Page 41 of Bratva Hostage

“You think you’re the first person to come at me asking to be part of this life?”

“I’m not asking to be part of your life, Dimitri. I’m demanding a say in my own.”

He clenches his jaw and exhales through his nose like he’s trying to keep from breaking something.

Then he turns away.

“Meeting’s over,” he declares, as if that’s the end of it.

No. Not this time.

I grab his arm before he can go any farther. He stops instantly, and his muscles ripple under my fingertips. “Don’t dismiss me. I’m your wife, not one of your men.”

“Cecily, you don’t understand what you’re asking.”

“I understand perfectly,” I counter through gritted teeth. “I’m not a liability, Dimitri. I’m a weapon you refuse to use because you’re too stubborn to admit I might be useful.”

“You want to help? Fine. Tell me what you think his next move is.”

I step in front of him, forcing him to face me directly. “My father never attacks head-on. He always lays the groundwork first—plants seeds of doubt and creates rifts where there weren’tany. Then, when people are distracted, he strikes where they least expect it.”

Dimitri listens, but his arms remain crossed, like he’s still looking for a reason to shut me down.

I keep going. “He’s been using Redwood Point as a test. You stopped him this time, but he’ll come at you from another angle. Somewhere unexpected. Somewhere personal.”

His expression doesn’t change, but something comes alive behind his eyes.

I press on. “He’s always believed leverage is more powerful than brute force. He’ll go after the people closest to you, the ones you don’t expect to be vulnerable.” I pause. “Your brothers. Their families. Anyone he can get his hands on.”

Dimitri’s jaw ticks, and I know I’ve hit the nerve I was aiming for.

But instead of answering, he drops his voice and asks, “And what if he comes for you?”

I’d be lying if I said I didn’t think about that or that it didn’t scare the hell out of me, but it won’t stop me. “Then I’ll be ready.”

His fingers brush my wrist, just enough to send a shiver racing down my spine. “No, you won’t.”

“You don’t get to decide that.”

His grip tightens around my hip bone, not enough to hurt but enough to remind me of his strength. “I do when it comes to keeping you alive.”

We stand there, locked in a silent war, neither of us willing to break first. Then he lets go and turns away like he’s closing a door between us.

“This conversation is over.”

The finality in his voice stings more than I want to admit.

But I’m not done. Not even close.

***

The next morning, I wake up with the same frustration burning beneath my skin. Dimitri shut me down, but I’m not backing down. If he thinks ignoring me will make me give up, he doesn’t know me at all. I’m prepared to storm into his office and keep arguing until he listens.

Instead, he finds me first.

I’m in the dining hall, finishing a cup of coffee, when he enters. He nods at a few of his men before making his way toward me. I brace myself for another fight, for him to tell me to stay out of his way.

Instead, he pulls out the chair across from me and drops a file onto the table.

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