Page 65 of Bratva Hostage

I search myself for guilt or sorrow, but I find only numbness and an odd sense of closure. “He can’t hurt anyone anymore,” I whisper.

Dimitri nods. “I wish it hadn’t come to that, but I won’t lose sleep over him.”

I cling to the warmth of Dimitri’s presence, letting it soothe me. “Take me home.”

He presses a kiss to my knuckles. “I will,” he vows.

Home. The Barkov estate. Once I hated that place. I saw it as another gilded cage. But now I realize the difference. Dimitri never wanted to break me; he just wanted me safe. I was too proud to see that. I was too angry, too hurt, too afraid.

But not anymore.

Now, I understand. Now, I have no fear. I can trust the man I married. And the Barkov estate has become more than a house—it holds a future for me.

With Dimitri.

Chapter 25 - Dimitri

I can’t stop trembling, even though everyone keeps telling me we’re safe now. Dimitri walks into the room, and my pulse settles just enough for me to breathe easier. I’m perched on a plush chair in our newly refurbished sitting area, unsure how to feel about returning here. The Barkov estate used to make me feel trapped—now it’s become a refuge I never expected. Everything looks the same, but in my mind, it all feels new.

He approaches cautiously, as if he’s gauging the distance between us. “Are you comfortable?” he asks, pausing a foot away.

“A bit overwhelmed, but I’m getting there.”

Dimitri lets out a long breath. “I want to make sure you have everything you need. You’ve been through more than anyone should endure.”

I glance at my abdomen. The baby remains a secret no more. Ever since we shared that revelation at the old resort—my father’s final stronghold—I haven’t stopped thinking about the future. The idea of having a baby is both thrilling and terrifying. “To be honest, I’m still trying to wrap my head around what comes next.”

He lowers himself onto the ottoman facing me. “We’ll take it one day at a time.” He lifts my hand and studies my knuckles as though each one holds a story. “I spent so long thinking about how to shield you from danger that I forgot you have your own voice, your own strengths. If I had listened sooner, maybe we would’ve avoided the worst of it.”

“Don’t blame yourself. I made my own decisions. At times, I stormed off without explaining how frustrated I was. That didn’t help anything.”

A knock interrupts our conversation. Grigor stands in the doorway, and a trace of concern lines his expression, but he softens the moment he sees me. “Feel up to visitors, or should we come back later?”

“Come in,” Dimitri replies, beckoning him forward.

Grigor steps inside with Seraphina trailing behind him. My sister’s presence brightens my mood in ways I can’t fully articulate. She moves closer, and we exchange a quick embrace before she steps back and eyes Dimitri and me. “Are you two alright?” she asks, voice hushed.

Dimitri nods. “We’re fine. Still adjusting, but fine.”

Seraphina’s focus lands on me. “I’m just glad you’re out of that nightmare. Every time I picture what might have happened if no one arrived in time…” She presses her lips together, halting the thought. “Anyway, I’m staying here now, if that’s all right. Grigor insists. He’s convinced the estate is the safest place for all of us.”

I grasp her hand, relieved. “Of course it’s all right. I want you here. We need each other, especially now.”

Grigor crosses to the window and looks out at the grounds. “Yes, we have some leftover concerns regarding Kovalev. I’m not letting anything catch us off guard again.”

Kovalev. The name triggers a memory of conversations my father once had, drifting through locked doors. He might have been forming alliances, or maybe just sowing trouble. Either way, it’s a loose thread we can’t ignore. “We have to address it, but not tonight,” I say, glancing at Dimitri. “We’ll handle it carefully, right?”

“We will,” he confirms. “He’s not an immediate threat at the moment. But I won’t wait until he circles back.” He takesa breath, as if bracing for more responsibilities. “For now, let’s settle in. Let’s allow you both to rest, and then we’ll plan.”

Seraphina sets a small wrapped box on the coffee table. “I brought a little gift,” she says, looking shy. “I found it while I was going through some things at our father’s house. It’s something from our mother. She had this old locket. I want you to keep it, Cecily. Maybe it’ll bring you comfort, or at least a reminder that our family wasn’t always consumed by war.”

I pick it up and turn it in my hand. “This is from the days before Father started unraveling everything we knew.” The chain feels cool against my skin. For a second, my throat tightens with too many emotions colliding. “Thank you.”

Grigor clears his throat. “We’ll give you two some space,” he says, guiding Seraphina from the room, though not before she squeezes my hand once more. As I watch them leave, a slight hint of hope builds in my chest. They’re safe here. We’re all safe, at least for this moment.

Dimitri lets a pause linger, then he angles himself to face me fully. “There’s something we should discuss. We have a child on the way. That means everything changes—how I approach Bratva business, how I handle your involvement, how we define day-to-day life. I can’t just keep you locked away or hide you from everything. That wouldn’t be fair, and it wouldn’t be a good example for our child.”

“I don’t want to be barred from what matters. But I also don’t want to charge into shootouts, especially now.” My hand drifts to my abdomen. “I need to stay safe for our baby.”

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