Page 59 of Forced Bratva Bride

Gio held out his hand, palm up. “Give it back.”

I reached into my pocket and placed the phone in his hand, our fingers brushing. But this time, the touch felt cold.

Chapter 19 - Gio

I pulled the door open. “Get out,” I growled at Larissa. She paled as she exited the car and, for some reason, stumbled. Without thinking, I reached out, steadying her by the arm.

She looked up at me and blinked with a flicker of hope that I wasn’t angry. But I was, and I pulled my hand away.

“Inside, now.”

She walked weakly beside me. Good. I wanted her to feel afraid, wanted her to repent and see my anger. Inside, I let her straight to her bedroom and made sure she entered first, before closing the door behind me.

“You ran!” I said, watching as she backed against a wall.

“Gio, listen—”

“Last night, you were all cozied up in my arms. This morning, you took the first chance you could get and ran. I should have known. I should have known.”

I paced up and down as I spoke, my thoughts a conflicted mess.

“Gio, known what?” she asked, in a near whisper.

I whirled to face her. “Three hours you’ve been gone. Three fucking hours to plan your escape back to your brothers, no doubt. I trusted you, Larissa. I trusted you so much that when Caspian left, I thought you were reading around the house somewhere, taking some alone time. But, you betrayed me!”

Larissa wrapped her arms around herself, the color washing from her face.

“Tell me,” I asked. “Did you have a nice meeting with Dom? Did you share all my family’s little secrets with him?”

She froze, those ocean eyes widening. “What? I would nev—”

“Don't play stupid, Larissa. It doesn't suit you. What did you tell him? How long have you been planning to run back to your brothers? When did you plan for him to meet you at the mall? Did you call him using my phone?”

“I didn't—”

“Don't lie to me!” I rarely raised my voice, but it thundered now. “For weeks you've been here, playing the part, making me believe we were...” I couldn't finish. What exactly had I believed we were? “Was it all an act? Waiting for the right moment to betray me?”

Larissa's face hardened with anger. “If I wanted to escape, I would be gone already. I've had dozens of opportunities.”

I sniggered with anger. “And waste all the information you've been gathering? No, you're smarter than that. You needed time.”

“Information?” She stepped toward me with her arms outstretched. “What could I possibly tell my family that they don't already know about you? Your business isn't exactly a mystery to them. Neither is your family.”

“You’ve always been a liar,” I snarled. “I should have known the whole innocent thing was an act the whole wretched time. But to imagine you’d stoop so low as to share my bed to convince me otherwise…” I spoke before I thought, my heart entangled with the hurt of betrayal.

But then, pain flashed across her face, and even in my fury, I knew I’d crossed a line. But something within me held me back from apologizing—not after what she’d done.

“Fuck you,” she hissed, tears gathering in her eyes. “You know nothing about me if you think I'd use... that... to spy for my brothers.” A tremor ran through her voice.

I grabbed her wrist when she tried to push past me. “And I'm supposed to believe that? After everything your family has done to mine?”

“Let go of me.” Her voice lowered dangerously.

“Not until you tell me the truth.”

“I am telling you the truth!” she shouted, yanking against my grip. “But you're too blinded by your own paranoia to see it! You think everyone is as calculating and cold as you are. “

That cut deep.

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