Page 79 of Bratva Prisoner
I stand and turn to face him, lifting my chin in what I hope looks like defiance rather than terror. My legs feel like they might give out at any moment, but I lock my knees and hold my ground. “What do you want?”
“I think you know what I want.” His eyes travel over me with the same possessive hunger they used to hold, and my stomach churns.
“Information about Maksim’s operations. I already told you I can’t give you that.”
Troy laughs, though the sound is devoid of any warmth or humor. “Information would be nice, but that’s not what I’m after anymore.”
“Then what?” I wrap my arms around myself, suddenly feeling exposed under his predatory gaze.
“You, Alyssa. I want you back where you belong.”
The words hit me like ice water, and I have to work to keep my composure. My throat constricts as I process what he’s really saying. This isn’t about revenge or business rivalry—not really. This is about obsession. “I don’t belong to anyone.”
“You belong to me. You always have, ever since the moment I laid eyes on you. The fact that you’ve forgotten that is something we’re going to remedy.”
I glance at Diane, who’s watching our conversation with growing alarm, then back at Troy. “Let her go first. Whatever this is between us, she doesn’t need to be involved.”
“She stays until we reach an understanding.” He crosses his arms over his chest, settling in like he has all the time in the world.
“What kind of understanding?”
“First, you’re going to acknowledge that running away was a mistake, and then you’re going to come home with me.”
I shiver at the way he says ‘home,’ like I’m some lost pet he’s been patiently waiting to reclaim.
“Troy, we broke up months ago. We’re not getting back together.” I try to inject firmness into my voice, but it comes out shaky.
“That’s where you’re wrong.” He circles Diane’s chair like a predator stalking prey. “You see, I’ve had time to think about what went wrong between us, and I’ve realized the problem wasn’t us; it was everyone else filling your head with lies.”
“What lies?” I watch him pace, trying to anticipate his next move while keeping myself positioned between him and the exit.
“Lies about independence, about not needing a man to take care of you, and having choices. You were happy with me before other people started poisoning your mind against me.”
The revisionist history he’s spinning makes me want to scream, but getting emotional won’t help Diane, and it definitely won’t help me. My fingernails dig crescents into my palms as I struggle to maintain control.
“You were safe,” he continues. “Protected. Cherished. And you threw it all away for what? Some Russian criminal who’s just using you for entertainment?”
“Maksim isn’t using me.” The defense springs from my lips automatically, even though I know arguing with Troy is pointless.
“How long do you think his interest will last once he gets bored? Men like him don’t settle down with women like you.” He stops pacing and fixes me with a stare that’s meant to make me feel small and worthless.
The cruel assessment stings more than I want to admit, partly because some small part of me has wondered the same thing. The doubt Troy is trying to plant finds fertile ground in my existing insecurities about fitting into Maksim’s world.
“Even if that were true, it doesn’t change anything between us.”
“When he inevitably discards you, you’ll need someone to pick up the pieces. Someone who genuinely cares about your well-being.”
I gawk at him in disbelief, and my mouth falls open at his audacity. “You think kidnapping his cousin is caring about my wellbeing?”
“I think doing whatever it takes to get your attention is necessary when you refuse to see reason.”
Behind him, Diane makes a muffled sound of distress, and fresh tears stream down her face. This sweet woman who welcomed me into her family with open arms is suffering because of me, and the guilt threatens to crush me.
“Okay,” I relent, trying a different approach. “Let’s say you’re right. Let’s say I made a mistake by leaving you. Don’t youthink holding an innocent woman hostage is a strange way to win me back?”
“Nothing about this situation is innocent. She’s connected to the people who stole you from me.” His face hardens as he mentions Maksim’s family, and I can see the depth of his resentment in his eyes.
“Nobody stole me. I left because you scared me.”
