Page 8 of Bratva Hostage

My stomach knots so tight I think I might double over. “What do you mean I can’t?”

“It’s too dangerous,” she explains. “Dimitri told me you’re at the estate, and that’s the safest place for you right now.”

“Dimitri told you?” Heat flashes through me. “And we’re just supposed to listen to him?”

“Yes.” She exhales, and the sound grates against my nerves. “Cecily, I know you don’t trust them, but you should. Grigor—”

“I don’t give a damn about Grigor.” My voice rises, and my legs refuse to stay still. I pace faster. “I care aboutyou. You’re my sister, and they’re keeping us apart. How am I supposed to trust them when they won’t even let me see you?”

“They’re doing it to protect us.”

I let out a bitter laugh. “You sound just like them.”

She falls silent for a long moment before she says, “I know you’re angry. But listen to me, okay? They could’ve left you with our father. But they didn’t. You’re alive right now because of them.”

I squeeze my eyes shut. “And you’re okay with that? You’re okay being part of their world?”

“Of course I am,” she replies. “Grigor is my husband, and I love him. If that means remaining in this…mafia nonsense, then fine. Besides, I don’t have a choice if I want to stay safe from our father. Neither do you.”

The truth of that slams into me so hard I have to reach out and steady myself on a dresser. Still, I’m not ready to resign myself to a life constrained to a Barkov. “I’m getting out of here, Seraphina. I’ll find a way.”

“No, you won’t.” A plea slips into her words. “Not because they won’t let you, but because youknowyou’re safer there. Please, just…try, for now. Try to trust them.”

I end the call before she can say anything else.

I cannot listen to my sister defend the men who have trapped me in this estate, the ones who act like they get to dictate my future. I slam the phone onto the nightstand and press the heels of my hands against my eyes.

Try to trust them?

Not a chance.

The phone buzzes again, and when I see Seraphina’s name, my fingers curl into a fist. I let it ring until it stops.

The longer I sit here, the more aware I become of the details around me. The wardrobe is filled with clothes that fit perfectly. The food they brought this morning was fresh, even though I refused to eat it. When I walked through the estate, no one barked orders at me.

Everything is designed to make mecomfortable.

It doesn’t work.

I cannot pretend this is a kinder prison, even if the cell is more luxurious. And no matter what my sister says, I cannot stay here and let the Barkovs control me.

The moment an opportunity arises, I will get out of here.

Chapter 3 - Dimitri

I stand on the balcony and inspect every corner of the courtyard for the third time in the past hour. The men are in position, and the security cameras feed constant updates to the guards inside. None of this feels sufficient. Evan Thorne has a way of slipping through defenses, and I refuse to give him the chance to harm anyone here.

I step inside, and I find Maksim by the marble staircase, where he discusses the new patrol schedule with two of our men. I clear my throat, and they stop talking.

“Have the north and west walls been reinforced?”

He nods. “Extra men are on rotation. No one enters or leaves without clearance.”

“Good. Send me the final roster by tonight.” I send a quick glance at the men, give them a look they know well enough by now, and they disperse.

I’m about to return to the balcony when I spot movement at the far end of the hallway. Cecily stands there, studying the exit door that leads to the rear gardens. Her gaze is fixed on the handle as though she’s trying to judge if she can get past the men stationed outside.

I approach quietly, and she whirls around when she senses me.

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