Page 73 of Forced Bratva Bride

“Where is she?” The room tilted dangerously, but I locked my eyes on my brother's face. The grim set of his jaw told me everything before he opened his mouth.

“They took her,” he said with a sigh. “The Ajellos. We couldn't stop them. They were pounding on you, and you lost consciousness. She distracted them so I could reach you, but we were so focused on getting you off the boat that by the time we searched for her, they were sailing away with her.”

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Larissa had distracted her brother’s men to get me to safety. It was a sacrifice, and I remembered when I told her she was free to go, yet she chose not to. She had given up the little freedom she’d found with me…for me. Every fiber of my being rebelled against the thought of her being back with her brothers, those bastards who kept her like a precious little doll, never caring for what brought her joy. They would strip away her independence, strip away her soul.

“No,” I whispered hoarsely, trying to push myself up to my feet despite the agony coursing through me. I couldn’t do it, but I tried. “We have to find her. We have to get her back.”

“Gio, listen to me,” Caspian said gently as he laced his arms around my chest and physically made me sit back down when I nearly fell face forward from the pain of standing. “We will find her. But you need to rest now. You're in no condition to go after them.”

“How long have I been out?” I closed my eyes as Larissa’s face swam before me, fighting off the wave of nausea that followed my attempt to get off the couch.

“Four hours.”

“Four hours?” my eyes flashed open. “And what the fuck have you been doing for four hours while she's with them?”

My brother gave me a look that could have killed. “Taking care of you, you idiot. I know how much you care for Larissa. Butyouare my priority first.”

My throat felt raw, as if I had been screaming. Maybe I had been. “This is my fault. I should have—”

“Should have what? None of us saw this coming, Gio,” Caspian said now in a tone fiercely protective, in a tone warning me to not go down that chain of thought. “It was only a matter of time before they took her back. If not from the boat, then from your home itself. Youcan’tthink like that.”

I looked at my brother. A deep pain haunted him, and I knew it was because he sensed my sadness and my guilt. In that moment, I nodded because I didn’t want my brother to suffer on my behalf or to carry this guilt for me, as was his way when it came to our family.

Caspian understood from the way I went silent. He gave me a forlorn half-smile and clasped my shoulder gently. “I’m glad you’re safe.”

“All because of you, Brother,” I said, stoically. I’d find a way to get Larissa back. I would. But in time. At least she was with her brothers, and not an enemy that would hurt her. That little fact gave me some element of comfort.

“And Larissa,” said Caspian, surprising me. Was that respect in his tone, for the woman he’d been so against me seeing? I smiled as I thought of Larissa, thinking of the moment I’d be able to tell she charmed the socks off my brother by distracting my attackers so he could save me. Caspian was complicated, yet simple. When he saw loyalty, he trusted. And based on what he said, Larissa had shown courage to help my rescue.

Just then, my phone rang. I tried to feel for it, but Caspian pulled it out of his pocket and in his motion to pass it to me, glanced at the screen. His expression shifted to fury as he froze and met my gaze. “Gastone Ajello.”

My heart pounded in my chest with a mix of hope and dread. I knew nothing Gastone would say to me would consist of kindness or understanding. But still, perhaps if he saw how much Larissa cared for me and I her, this could be a chance to negotiate her release. I was prepared to do anything, togiveanything, to plead and beg if needed with that bastard, to simply have her back.

“Put it on speaker,” I told Caspian urgently before the call ended.

Caspian held my gaze for less than a beat before answering as I asked. “Lebedev,” I said.

My breath caught as I heard rustling on the line, and I focused my mind, reminded it to stay calm for I couldn’t risk allowing Gastone to rile me up when I needed nothing more than for him to let Larissa back here, when—

“Gio?” Her voice, softer than usual, but it was her.

She sounded scared, worried, and glad to hear from me. I couldn’t imagine the hell she’d been through when she was taken. Sheer joy flooded over me at the sound of her voice, knowing she was being allowed to speak to me, unless she stole a phone, unless…

“Are you okay?” I asked, needing to know how she was. “Are you hurt? Larissa, did they—”

“I'm fine,” she interrupted. “Gastone was glad to see me. He’s so thrilled, Gio, and everyone was worried sick. I’m happy to have seen them.”

Something in her tone made the relief turn to claws in my stomach. She sounded unlike herself, as though she was reciting something from a speech she’d written down.

“Larissa,” I said. “We're coming for you. Whatever they want—”

“No,” she said abruptly, slapping me into silence. “Don't do that.”

I frowned, glancing at Caspian, who had gone very still. “What do you mean, 'no'?”

A sigh filtered through the speaker. “This... what happened... it's for the best.”

“For the best?” I repeated, certain I'd misheard. “Larissa, they kidnapped you.”

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