Page 13 of Kidnapped By the Bratva
“Make sure there’s no trail leading back to us,” I add, my voice firm as I glance at Artem. “If Kace even gets a whiff of what we’re doing, it’ll be harder to corner him.”
Artem nods, his expression serious now. “Don’t worry. I’ve got my best men on it. They’ll be discreet.”
Timur lets out a low chuckle, stretching out lazily on the couch. “This is gonna be a hell of a show. Watching him squirm, slowly losing everything.”
I don’t say anything in response, my thoughts already spinning ahead. Kace might be powerful, but his love for his daughter will be his downfall. It’s poetic, really—using what he values most to dismantle everything he’s built. No matter howstrong or ruthless a man is, his heart always betrays him. And when it does, I’ll be ready.
“Keep me updated,” I say, standing up and straightening my jacket. “This is just the beginning.”
Chapter Six - Sophia
I sit across from Jackson, the flickering candlelight casting a soft glow across the table. He’s talking—again—about his family’s business ventures, the latest deals his father secured, and how merging our families will make us unstoppable. His voice is smooth, rehearsed, like he’s given this speech a hundred times before. Maybe he has. It’s not that he’s unpleasant, but there’s something so hollow about his words, something so… disconnected.
I smile politely, nodding at the right moments, but my mind is far away. I can’t bring myself to care about the details of his business or how much money this arrangement will make for our families. The only thing I can think about is how wrong this feels—sitting here with him, pretending this is normal, pretending I’m okay with it.
The clink of his glass against the table draws me back, and I realize he’s asked me a question. Something about our future. I force another smile, one that I know doesn’t quite reach my eyes.
“Sorry,” I murmur, “I got a little lost in thought.”
Jackson grins, leaning back in his chair. “No worries. I get it. All this business talk can be a little overwhelming.” He winks, his tone light, but there’s something calculating behind his eyes. He’s not stupid—he knows I’m not fully engaged, but he’s playing the game just as much as I am.
I take a deep breath, deciding I can’t do this anymore. There’s no point in stringing him along, pretending like this is something I want. It’s not. It never has been.
“Jackson,” I begin, my voice soft but steady. His eyes shift to me, curiosity sparking behind them. “I need to be honest with you.”
He raises an eyebrow, a slow smile spreading across his face. “Go on.”
I hesitate for a second, searching for the right words. “I’m… not happy with this arrangement. This marriage proposal. I just don’t feel like it’s right for me.”
His smile falters slightly, but he doesn’t look surprised. He’s probably heard this before—some other woman telling him she’s not interested. Still, I push forward, determined to be honest.
“I don’t know you,” I continue. “Marriage is supposed to be based on love, not… business. I don’t feel that way about you. We hardly know each other.”
Jackson doesn’t react the way I expect him to. There’s no anger, no frustration. Instead, he leans forward slightly, a grin tugging at the corner of his lips. “If that’s the case,” he says smoothly, “then we’ll get to know each other. Fall in love.”
My heart sinks. He’s not listening. Or maybe he is, but he doesn’t care. To him, this is just another deal to be closed. Love isn’t even a factor, no matter how much he pretends it is. He’s determined to make this work, whether I want it or not.
I nod, even though I don’t believe him. “I’m just going to excuse myself for a minute,” I say, pushing my chair back and standing up.
“Take your time,” Jackson replies, his grin never faltering.
I walk away from the table, feeling his eyes on me as I make my way to the restroom. My heart is pounding in my chest, a tight knot forming in my stomach. As soon as I step into the small, dimly lit bathroom, I let out a shaky breath, leaning against the sink for support.
I look up, catching my reflection in the mirror. My long blonde hair falls perfectly over my shoulders, my makeup still flawless, but there’s something in my eyes that’s been there for weeks now. An exhaustion that I can’t shake. A sadness that’s settled deep inside me, like a weight I can’t lift.
I stare at myself, trying to figure out how I got here. How I ended up trapped in this situation, being forced into a marriage I don’t want, with a man I don’t even know. I thought I was stronger than this. I thought I’d be able to fight back, to tell my father that this wasn’t what I wanted. Here I am, standing in this bathroom, feeling like I’m suffocating under the weight of expectations I never asked for.
Jackson isn’t giving up. I can see that now. Whether it’s because he genuinely likes me or because this marriage benefits him and his family, it doesn’t matter. He’s not going to let this go. He’ll play the game, say the right things, make me feel like I have a choice when I don’t.
I hate it.
I hate this situation. I hate the way my life has been mapped out for me, like I’m just another pawn in my father’s endless quest for power and influence. More than anything, I hate myself for not being strong enough to fight it.
My hands grip the edge of the sink as I feel the sting of tears behind my eyes. I blink them away quickly. Crying won’t change anything. It won’t make this go away. I have to deal with it, whether I like it or not.
Taking a deep breath, I force myself to stand up straight, wiping away the emotion from my face. I can’t break now. Not here, not in front of Jackson. Not when I know he’ll just use it as another excuse to push forward.
I stare at my reflection one last time, wishing I could find some way out of this. There isn’t one. At least, not yet… not unless I really am serious about running away to Greece.
