Page 37 of Trapped By the Bratva

“Then why’d she get so weird like that?” He rubbed his jaw. “It seemed like she was jealous of your having dancers or strippers here.”

I shrugged, feigning ignorance. “No clue.” I did have a clue. That simmering tension between us hadn’t faded at all, and I bet shewas suffering from the same pent-up and unresolved desire that only built in intensity between us.

I couldn’t tellwhyHannah would be jealous of another woman being with me in any capacity. Was it because she wanted to be the woman dancing or stripping for me? Even fucking me?

Maybe it’s all in my head.She had been stubbornly clinical and professional lately. Perhaps I lusted after her so much that I was seeing something that wasn’t there.

There was just as much of a chance that she was jealous of someone else helping or putting me in a better mood, like Ivan had falsely predicted a stripper or dancer could do. Hannah was bright and happy, or she tried damn hard to look like it. I wouldn’t say she had a campaign to make me smile, but that wouldn’t be far-fetched from the truth.

“She seemed pretty upset at the idea of you with another woman,” Ivan mused.

Upset? No. She looked mortified. And it was all for nothing, anyway. I had no desire to be entertained by any woman—except her. No one else would appeal as long as Hannah was in my life. I hadn’t lied when I said that she annoyed me, but it wasn’t in a bad way. She nagged me, but it was because she was determined to help me improve. She pissed me off, but that was only due to my own frustration and impatience at still feeling so weak.

“If you’re sleeping with her…”

“I’m not.” I scowled at my brother and pointed at my ankle. “If you haven’t noticed, I’m not at the physical level of fitness to handle any activities like that.”

He raised his brows, smirking.

I’m not bed-ridden.But even if I were, that wouldn’t have stopped me from having a woman ride me.

Like… Hannah sort of already did. On my face. Soaking my lips and coming from the barest touch.

“I’m just saying.Ifyou were—” he started again.

“Then what?” I snapped. “It wouldn’t be any of your fucking business.”

“If you were,” he repeated, unbothered by my attitude, “reconsider the ramifications of this. You’ve fired all the other recommended therapists.”

“That’s not true.”

“Fine.” He crossed his arms and rolled his eyes. “Three quit.”

“And one was a spy,” I reminded him.

“Fair enough. My point is that you do need assistance, Dmitri. I understand why you are in a hurry to recover.”

“Do you?” I hadn’t made a secret of how much I wanted to get revenge on Erik Avilov. My brothers were aware of my determination to pay him back. But I wasn’t sure if they understood how that motivating factor was all that kept me wanting to live.

Is that true anymore?

This tension that continued to boil between me and Hannah was intriguing me too. I wanted that sexy, peppy woman to the point of being vexed at not having her. I wouldn’t act on it, but… I wanted to. Desiring her had become another challenge—one to resist.

Ivan smirked. “Yes. You’re going to hunt for Erik as soon as you can. We’ll help you?—”

“No.” I shook my head, pleased that the muscles in my upper back weren’t as tense with that movement. Hannah really was knowledgeable about getting me moving smoothly again. “No help.” It pissed me off that I needed so much assistance already with rehab, even if Hannah’s help was paying off.

He nodded but sighed in resignation, as though he’d counted on me to say that. We were all independent and stubborn when we got our heads stuck on an idea or plan.

“I want to get that motherfucker. On my own. He will pay for what he did, and only I will be the one to deliver his due justice.”

“Yeah. I get that. I don’t blame you. If I were in your position, I’d wanna kill the fucker myself too.” He lifted his head. “But you aren’t in any position to go hunting after anyone. Recover. Get stronger. Then go find him. None of us will stand in your way. We want to support you, and we know your impatience is justified. Just don’t rush it and get hurt again.”

I scowled, looking at the wall to avoid making eye contact. He was right, but I didn’t want to admit that.

“You’re only human, Dmitri. We all are.” Ivan stepped back toward the door. “So if Hannah is a resource who gets you back to your former strength, don’t mess it up. Keep things civil so you don’t make her run off too.” He huffed. “Because I don’t know how easily Alek would be able to find another qualified replacement willing to come here.”

After he left me, I stewed and simmered on his words. I hated taking this slow, but now that I was doing so under Hannah’s constant supervision and within close proximity to the sweet,younger woman I kept lusting for, it was a double-edged sword of desire. I wanted to regain my strength, and I wanted to explore this curiosity about her.

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