Page 39 of Bratva Hostage

She and Seraphina exchange another tight hug. I step toward the door to signal Maksim, letting him know it’s time. Seraphina turns my way once more, this time with gratitude plain on her face. “Keep her safe, Dimitri.”

“Always.”

We exit the safehouse under the watchful eyes of Grigor’s men. The yard is clear and the surrounding streets are quiet. Our vehicles wait with their engines idling. Cecily hesitates onthe porch for a moment, glancing back at the house. I sense her desire to stay, but she follows me down the steps.

Maksim helps us into the SUVs, then nods at our drivers to begin the trip back. This time, Cecily’s silence feels charged with reflection rather than anger. She stares out the window, occasionally blinking as if holding back emotions.

I rest my forearm on the seat in front of me and ask, “Everything go the way you wanted?”

“Yes. Thank you for making it happen. I know it wasn’t easy.”

“I try to keep my word.”

She nods before returning to the view outside. We continue traveling the side roads, taking an indirect route to avoid any watchers. Halfway back, Maksim radios that we have a minor detour due to a stalled vehicle on one of the streets. Our driver adjusts and slips through a residential block. I’m on edge, expecting trouble, but we see nothing.

We arrive at the estate without incident, passing through the gates that seal behind us. The moment we park, Cecily steps out then disappears into the corridor leading to her suite.

“Well, that was a success,” Maksim comments.

“Because we kept it minimal.”

He exhales in a thoughtful way. “Let’s catch up in your office.”

I follow him as my mind replays Cecily’s face at the safehouse. That mix of relief and love for her sister. I never doubted her devotion to Seraphina, but seeing it in person changed something in me. It was as if I could feel the strength of their bond. It stirred feelings deep inside, ones I thought had been beaten and burned out of me long ago.

We reach my office, and I close the door. Maksim sits across from me. “I have a few security updates. We’re monitoring suspicious chatter, but nothing urgent. Our men are rotating with Aleksei’s, so we stay covered.”

“Fine.” I lean back. “Anything else?”

“Yeah, one more thing. It’s about Cecily.”

“What about her?”

“I don’t think I need to say this, but… You know who raised her, Dimitri. Thorne is cunning. Teaching his daughter deception would be second nature.”

I bristle. “You still think she’s plotting against us? Even after—”

“Not necessarily,” he interrupts me with a raised hand. “But you need to remember she was brought up in a nest of manipulations. Just because she’s sharing your bed and acting grateful doesn’t mean we can drop our guard.”

“I’ve seen how she cares for her sister. That’s real, not an act.”

He shrugs. “Maybe. But blood ties are powerful. And Thorne has ways to coerce even the most unwilling participants.”

My hands curl into fists, but I manage to keep my voice level. No good will come from losing my temper with my brother, who is only looking out for me. “I don’t believe Cecily’s involved in that. She despises him.”

“I’m just cautioning you. Don’t forget we’ve been betrayed before. If she’s working for Thorne, we won’t see it until it’s too late.”

“She isn’t,” I say it with such conviction that it surprises even me, but my brother just shakes his head.

“Suit yourself. But if you’re wrong, the Barkov name takes the hit. Keep your eyes open.”

“Thanks for the warning.”

He strides out, and I sit in my chair, drumming my fingers on the desk. My line of sight falls on a ledger detailing shipments, a notepad full of the next week’s obligations, and the phone that could ring any second with fresh trouble. None of it holds my focus. Instead, my thoughts spiral around Cecily.

I recall the real emotion on her face when she hugged Seraphina and the quiet gratitude in her voice when she thanked me. That didn’t look like a woman planning betrayal. Yet the doubt planted by Maksim lodges in my mind, refusing to budge. Thorne is devious, there’s no denying that. Could he have manipulated Cecily into playing the perfect role?

This forced marriage is forging something unexpected. Part of me wants to shield her from every threat, to earn her trust despite how we started. Another part fights to remain detached. Maksim’s warning echoes. If I let my guard down, the entire Barkov empire might pay the price.

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