Page 87 of Trapped By the Bratva

Amy laughed, glancing over my shoulder. She shook her head but raised her brows at the price tag. “That much? For that dress?”

“I know. Am I right?”

She smiled and shook her head. Sophia sucked on her pacifier, happy to be in her mother’s arms like the Velcro baby she was. “Oh, we’ll break you out of this frugal nonsense yet.” She looked again at the dress. “This one might be too pretty to pass on, though.”

I wasn’t sure. I peered across the dress boutique, spotting my first choice again. A longer, simpler gown near where Margie stood browsing through dresses more her “style”.

I was overjoyed that these women had welcomed me into their lives and into their big, interesting family. They weren’t only my future sisters-in-law, but also my confidants. All of them helped to answer my seemingly never-ending questions about the Mafia life. They calmed my insecurities about adjusting into a life of crime and danger.

Like Dmitri had promised, it never touched me personally. Two months ago, when I saw Alek shoot Sergei Kastava dead, that was the last I was close to danger or any bodily harm.

After moving into Dmitri’s room officially and admitting to them that we were engaged, no one had come after me. Thugs didn’t stalk me. Criminals didn’t rule my life. Being with Dmitri was normal, and it would remain normal as long as I didn’t ask too many questions.

Although I was aware that those five brothers were violent men and did things I didn’t condone, I was convinced that they were “good” bad guys.

Everyone had a little bad in them, right?

Without Melissa in my life anymore, I had no threats to stress about. I had no obstacles in the way of my happiness.

I counted on hiccups. Issues would arise. Already, I was considered “the nurse” in the family, the go-to person for whenever anyone was wounded. Amy was glad that I could help in that role. I’d since learned that she was a vet tech, but she preferred for me to use my “real” expertise on humans.

I was happy to help. I wouldn’t judge how or why the Bratva men might show up hurt. I wouldn’t tell them to go to the hospital, either. Things were often done on the down low, and I could do my part in that. It was already decided that I’d go back to school after the baby was born. My goal was to complete my nursing degree. It didn’t matter if I did. Like everyone said, I had the skills regardless of what a piece of paper could claim. But I wanted it. I wanted that piece of paper. I’d hang up my diploma just as proof that I’d done it all. For the sake of knowing I’d worked hard to accomplish something academic like that.

My true worth was in helping these men the best I could, and I wouldn’t stop.

Margie walked up to me, sneering at the shorter dress the others liked so much. “No. Hannah has a classic beauty.”

I smiled at the housekeeper who was more or less the de-facto mother of us all.

“This one.” She nodded and pushed my first choice into my hands.

“I can’t believe we’ll be partying at another wedding already,” Mila said, beaming at me as she held up bows to Alana’s head.

“Hold on. No partying,” I warned. Becca was about to pop, so far in her pregnancy. I was waddling, already so big at twenty weeks. “At least no hard partying.”

Dmitri and I wanted a tamer wedding. Small. Intimate. Just with the closest people invited.

“Okay.” Nadia grinned. “A mild celebration, then.”

I laughed. “Yes. Exactly.”

“There isn’t time to plan and prepare for a bigger party,” Margie chided.

“Hey, whatever Hannah wants, Dmitri will make it happen,” Becca argued.

“But I want a smaller thing.” It hurt that I didn’t have any family to invite. Melissa was well and truly out of the picture. After dealing with her charges on drug possession, she was released. Without money, a job, or anyone to help her, she reached out to my old number. Old, as in Dmitri kept that line while I enjoyed a new phone and number. He handled her, giving her a paltry farewell check and a firm warning to stay away from me for the rest of her life. And if she didn’t listen, the end of her life would be nearer with that act of disobedience. It worked. Or if she tried to reach out to me, he wasn’t letting me know.

I did have a family, though. I knew that. Even before I technically married into the Valkov family, I found my true sisters. I found the men I wanted as brothers. And definitely the man of my dreams in Dmitri.

All those times I’d wondered about him after Emily’s almost-kidnapping… He was a mystery man then. A riddle. An illusion.

Next week, he’d be my husband.

“We’ve got the gender reveal tomorrow night,” Amy said, grinning widely. She was the only one who knew the gender of the baby I carried. We trusted her to keep her lips shut and handle the cake at the bakery, but she was bouncing with excitement.

“Big moving day the day after that,” I reminded them.

I didn’t have much to pack or move, but Dmitri warned that would change—a lot. He was spoiling me with more than just his dick, that was for sure. With an open bank account, no limit to the amount, he gave me free rein to buy whatever I wanted for our new home.

---