Page 51 of Trapped By the Bratva

She paused, stepping back toward me. “And you’re okay with that?”

I stared at her, refusing to let her see my reaction to the idea of Hannah leaving.

I hated it. That one time fucking her wasn’t enough.

“Aha.”

“Noaha.”

“You’re enjoying her being your nurse, aren’t you?”

Fuck.“No.” I said it too quickly to be convincing.

“Admit it.” She tipped her chin higher. “Admit that you want her,” she taunted.

I narrowed my eyes, feeling caught. “I do.” Saying that was too easy. “But I won’t pursue her.”

I refused to let her be my goal, my drive, my reason to live. The revenge had to take precedence.

Unlike my sister-in-law, I was tethered too tightly to the experiences of torture Erik had dished out on me.

I couldn’t move forward until I settled my past. That was the logical sequence to focus on. No matter how much I lusted for Hannah or thought about her constantly.

17

HANNAH

The guard Ivan sent with me was a younger man who didn’t smile. I supposed that hardly made a difference. He walked a steady three feet behind me, like a protective dog on a leash. Also like a dangerous canine ready to bare his teeth and growl at anyone who got too close, he eyed our surroundings with a hawkish glower. As though he counted on something suspicious and was eager to act on eliminating the threat.

When we reached the coffee shop, I saw that Melissa was already there, seated at a bistro table. A tall iced coffee sat in front of her, and as soon as I approached, she slid the bill to me. Then she emphasized her slant to the side, spotting the Valkov guard who was as stoic and unemotional as one of the guards in full gear at the Buckingham Palace.

“That’s your sugar daddy?” she asked, raising her brows.

I sat, staring at her deadpan. “No.”

“Then who’s he? A boyfriend?”

She erred with the same mistake I had of seeing Becca with a security detail. I guessed that it made sense. It was a logical assumption, seeing a man with you and no one else.

“He’s, uh, more like a bodyguard.”

Melissa’s eyes damn near bugged out. “What?”

I shrugged. It felt weird to say that I had one. I wasn’t anyone important. Like I told Ivan, I was a nobody. As someone associated with the Bratva, I saw why I’d fall under their blanket offer of protection.

“Why the hell doyouneed a bodyguard?” I had her full attention now. She perked up, glancing between me and the Valkov guard.

“I don’t.”Okay, now I sound stupid, contradicting myself.“My employer does, and he asked me to have one stick with me when I leave the premises.”

She whistled. “Holy shit, Hannah. Who is this guy? Who are you working for?”

I shook my head. “Just helping with physical therapy for some man.”

“Someman?” Melissa scowled. “Who?”

“No one you would know.”

“Come on. Don’t be vague like that. He’s got to be rich if he’s got a bodyguard to trail after you.”

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