Page 29 of Owned By the Russian

With that, the line disconnected, leaving Ilya staring at his phone for a moment. He shook his head, tucking it back into his pocket as he turned to load the rest of the supplies into the car.

Just as he slid into the driver’s seat, his phone buzzed again. He groaned, briefly debating whether to ignore it, but the name “Rhiannon” flashed on the screen, and he knew he had no choice. He reluctantly answered.

“Rhiannon,” he greeted, his tone already edged with impatience.

“Ilya.” Her voice was sharp and commanding, the kind that immediately demanded attention. “Is Val with you?”

“She’s fine,” he replied, starting the car.

“That wasn’t my question,” Rhiannon snapped. “Is she safe?”

“Yes, she’s safe,” Ilya said, keeping his tone neutral, though his grip on the steering wheel tightened.

“Good,” Rhiannon said, but her voice didn’t soften. “Listen, Ilya. She’s not like us. She’s tough, yes, but you can’t just throw her into a situation like this and expect her to adjust. She’s not used to being this…restrained.”

“She’s not a prisoner,” Ilya muttered, feeling a sense of déjà vu.

“Maybe not officially, but you’ve backed her into a corner, and I know how it is between you two. Don’t rile her up, Ilya. Give her some slack. The more you push her, the worse this will get.”

“I’m not pushing her.”

“You kidnapped her!”

Ilya chuckled in disbelief. “I’m sure Mikhail has informed you that she’s here for her safety.”

Rhiannon sighed, the sound heavy with exasperation. “Ilya, you might think you’re doing the right thing, but you and I both know how she is. She’s stubborn and angry. And she’s got every right to be. If you want any chance of getting through this amicably, then you need to behave around her. Got it?”

Before he could respond, another call flashed on his screen?Irina.

“I have to go,” Ilya said flatly.

“She’s family, Ilya. Don’t forget that.” With that, Rhiannon hung up.

Sighing, he switched to his sister’s incoming call. “Make it quick.”

“Have you completely lost your mind?” Irina’s voice rang out, sharp and high-pitched.

“I’m going to assume that’s a rhetorical question,” Ilya muttered, drumming his fingers against the steering wheel as he glanced at the horizon beyond. Valentina would surely be awake by now, and he had forgotten to leave a note before he left.

“Ilya, do you know what you’ve done? You don’t just whisk Valentina away like that! She’s going to hate you—and for a good reason!”

“Why doesn’t anyone understand that she’s safe here?”

“She’s also furious, isn’t she? She’ll make your life a living hell, and honestly, I don’t blame her.” Irina’s voice softened, tinged with concern. “I know you mean well, but you need to handle her gently.”

“I can’t do that. She hates being babied.”

“You’re right, she does,” Irina sighed. “Just be smart about it, okay?”

“Iknowhow to handle her,” he said, though even he wasn’t sure he believed it.

“Do you?” Irina countered. “Because if you push her too far, she’s going to push back harder. Just… don’t be an asshole, okay? Let her breathe.”

Ilya exhaled heavily as he started the car. “Anything else?”

“Yes. Don’t mess this up. For her sake and yours.”

The call ended, and a sigh of relief escaped him. Between Kostya, Rhiannon, and Irina, he felt like he’d been through a lecture series on how not to screw up.

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