Page 21 of Baby Surprise for my Brother's Best Friend

I stare at the words, pulse throbbing in my ears.

When things escalate with Mikhail Orlov like this… it ends in blood.

I saw what happened to the guys caught between Bratva factions when loyalties fractured. They didn’t just vanish. They were made examples of.

I squeeze the paper in my hand and shove it deep into the drawer of the nightstand. Out of sight. But not out of mind.

Sophie has no idea what she’s really stepped into. The way she looked at me out there, confused, scared…I can’t get it out of my head.

And showing up here. At her door. Getting her involved with my mess. Making it personal.

Fuck that.

I can’t let this touch her.

I leave my room.

Her eyes flash as I veer toward the door.

“Where the hell are you going?” She steps into my path.

I don’t slow down. Can’t.

My pulse is already pounding like a war drum.

“Don’t do anything reckless, Alessio. Please.” Her hand catches my wrist as her voice softens. “You think punching some Bratva thug is going to fix this? Because it won’t. It'll only make things worse.”

I pause. Just enough to look at her. At the fear flickering behind all that fire in her eyes.

“I’m not doing it to fix anything,” I growl. “I’m doing it because he came to your door.”

Her grip falters.

I don’t pull away. I let the silence hang. Heavy. Electric.

“Do you even hear yourself?” she whispers. “This isn’t about pride. This is about staying alive.”

“I’m not afraid of them.”

“You should be.”

I lean in, lowering my voice. “I’m not afraid of the Bratva. But the idea of them thinking they can touch you?”

She inhales sharply. Her lips part, but no words come out.

I pull free. “You don’t get to be my collateral damage.”

Then I open the door.

“Don’t wait up.”

I don’t even think, I just move.

When the elevator dings on the first floor and the doors open, the Bratva thug is still in the lobby, all casual confidence and smug indifference like he didn’t just threaten my entire fucking life.

I cross the marble floor in a blur, grabbing him by the collar before he can blink.

“You think you can come to her door?” I slam him against the nearest wall.

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