Anna to begin dissolution procedures."

I felt dizzy. He really didn't care about my thoughts at all.

"You're not just imprisoning me, you're destroying my career too?" I demanded.

"I told you I'm protecting you. I have work to do. If you need anything, just tell me and I'll have it sent over."

He refused to communicate with me about this.

"I don't need anything!" I was shaking with rage and hung up directly.

Damn it! The crew was disbanded like that; everyone's effort and dedication turned into a joke. I punched the couch hard, breathing heavily. After a while, I calmed down. Maybe I should contact Elliot and apologize.

But I called several times without getting through.

I collapsed on the couch, scrolling through my contacts, only to realize how helpless I was. I called Ivanka—she was my only friend here. After listening to my tearful account, she could only sigh helplessly.

"Honey, I can't help you. Uncle Ruslan's mansion has military-grade security, and those bodyguards are his elite men. Forget about me—even the President probably couldn't break in there. Don't do anything stupid."

"Could you try talking to him?" I asked desperately.

"It's useless. When Uncle Ruslan decides something, no one can change it. My mom—his big sister—has the best relationship with him, and even she can't change his mind."

Despair completely surrounded me.

Breakfast was served—the cornbread and mac and cheese that Mom had made when she visited the mansion.

Mom had only stayed in LA for three weeks before choosing to go home, saying there was too much work to do back home. Ruslan and I had taken her to the airport. Looking at the food now, everything had changed.

My stomach churned, and I wanted to sweep it all onto the floor. I thought about going on a hunger strike in protest.