Page 30 of Trapped by the Bratva (The Valkov Bratva #5)

HANNAH

“ O oh, just get this one.” Becca argued the best she could, making her case with holding the dress up higher, as if I could miss what she was talking about.

It was gorgeous. There was no denying that fact. I winced at the price tag on the short white dress. While it was lovely, it wasn’t worth that amount. “It’s too much!”

Amy laughed, glancing over my shoulder. She shook her head but raised her brows at the price tag. “That much? For that dress?”

“I know. Am I right?”

She smiled and shook her head. Sophia sucked on her pacifier, happy to be in her mother’s arms like the Velcro baby she was. “Oh, we’ll break you out of this frugal nonsense yet.” She looked again at the dress. “This one might be too pretty to pass on, though.”

I wasn’t sure. I peered across the dress boutique, spotting my first choice again. A longer, simpler gown near where Margie stood browsing through dresses more her “style”.

I was overjoyed that these women had welcomed me into their lives and into their big, interesting family.

They weren’t only my future sisters-in-law, but also my confidants.

All of them helped to answer my seemingly never-ending questions about the Mafia life.

They calmed my insecurities about adjusting into a life of crime and danger.

Like Dmitri had promised, it never touched me personally. Two months ago, when I saw Alek shoot Sergei Kastava dead, that was the last I was close to danger or any bodily harm.

After moving into Dmitri’s room officially and admitting to them that we were engaged, no one had come after me. Thugs didn’t stalk me. Criminals didn’t rule my life. Being with Dmitri was normal, and it would remain normal as long as I didn’t ask too many questions.

Although I was aware that those five brothers were violent men and did things I didn’t condone, I was convinced that they were “good” bad guys.

Everyone had a little bad in them, right?

Without Melissa in my life anymore, I had no threats to stress about. I had no obstacles in the way of my happiness.

I counted on hiccups. Issues would arise. Already, I was considered “the nurse” in the family, the go-to person for whenever anyone was wounded. Amy was glad that I could help in that role. I’d since learned that she was a vet tech, but she preferred for me to use my “real” expertise on humans.

I was happy to help. I wouldn’t judge how or why the Bratva men might show up hurt.

I wouldn’t tell them to go to the hospital, either.

Things were often done on the down low, and I could do my part in that.

It was already decided that I’d go back to school after the baby was born.

My goal was to complete my nursing degree.

It didn’t matter if I did. Like everyone said, I had the skills regardless of what a piece of paper could claim.

But I wanted it. I wanted that piece of paper.

I’d hang up my diploma just as proof that I’d done it all.

For the sake of knowing I’d worked hard to accomplish something academic like that.

My true worth was in helping these men the best I could, and I wouldn’t stop.

Margie walked up to me, sneering at the shorter dress the others liked so much. “No. Hannah has a classic beauty.”

I smiled at the housekeeper who was more or less the de-facto mother of us all.

“This one.” She nodded and pushed my first choice into my hands.

“I can’t believe we’ll be partying at another wedding already,” Mila said, beaming at me as she held up bows to Alana’s head.

“Hold on. No partying,” I warned. Becca was about to pop, so far in her pregnancy. I was waddling, already so big at twenty weeks. “At least no hard partying.”

Dmitri and I wanted a tamer wedding. Small. Intimate. Just with the closest people invited.

“Okay.” Nadia grinned. “A mild celebration, then.”

I laughed. “Yes. Exactly.”

“There isn’t time to plan and prepare for a bigger party,” Margie chided.

“Hey, whatever Hannah wants, Dmitri will make it happen,” Becca argued.

“But I want a smaller thing.” It hurt that I didn’t have any family to invite.

Melissa was well and truly out of the picture.

After dealing with her charges on drug possession, she was released.

Without money, a job, or anyone to help her, she reached out to my old number.

Old, as in Dmitri kept that line while I enjoyed a new phone and number.

He handled her, giving her a paltry farewell check and a firm warning to stay away from me for the rest of her life.

And if she didn’t listen, the end of her life would be nearer with that act of disobedience.

It worked. Or if she tried to reach out to me, he wasn’t letting me know.

I did have a family, though. I knew that. Even before I technically married into the Valkov family, I found my true sisters. I found the men I wanted as brothers. And definitely the man of my dreams in Dmitri.

All those times I’d wondered about him after Emily’s almost-kidnapping… He was a mystery man then. A riddle. An illusion.

Next week, he’d be my husband.

“We’ve got the gender reveal tomorrow night,” Amy said, grinning widely. She was the only one who knew the gender of the baby I carried. We trusted her to keep her lips shut and handle the cake at the bakery, but she was bouncing with excitement.

“Big moving day the day after that,” I reminded them.

I didn’t have much to pack or move, but Dmitri warned that would change—a lot. He was spoiling me with more than just his dick, that was for sure. With an open bank account, no limit to the amount, he gave me free rein to buy whatever I wanted for our new home.

After the dust settled with Avilov’s capture and Kastava’s death, we listed the pros and cons of the properties we toured and chose one.

It seemed that my fiancé planned to keep my belly full with a baby for a long while because I wasn’t sure how we’d fill all those rooms with just the three of us right now.

I failed, though, because when I showed him all that we’d have delivered, he insisted that I go “all out”. Another day of shopping showed me that he literally expected me to splurge.

“Housewarming, too,” Nadia added.

I sighed. “I’ll be so tired from the move.”

Becca laughed. “You won’t lift a thing.”

Mila smiled. “Yeah. You’ve got the whole Bratva to help you get settled.”

“Don’t forget the bachelorette party,” Margie said.

Dmitri and Ivan were combining their bachelor parties by going—of all places—golfing. Even though Ivan had teased about strippers and dancers, both men decided to keep it tame. After all, Becca and I were pregnant, and they wanted to be near in case we needed them.

“I can’t wait,” Mila gushed. “I’ve never been to one.”

“Me neither,” Nadia said, smiling easier.

Because you were both expected to be forced into marriage? It saddened me that they’d suffered their own trials and hardships in getting to where they were now—happy with their men. But it helped me to understand that despite the troubles, the Valkov men were worth it. Dmitri was worth it.

We planned a simple girls’ night, a pampering spa day and a night of hanging out. It was just what I wanted, and I knew we’d have a relaxing yet fun time.

I glanced at my phone, checking the time. “Shit. I’ve got to go.” Dmitri had a follow-up appointment with the orthopedic surgeon who’d helped him restructure his hand, and I didn’t want to be late.

“So, this one?” Becca asked, holding up the two final dresses.

I pointed at the longer one.

Mila nodded at the boutique’s employee. “We’ll take both.”

“What? No. I?—”

Margie linked her arm with mine. “Let her pamper you.” She patted my hand as she walked toward the door with me. “You deserve it.”

“But it’s not necessary.”

Margie glanced back. “Maybe not. But let Mila have her fun too. I know it’s a lot, your coming into the family and all those women with you now.

But they need you too. They’ve all struggled, and this sisterhood you’re all forming is important.

” She slid her sunglasses on as we stepped out on the sidewalk.

“Besides, they’ve got too much money to spend in one lifetime, thanks to Pavel and Andrey being gone. ” She harrumphed in disdain.

I smiled, looking quickly for the guards. It was tricky to remember all their names, but I was getting there. When I first saw Becca out of the blue all those months ago, I’d found it bizarre and so weird that she’d have a bodyguard. Now, I counted on it and appreciated it.

Whatever kept me and my baby safe so we could get back to Dmitri. That was all that mattered. He was my purpose, the one I belonged with, and I grinned wider.

My heart couldn’t expand with any more joy and glee. It’d burst, overflowing.

When I met Dmitri at the house, ready to go to his appointment, I was still happy and smiling.

He kissed me deeply, as he usually did in greeting. “Productive morning?”

I shrugged. “I think I have my dress picked out.”

He took my hand as he led me to the car to go to the hospital. It felt strange, being driven to a bustling place similar to where I used to work so many hours with no end in sight.

“You think?” he teased. “Did you, or didn’t you?”

“I was talked into getting two.”

“Hmm.” He opened the door for me, standing with his cane while he waited for me to get into the passenger seat. “You’ll change after the wedding?” he guessed. “One for the ceremony and another for the party?”

I had to wait until he rounded the car and got in the driver’s seat before I could reply. “No. I can’t pick between the two, so Mila insisted I get both.”

“You could model them for me.” He smiled smugly as he drove. “I could help you decide.”

I huffed. “Last night, you said it didn’t matter what I wore. Ever.”

“Because I prefer you naked.”

I laughed. “I am not getting married naked.”

“Good. Only I get to see your bare body.” He took my hand and sighed. “You ever think about this?”

I laughed harder. “Getting married naked? No!”

“About getting married at all.” He glanced at me, serious and pensive. “If you ever would.”

I sighed. “Hmm. Yes and no. Sometimes, I’d wonder if it would be easier to find a sugar daddy or something. To get a man who’d provide for me so I wouldn’t have to work a lot and have Melissa take all my money.”

He furrowed his brow.

“But then just as often, I figured I would never want to get married because I’d hate to give up my independence. I had it since I was a child to survive.”

I frowned. “And then, I realized how good it would be to have a family, a real family, and I wondered how I’d ever have babies without meeting a non-sugar daddy man who wouldn’t challenge my independence.”

He blinked, perhaps regretting asking me that philosophical question at all after my rambling reply.

“Do you think being with me is a threat to your independence?” He looked at me quickly. “Being in the Bratva and always needing to be secure?”

“No.” I leaned over to kiss his cheek. “Not at all.”

“Okay.” He didn’t sound sure.

“I can’t wait to officially be your wife,” I told him. “You’re not a sugar daddy. I earned every dollar of putting up with your stubborn ass in those first weeks of your rehab at home.”

He chuckled.

“And you don’t threaten my independence. I appreciate having the protection, and it doesn’t confine me.”

“Good.”

“And I’m thrilled to be starting a family with you.”

He lifted my hand and kissed my knuckles.

“What about you? Did you think you’d ever marry?”

“Before Alek stole Mila off the altar? No. Since he did, it seemed like all of us brothers fell, one by one.”

I smiled, watching his handsome, rugged profile. “You sure have.”

And I was over the moon to be a part of the Valkov Family’s expansion.