Page 43 of Unexpected Bratva Baby
She looks at me with unshed tears. “How can you promise that? You’re just one man.”
I smile grimly. “I’m not just one man. I have resources, people I trust. We’ll find a way to end this threat.”
“And then what?” she asks. “Do I just go back to my normal life like none of this ever happened?”
The question hangs in the air between us, heavy with implications. I stand, moving to the bar to pour myself a drink. The smooth burn of vodka steadies my nerves.
“That depends on you,” I say finally, turning back to face her. “Once this is over, once you’re safe, you’ll have a choice to make.”
Phoebe’s brow furrows. “What kind of choice?”
My next words could change everything between us. “You can choose to walk away. Go back to your life and pretend none of this ever happened. I’ll make sure you’re protected, but from a distance. You’ll never have to see me again.”
Her face pales at my words, and I hurry on before I lose my nerve.
“Or you can choose to stay. To be with me, knowing who I am and what that means. It won’t be easy. My world is dangerous, but I swear to you, if you choose me, I’ll spend every day of my life making sure you never regret it.”
Silence falls between us, broken only by the gentle hum of the yacht’s engines. She stares at me, her expression unreadable. I wait with bated breath for her response.
It’s obvious when the reality of her situation really sinks in. Her expression flashes with anger and betrayal. The sight twists something deep inside me, but I force myself to remain stoic. Her safety is far more important than her happiness right now.
“You lied to me,” she says, her voice trembling with suppressed rage. “This whole time, everything between us... was all a lie.”
I shake my head, taking a step toward her. “No. My feelings for you are real. They always have been.”
She backs away, her hands held up as if to ward me off. “How can I believe anything you say? You’re a criminal, Mikhail. A murderer.”
The words sting, but I can’t deny their truth. “I’ve done things I’m not proud of, but everything I’ve done has been to protect what’s mine. Including you.”
Her eyes narrow. “I’m not yours. I’m not some possession for you to keep or protect.”
“That’s not what I meant,” I say, frustration creeping into my voice. “I care about you. More than I should. That’s why you’re in danger now.”
She turns away from me, staring out at the dark ocean beyond the yacht’s windows. “Take me back,” she says quietly.
“What?”
Phoebe whirls to face me. “Take me back to shore. Now. I want off this boat.”
I feel my jaw clench. “I can’t do that. It’s not safe.”
“Not safe?” She laughs bitterly. “I’m on a yacht with the leader of the Russian mafia. How is that safe?”
I move closer, trying not to sound angry. “Because I can protect you here. On shore, Valdés’ men could be anywhere. They could get to you at any time.”
She shakes her head, tears glistening in her eyes. “I don’t want your protection. I want my life back. The life I had before I met you.”
Her words cut deeply, but I push aside the pain. “That life is gone for now, Phoebe. The moment Valdés learned about you, everything changed.”
“Because of you,” she spits out. “This is all because of you and your criminal empire.”
I breathe deeply, trying to maintain control. “I never wanted this for you. I tried to keep you out of it, to keep you safe.”
“By lying to me? By pretending to be someone you’re not?”
“I was protecting you,” I insist.
She sneers. “No, you were protecting yourself. Your secrets. Your preciousbratva. You didn’t care about what finding out the truth would do to me.”
