Page 152 of Baby Surprise for my Brother's Best Friend

I tap out a final message before pocketing my phone.

I’m back in the city. I need to see you. Please.

My hand curls into a fist on my knee.

I’m not here to party. I’m not here to fix optics.

I’m here for Sophie.

And this time I’m not leaving without her.

The car ride back to the apartment is silent, tension thick in the air.

My phone buzzes again. This time, it’s Valentino.

Valentino:Nice work in Chicago. She had it coming.

Dad’s message follows seconds later.

Dad:Handled like a true Marchetti.

I don’t reply. I can’t. Not when my mind is still caught in the storm.

The headlines swirl in my head like smoke.

Colluding with the Bratva.Vanished father-to-be.Unfit for love or fatherhood.

My jaw clenches tighter with every word.

I fought back. I cleared my name. But the damage? It might be tearing up Sophie, and I can't do a damn thing about it.

All I want is a chance to undo the hurt.

Just before we reach the apartment, my phone rings.

Nikolai.

I answer on the second buzz. “Hey, it's been a minute.”

His voice is low. Controlled. “We found something. Something about your stalker. And it's definitely not one of ours.”

I sit up straighter. “Then who?”

A beat of silence.

“Natalia. Bratva princess. Mikhail Orlov’s daughter. The one you hooked up with a few months back.”

My stomach drops.

“Are you sure?”

“Positive. She’s disappeared. Went off the radar a few months back. And she left a mess behind. Her father says she’s acting alone, but she’s dangerous. And by that I mean she's psychotic.”

I stare out the window, memories blurring as they race in my head.

The vodka-fueled nights. The flirty games. The red flags I ignored because I thought she was just another wild heiress trying to piss off daddy.

But this? This isn’t some tantrum. This is vengeance against me. And now it’s not just about clearing my name. It’s about keeping Sophie safe. No matter what it takes.

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