Page 11 of Forced Innocent Bride By the Bratva

“Like hell you do,” came my response, eyes fixed on the road.

“Please, I really need to pee,” she pleaded, her legs slightly shuddering, her gaze pinned on me. “If I don’t go now, I’ll ruin your car seat.”

I hit the brakes, bringing the car to an abrupt halt by the sidewalk. I couldn’t have her peeing in my car. Hell, no. Besides, where else could she go? I had a fucking convoy with me.

When I looked at her, I couldn’t tell if she was faking her need to pee or if it was genuine. But one thing was certain: She sounded convincing, especially as she held my gaze, staring into my eyes while her thighs brushed against each other.

“Two minutes,” she said without breaking eye contact. “That’s all I ask. Please.” She shifted uncomfortably in her chair.

I hesitated for a moment. “You have sixty seconds.”

A soft sigh escaped her lips as I unlocked the door, nodding toward the gas station.

“Thank you,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

My new bride opened the door and stepped out into the cold night. I watched her head toward the public restroom, her pace hasty. Even without being told, my men knew exactly what to do, and as she stepped inside, three of them mounted the entrance, waiting for her.

Unconcerned, I leaned back in my seat, fingers rubbing my eyes. Sixty seconds turned into two minutes, two minutes turned five, and now it was almost ten minutes since she left to pee. Even a dumbass would know that something was wrong at this point.

I stepped out of the vehicle, headed toward the restroom, and grabbed the door handle, attempting to open it, but it was jammed on the inside. Taking a step backward, I forced the door open with a powerful kick, revealing the empty space. The window on the other side was broken, and the cool wind whistled in. She was gone. She’d escaped. Or at least that was what she thought.

I wasn’t wrong when I thought I caught a glimpse of something fiery in her eyes. And as feeble as her attempt at an escape was, I couldn’t help but be intrigued by her art of deception.

At that moment, I knew for sure that she was a handful, and just like that, she piqued my interest, prompting a grin on my lips.

Chapter 6 – Scarlett

I was the definition of a damsel in distress, running for her life under the cold and distant stars. I’d discarded my heels and ripped the hem of my wedding dress apart so I could flee with ease. Over the past few minutes, I’d been running nonstop, refusing to slow down or even glance over my shoulders. All I could think of was how to get as far away from this place as possible.

The wind blew across my face, the chill of the night air biting at my skin. My feet hurt as I ran, stepping upon jagged rocks that cut my flesh, but even that wasn’t enough to slow me down. Whatever pain I felt was nothing compared to what I’d have to endure as Daniel’s wife.

On the altar, I’d thought that I could live with him, that sacrificing myself would somehow keep my family safe. But was that the right choice, or was it just a product of my own fears and anxiety? Whatever the case, I’d managed to run away from Daniel, and I was determined to keep it that way.

I knew he was out looking for me and maybe even had his hounds tracing my scent. There was only so far that I could get on my own. I needed help. My knees quaked, my feet were sore, and my breathing was heavy, hard to catch. If I didn’t slow down, there was a 70 percent chance that I might pass out. But if I did slow down, then I’d most definitely get caught.

The streets were deserted tonight, with the flickering street lamps casting long shadows along the sidewalks. I rounded a corner and paused in my tracks, gasping for air as I placed a hand on a wall for support. I panted, my chest heaving rapidly while I struggled to catch my breath. With nervous glances over my shoulders, my eyes scanned the eerily quiet surroundings, my senses on high alert.

Straightening, I threw my hands to my head, combing my fingers through my hair in frustration. My eyes misted, and my heart hammered loudly. There was nowhere else for me to go from here—nowhere at all. Home was the last place that I should be right now; it would be the first place Daniel and his men checked.

What should I do? What now?I wondered, ruffling my hair, my mind reeling with the possible ways this could end for me.

“Fuck!” I groaned out loud, sniffling and wiping the tears streaming down my cheeks.

Images of Liam being beaten up flashed in my head, and the horrible scene wouldn’t stop playing in my mind. The more I tried to dispel it, the more it came at me. The thought of his grunts and painful groans brought fresh tears to my eyes. The way he choked on his own blood, the way his face was battered, disfigured by those powerful blows, shattered my heart. Daniel had almost killed him with his bare hands. That devil beat Liam half to death with his heavy fists in front of everyone. He ruined my wedding day—stole my happiness—and now, if I didn’t get away from him, he’d steal my future, too.

But where would I go from here? Who could I run to for help?

That was when I heard it: the sound of wailing sirens on the other side of the street.

Cops!

Hope surged through my veins, and adrenaline kicked in, pushing me toward the sound. I ran as fast as my legs could carry me, and upon rounding a corner, I saw a patrol car parked by the sidewalk, its red and blue lights glowing in the dark.

“Police, police!” I rushed over to the officer standing by the car, about to take a bite from his hamburger. “Please, sir, you have to help me!” I halted in front of him, trying to catch my breath.

He froze, his dinner halfway to his mouth as he stared at me, his eyes darting across my body. I was dressed in a wedding gown with a ripped hem and bare feet—surely, that was enough to shock anyone.

“You have to help me. These men—they’re…they’re…” I stuttered, stumbling on my words, my voice dripping with urgency.

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