Page 30 of The Bratva's Plus-Size Bride

I shoot off another text, this one to Viktor.

Need clean up at the hotel. Four assailants. Room’s a mess. We’re on our way to Ivan’s.

His reply takes a few minutes, but he reads it straight away.

Viktor:On it. Call me when you get there. Anya?

Safe. At her hotel with friends. Send someone just in case?

Viktor:Sending three. She can yell at me later.

Anya will not be pleased about the extra security, no matter how discreet the men are, but it’s that or she flies home, which she’d like even less.

The hotel is white stucco, perched on the edge of a cliff overlooking the ocean, all surrounded by palm trees. Crushed white seashells kick up around the tires when we pull in. I’ve got a text from the owner, Ivan, with a code to our room, so I don’t need to waste any time checking in.

“Wait here,” I caution Ella, stepping out with my gun because I’m not taking another chance, ever again. When I’m sure it’s clear, I open the door and let her out, hurrying her to the room.

Our room is one of only five, and the place is dead quiet. Once we’re in, I lock the door, then grab a chair and brace it beneath the handle because I’m paranoid now. I drop the bag onto the floor and slip my gun into my waistband. Ella’s eyes widen.

“Is that—?” She worries her lower lip, then rakes her hands through her hair. “Of course it is. Because everything today is absolutely insane.”

She looks like she’s about to pass out, face pale and eyes frantic.

“Come here,” I say, pulling her to me. I wrap her in a tight hug, and she sets her cheek against my chest. “We’re safe now. Okay? We’re safe.”

Thankfully, she doesn’t pull away and lets me hold her until the tension in both of our bodies eases just a little.

“I mean this in the nicest way because you just saved my life but you’re really gross. There’s just… so much blood.” She looks up at me, nose wrinkled. “I think you should shower.”

I laugh. The last thing on my mind is how clean I am, but if it’ll make her feel better, fine. “Only if you come with me. I’m not letting you out of my sight.”

I cup her cheek and kiss her, tasting the salt of her tears and the sweet taste that’s all Ella.

“Fine,” she agrees when we break apart, “but just to shower.”

“Scout’s honor,” I say, setting my gun on the bathroom counter so it’s within reach.

She starts the water and strips while I check my phone. Viktor sent another message.

Viktor:Bratva men. Abashins, looks like. Still confirming. Sounds like you did a number on them. Ella doing okay?

What’s their problem? As okay as she can be. She has no idea what happened or why. She doesn’t know anything about the family. Fucking Luka.

I put my phone beside my gun and follow Ella into the shower. The water goes pink at our feet as blood rinses frommy body. She steps into my open arms and sets her head back against my chest.

“Tell me what’s going on.” She doesn’t look up, only holds me tighter.

I can’t avoid it, but I’m fucking terrified. Telling her the truth about the kind of life I lead could send her running, and I feel like I only just got her. The second she opens up to me, this shit happens.

“It seems some people aren’t too happy about us expanding over here,” I start slowly, running my hands up and down her back like that can somehow soften the blow of what I’m about to tell her. Like that’ll keep her from hating me when she has every right to hate me. I’m the entire reason she’s in danger.

She shifts from one foot to the other. “I know there were other bidders on the property, but this? This seems like an over-the-top reaction to losing the bid.”

Ella is too clever. I can’t hide the whole truth from her even though I want to. With her hair slicked back by the water, her eyes look enormous, and they’re still red-rimmed from crying. Her innocence, her vulnerability, shatters me. She deserves honesty. Deserves the whole story so she can know what world she’s living in now, even if that means she might choose to walk away. I have to take that chance.

“It’s more than that.” I steal another kiss because it might be the last one I ever get from her perfect lips.

“What else?” She reaches up and runs her thumb over my stubbled jaw, big brown eyes imploring. “Tell me. Why are they so upset?

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