Page 38 of Bratva Hostage

We reach the front door, which opens to reveal Grigor himself. “Dimitri,” he greets, then turns his attention to Cecily. “Your sister’s in the living room.”

He steps aside, and Cecily barely acknowledges him before rushing past. I follow just in time to catch Seraphina appearing from a side room. Her eyes brighten the instant she sees Cecily. “You made it,” she breathes, moving closer with open arms.

They come together in a tight embrace. Cecily trembles as she buries her face in Seraphina’s shoulder. Seraphina holds her, and her eyes shut as tears slip free. This right here is why I insisted on bringing Cecily despite my brothers’ objections. She’s endured months of isolation, and seeing her sister’s relief hits me harder than I thought it would.

“Thank you for keeping your word,” Grigor remarks. “She asked about Cecily daily.”

I offer a nod, ignoring the prickle of guilt that I once treated this reunion like a piece of strategy. “How is Seraphina holding up?”

“She’s anxious but safer here than anywhere else. Thorne hasn’t found us yet, so that’s something, I guess.”

Maksim steps inside behind us, instinctively eyeing the corners for threats. “Have you heard anything about Thorne’s movements?”

“Nothing concrete,” Grigor replies. “He’s still slippery.”

I chew on the inside of my cheek, resisting the urge to bark out a plan. This visit is about Cecily and Seraphina. We can’t overshadow it with more talk of war. Instead, I watch Cecily pull back, and my heart stutters at the tears staining her cheeks. Seraphina dabs them away, managing a small smile.

“How are you?” Seraphina asks. “I worried Father would never stop chasing you.”

Cecily nods. “He tried. Dimitri’s men intervened. It’s…” She falters and glances my way, then refocuses on her sister. “Complicated. But I’m safe.”

Seraphina’s eyes slide to me. “Thank you. I know your marriage with my sister is…unconventional. But if it keeps her out of Father’s clutches, I’m grateful.”

“Unconventional is one word for it,” Cecily mumbles as she wipes her face. She tries for a wry grin but can’t hold it.

My heart wrenches at the sorrow behind those hazel eyes. She’s been furious for weeks, yet beneath that is an immense capacity for devotion. Seraphina has told us stories about when they were younger, how Cecily took every blow Thorne aimed her way whenever she could just so Seraphina could avoid it. And now she’s in a forced marriage to me just so she can spend time with her sister. My father used to tell me to avoid attachments that could compromise my judgment. I can’t help wondering if I’m already lost, seeing how fiercely Cecily loves.

Seraphina guides her toward the couch, and they sit side by side. Maksim and Grigor confer near the entry, discussingsecurity rotations. Their voices fade into the background. I remain standing, trying not to intrude on the sisters’ conversation.

“Are you comfortable in the Barkov estate?” Seraphina asks, brushing stray hairs from Cecily’s face.

Cecily shrugs. “As comfortable as one can be with locked gates and armed guards. Dimitri tries not to make it feel like a cell.”

Upon hearing my name, my hearing instinctively swivels in their direction. I sense her looking up. She’s unsure how to define my role in all this. We’ve fought, we’ve clashed, and we’ve made love. The whole situation is baffling, even for someone like me who has seen it all.

Seraphina sighs. “This entire situation is twisted. I never thought we’d become so entangled with the Barkovs.”

Grigor walks over to rest a hand on Seraphina’s shoulder. “Well, I for one, wouldn’t have it any other way.”

“Neither would I,” Seraphina confesses before fixing her sister with a stern look. “Still, I promise you, I’m done letting him control my life.”

They exchange a determined look. I swallow the lump in my throat, realizing how deeply Thorne’s manipulations affect them both. Then, Cecily reaches for Seraphina’s hands and whispers, “If anything changes, if you need me, send word. I’ll overcome whatever obstacles stand in my way.”

My respect for her grows unbidden. Despite her situation, she’s hellbent on comforting her sister. Cecily is resilient and unstoppable when it comes to protecting her sister. Everything about the look on her face promises pure loyalty. That quietsincerity stirs something inside me, something that has been dormant for a long time.

It makes me want to protect her even more.

Time slips away as they talk, flipping between cautious happiness and not-so-happy memories. Seraphina hangs on every word Cecily shares about the estate, Redwood Point, and how close we came to disaster. Of course, she leaves out what happened between us when I returned home from that fiasco, but my mind replays those moments in vivid detail.

I can still feel her, still taste her, still remember how good it felt to hold her. That moment in bed was like nothing else. I’ve been with a lot of women, but nothing compared to the rush of being with her. The way she responded, the way her body molded to mine…it was like we were made for each other.

But it was also a moment of weakness. Cecily was vulnerable, and I let myself get carried away. What she needs is a friend, not someone who takes advantage.

I can’t let it happen again.

Eventually, Grigor checks the clock on the wall. “We can’t risk a long visit,” he murmurs. “The more time you spend outside your estate, the greater the chance of discovery.”

Cecily frowns, but she nods. “I understand.”

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