Page 31 of Forced Innocent Bride By the Bratva

He scoffed, his fingers combing through his slightly tousled hair. “Still defensive, I see.”

“What do you want?” I asked, my voice laced with scorn.

“There’s no point being aggressive.” He exhaled sharply and sat beside me. “I come bearing good news.” His lips curled into a smirk, fingers adjusting his tie.

My eyes squinted, head tilting to the side as I held his gaze in bewilderment. The only good news for me, at this point, would be that I was leaving this hellhole.

“How would you like to go for a drive tomorrow?” he asked, his eyes never leaving mine.

My brows rose, confusion settling on my face. “A drive?”

“Indeed,” he replied.

“Where are you taking me?” I questioned, my eyes boring into his.

Nothing could have prepared me for his response, and his words stole my breath. Literally.

“We’re going to pay dear old Dad a visit,” he said, his lips twitching at the corners as though he was savoring the shock on my face. “We’re going to the prison.”

My heart sank into my stomach, and a shiver sprinted down my spine. Cold sweat dampened my forehead, and my throat immediately felt dry and hoarse. A sense of fear washed over me like cold water as I stared at him, too numb to speak.

I wasn’t sure how to feel about this news because as much as I wanted to see my father, now didn’t feel like the right time. How could I face him knowing what I did, knowing that I slept with the man responsible for sending him to jail?

Daniel chose now, of all times, to bring this up. Why? Was it some sort of torment? It definitely wasn’t a gesture of goodwill. Daniel was incapable of being good. He was doing this to torture me.

I hated how much power he had over me, how much control he possessed in this whole situation. But I didn’t have a choice; I couldn’t refuse. No matter how unprepared I was, I had to go.

Chapter 19 – Daniel

Perched behind the wheel, I could sense her tension, anxiety, and maybe even fear. She was silent all through the drive to the prison, her hands clasped on her lap and her gaze fixed on some point beyond the windshield. Her silence spoke volumes, punctuated by the faint rustle of her fingers drumming against her thighs.

Her jaw was set in a determined line, the delicate muscles of her throat contracting as she swallowed hard. Scarlett’s breath hitched, her chest heaving slowly as if steeling herself for what lay ahead.

My lips curled into a self-satisfied grin, anticipating the drama that would unfold at the prison. I knew what her fear and anxiety were about; I knew why she was so tense. Scarlett wasn’t sure how she was going to face her father—how she’d look him in the eye after sleeping with the man who put him there.

This should be fun to watch.

While driving, I would steal momentarily glances in her direction—the front passenger seat—drinking in her beauty. Her red hair fell loosely over her shoulders, her green eyes complementing the color of her top. She wore a pair of black jeans and a set of black stilettos that added to her overall look. The scent of her feminine perfume was intoxicating, drawing me in like steel to a magnet.

She just sat there, lost in thought, staring blankly into space, her mind reeling with a million possible ways this could go wrong. She must hate me right now, but that hatred was the catalyst for our relationship.

As I steered the vehicle down the unwinding road, my eyes darted toward her in a fleeting second. “Nervous?” I teased.

She shot a quick glare at me, her eyes narrowing and her brows knitting together. “Like you care,” she muttered, her tone laced with disdain.

I chuckled, eyes back on the road. “You’re right. I don’t.”

“Then stop fucking asking,” she spat.

“Temper, temper,printsessa,” I said, slightly mocking. “Language.”

She turned to face me, her eyes blazing red and a scowl flashing across her features. “Let’s get something clear, Daniel,” she began, her voice dripping with venom. “I know what game you’re playing. I know what your intentions are, and I do not trust you—never have, never will.”

My brows shot up, a dismissive chuckle escaping my lips. “Fair enough.”

She clenched her jaw, her scowl deepening. She was clearly aggravated by the smirk on my face. “You’re unbelievable,” she hissed, turning her eyes away from me.

My gaze lingered on her profile, eyes crinkling at the corners as I smiled to myself. Despite the feisty front she put up, I detected a hint of vulnerability beneath the surface. Amused, I draped my arm over the back of her seat, my fingers grazing the bare skin of her shoulder. Her body vibrated like my touch had sent shivers down her spine.

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