Page 47 of Forced Innocent Bride By the Bratva

All through the walk back to the main building, she would cast nervous glances over her shoulders every now and then, as if to make sure no one was following us. It was almost like she felt…unsafe.

Strange.

Why would she feel unsafe around me? This place was a fortress, with my men swarming the entire compound. What exactly was going on here?

I led her to my office, and the moment we were inside, she stuck her head back outside, looking toward both sides of the hallway. When she finished surveying her surroundings, she shut the door behind her and locked it. I stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, arms crossed over my chest as I watched her closely, lending her my ears.

Her feet padded quietly as she approached me, her eyes rapidly blinking, her chest rising and falling with slow breaths.

“Alright,printsessa, what’s going on?” I asked, my eyes never leaving her face.

She halted in front of me, fingers scratching the back of my head, her gaze fixed solely on me. “This is gonna sound weird, but….” Her voice trailed off, her jaw tightening ever so slightly.

I took a step forward, my voice calm and gentle. “Scarlett…spill.”

She drew a deep breath, staring right into my eyes. “Daniel, your life is in danger.” The words tumbled out of her mouth.

My brows rose reflexively, my head tilting to the side with a delicate subtlety. A bit confused, my eyes squinted, and my brows furrowed. “Danger? What’re you talking about?” I asked, curiosity and caution lacing my tone.

She paused, her eyes darting to the window behind me for a fleeting moment before returning to my face. “How well do you trust Ilya?”

Her question was a bit out of the blue, catching me completely off guard, yet the seriousness on her face hinted at something dark and sinister.

“I trust him with my life. He’s my lieutenant, my right-hand man. Why?” I asked, watching her with purposeful intent.

She clenched her jaw, her breath hitching in my throat. Scarlett looked me dead in the eyes and said, “Ilya is plotting to kill you, Daniel.”

Her words struck me like a knife to my heart, and my expression darkened. How dare she suggest something as ludicrous as that?

“That’s some serious allegations you’re making,printsessa,” I said, my voice low and venomous, a scowl settling on my face.

“I don’t expect you to believe me, but I swear it’s the truth,” she said, her eyes holding a spark of sincerity, her tone dripping with a hint of desperation.

“Stop,” I said, my tone gentle yet dismissive as I turned around, uninterested in listening to her.

“He’s onto something evil. He’s after your life, Daniel,” she pressed on.

“Scarlett, I said stop,” I responded, feeling my chest contrast with a brewing anger.

“Do you not hear me? He wants you dead!” she snapped, pulling me by the wrist.

“Enough, Goddamn it!” I raised my voice, swiveling to suddenly face her. “You’re not making any sense, okay?”

She flinched, swallowing hard, her eyes misting as she stared at me with slightly trembling lips.

I let out a soft sigh, letting my rage dissolve. “Scarlett, Ilya will never do anything to betray me,” I said, my voice much calmer and gentler.

“Do you really believe that?” she asked, her tone soft and mild, mixed with a hint of emotion. “Or are you just in denial?”

I was silent for a moment, a million and one things running through my mind all at once. Her question cut deep, and she was right: I wasn’t ready to face the possibility of this truth.

Vince’s voice, his sound warning, echoed in my head:“Watch your back, Danny Boy…. Trust no one.”

“He’s in league with Liam, Daniel,” she continued, never breaking eye contact. “I overheard them talking in the garden, and these were Ilya’s exact words: Daniel Tarasov will be dead by morning, and I’ll have your bride returned to you.”

My expression darkened, my fingers combing through my hair as a jolt of rage surged through my body, boiling my blood. I turned my back on her, seething in silence. As much as I wanted to delude myself into thinking she was wrong or that she was probably lying to turn me against Ilya, her sincerity spoke volumes.

“I swear to God, I’m not making this up,” she added from behind. “Think about it: How did Liam manage to get that letter through to me? You and I both know this place is a fortress. Unless, of course, he had an inside man this entire time.”

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