Page 71 of Trapped By the Bratva

I tipped my face up and smiled at him. “I was just thinking earlier that you guys are your own brand of heroes. The others were talking about Nik saving Amy from being trafficked to some old man.”

He nodded. “Maxim saved Nadia from something similar. Ivan and Alek, too.”

I grinned. “And now it’s your turn?”

He smirked. “I’m not saving you from anything.”

“But you are. The opportunity to work with you on your recovery was the escape I needed to leave Melissa once and for all.”

His sigh was a sad one. “I hate that she was a shitty sister. You deserve better.”

I gazed at him for a long moment, amazed at how much of a softie he was under the grumpy exterior. “You know, you are a walking contradiction. Some days, you can be so damn stubborn and make me so mad, but then it’s times like this when I feel so cherished and treasured.”

“Same, Hannah. Same.” He adopted a serious expression, something like gratitude. “But I appreciate that you’re stronger than you look. Strong and brave enough to take my crap and not give up on me.”

“Has anyone else given up on you?” I asked.

“You mean other women?”

I scrunched my face. “I don’t like thinking about your being with other women.”

He grabbed my ass and squeezed it. “You are so fucking sexy when you’re jealous.”

“What, you don’t mind thinking about me with another man?”

His grin turned feral and smug. “You haven’t been with another man.”

My heart thudded heavily at his words. The underlying meaning of what he didn’t say sounded like a promise I wanted to hold him to. “Does that imply I won’t be?”

“No. I don’t want to think of you with anyone else.”

Swallowing hard, I worried that he’d feel how my pulse raced. Excitement coursed through me, making me feel so alive and frenzied. “What does that mean, Dmitri?”

“It means I want us to be together.”

My soul was complete. I would burst from happiness, finally achieving what I worried I’d never find—someone who’d want me, someone I could belong with.

“And what does that mean?” I cleared my throat, tamping down this energy charging me close to giddiness. I didn’t want to look overly eager. “What would it be like to start a real future for us?”

“Are you asking what it means if you’re officially my woman?”

I nodded.

“A lot more of this,” he said, teasing me with another squeeze on my ass as he pushed me closer toward his dick.

I rolled my eyes. “I was hoping…” I teased right back. I wasn’t ready to joke about this serious topic, though. “But what else does it mean? Would I ever… be in danger?”

He let out a long exhale. “Yes and no. Yes, youcouldbe perceived as a target because of your association with me. That is simply part of what comes with being with me. Mila, Amy, Becca, and Nadia have all faced the same situations upon entering our Bratva. They can help you understand.”

I nodded. “We were sort of talking about it earlier.” My cheeks flared with a furious blush. “Not that I was presuming anything or whatever. They were teasing me about getting closer with you, and I asked general questions about how they adapted to the Bratva lifestyle.”

“And what did they say?”

“That it was worth it.”

“You wouldn’t have to worry about a thing, Hannah. You’d be under our protection.”

“Yeah. Like when I went to see Melissa. Ivan grabbed a guard to go with me.”

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