Page 188 of Bratva Jewels Box Set
“I know. You all do. It’s just a lot after being away for so long and coming back into a world I don’t feel like I know anymore.”
“You feel like you don’t know us anymore?” my sister questions me.
I shake my head. “It’s not like that. I can feel I’ve changed, and I think everyone expects me to be the old Grace I was before I left. But I shed that skin months ago,” I try to explain to her.
“If I’m honest, this new Grace seems a little kickass.” Sophie chuckles as she nudges my shoulder.
This makes me smile. “I feel confident. Not as scared as I once was. They taught me how to shoot, so I could protect myself.”
Sophie’s brows raise as I give her a small tidbit of my time away.
“Who the hell took you?”
I shake my head again. “I can’t tell you, I’m sorry.”
“Can’t or won’t?” Sophie’s eyes narrow on me.
“Won’t.”
“Grace, come on. The people who kidnapped you are bad fucking people. You don’t have to protect them. You can’t be that naïve,” she says, jumping off the bed.
I knew they wouldn’t understand. “I’m naïve now when seconds ago you told me I was strong. So what is it, Soph?” I question my sister as I fold my arms in front of me.
“This isn’t normal. What did they do to you? Did they brainwash you?”
“What the hell is all this yelling?” Zoe asks, stepping into the room.
“Have you spoken to her? She’s lost her mind,” Sophie says to Zoe.
Zoe looks between the two of us with a frown on her face. “I don’t think you should be judging her on how she handled herself while being kidnapped.”
“Are you saying because I haven’t been kidnapped, I don’t understand?” Sophie asks Zoe, raising her voice.
“Well, have you?” Zoe asks, crossing her arms in front of her.
“I’ve seen shit. Don’t forget I’ve worked in war zones most of my career. Things have happened to me that I haven’t shared with the family because I never wanted you all to worry,” Sophie yells at the two of us.
“Then maybe you should understand better,” Zoe bites back.
“You don’t think this is strange, Zo? Grace has been kidnapped and comes back looking like she’s been on a health retreat. Sign me up to those kidnappers,” Sophie jokes angrily.
“Fuck you, Soph. You have no idea the shit I went through. I’m so thankful that the people who stole me this time were compassionate human beings who didn’t see me as a piece of property that could be used and abused. I’m so thankful that these dark angels saved and protected me from the devil. They are not the enemy, Sophie.”
My sister’s eyes widen. “You have Stockholm Syndrome, don’t you. You have fallen for your kidnappers, that’s why you’re protecting them.”
My chest tightens as my heart quickens at how close Sophie is getting to the story. “This isn’t a movie, Sophie. This is real life,” I say, trying to shrug off her line of questions.
“Then tell us. Tell Enrique who they are so they can go to jail,” She spits.
I shake my head. “They are on our side. As soon as Dmitri made a move to come get me, they sent me home.”
Sophie frowns. “None of this makes sense.”
“It does to me.”
“That’s because you have all the information, and we have the breadcrumbs you’re willing to share with us,” Sophie grumbles.
“Leave it now, Soph. Grace is back, unharmed, that is what we should be talking about,” Zoe adds.
