Page 43

“What are they? Like some kind of crime family?”

“Of sorts.” She nods.

Oh fuck. I mean, I got that much when these three killed a man and got away with it. But... shit.

“Like, a gang? Or a motorcycle club?” I hedge. You know, something on the smaller side that the authorities could still maybe help me out if I needed it.

She lets out a heavy sigh. “Bratva.”

My eyes widen and I let out a choked sound. “Like the mafia?"

“Yes.” She takes a step back.

“Volkov, that’s Russian, isn’t it?”

“It is.” She gives me a pitying look and my stomach drops.

“So, the Russian bratva.” I run my hands through my hair. “I’m fucked. I’m so fucked. I’m never getting out of here am I?”

“I wish I could lie to you to make you feel better, but no. These boys want you. And they’ve got you.”

“But why me?” I slap my chest. “I’m nothing special. I’m just some poor girl with no life goals and no fucking future. They could have any woman they want, so why me!?”

“Give it time,” she repeats. I want to slap her. “You will see why they chose you. You’re so much more than you think, Cove. They see it.” She takes the brown paper bag and throws it in the trash. “I have some errands to run, but just relax. Take a bath, go for a walk around the grounds. Maybe take a swim. Clear your head. And have a talk with them when they get back.”

She leaves me standing there even more fucked than when the guys left.

I’ve been kidnapped by the Russian bratva. Lovely. Just fucking lovley.

Of course I did. Because my life has been one cluster fuck as of late. So, why not throw in organised crime and three psychotic men who are obsessed with me?

Why the fuck did I have to complain about my life being too mundane? Guess the universe laughed in my face and told me to suck it.

Maverick said I was allowed to move freely around the property, but I don’t trust it. Who just lets the person they’re holding captive have free rein like that? Maybe he was trying to test me, to see just how stupid I might be.

I might not be reacting to all of this as I believe I should be, but that doesn’t mean I’m stupid. I’m still wary. But I don’t plan on testing my luck and trying to find a way to escape.

If they were telling me the truth, and they’ve been watching me like they said they have been, then I’m sure they have cameras everywhere.

At that thought, I look up and around the foyer as I step out of the kitchen. After doing a quick glance, I spot at least three.

Yeah, I’m not risking it. I’ll wait until they get back, get the answers I need and maybe if I just agree to be theirs, they will let me go.

I could lie, tell them we could date. That they didn’t need to take me to get me to be theirs.

Sure, it would be a lie. But they didn’t need to know that.

And as soon as they leave, I’d run.

“Yeah, run where?” I snort to myself, eyes widening when I realize I said that out loud.

Biting my lip, I turn away from the front door and head back up the stairs.

Running is pointless. Lying is useless. Believing I’m getting out of here and back to my old life may as well be a pipe dream.

They’re fucking part of the mafia. They could catch me easily. They could do whatever the fuck they wanted with me and no one would care.

It would be better for me to accept my fate now than to allow myself to believe that I’m going to go to sleep and wake up back in my bed tomorrow.