Page 141 of The Bratva King

“I’ve let you in,” I say. “And you still don’t trust me enough to let me protect you.”

She stands, and I have to take a step back. “You didn’t tell me that someone was following my son.”

“Because I handled it.”

“That’s not your decision to make!”

“It is when I’m trying to keep you safe!” I’m shouting before I realize it. “I’m dealing with the threats, so you don’t have to.”

“I never asked you to do any of that.”

“You won’t even tell me your real name,” I say. “You won’t tell me why you’re hiding. And you expect me to just accept whatever bullshit story you feed me?”

She steps back until the backs of her knees hit the mattress, and her eyes go wide. “What are you talking about?”

“Who are you?” I demand. “Really. Who the fuck are you, Gabby? Or is that even your name?”

The silence stretches between us. I watch her close herself off, shutting me out.

“That’s what I thought,” I say quietly.

“You want to know why I don’t trust you?” Her voice shakes. “Because every time I trust someone, it ends badly.”

I stare at her, trying to sort through the thoughts to ask a question.

“You’re asking me to give up the only control I have left.” Every word is deliberate. “I’m not helpless. I didn’t ask for any of this.”

“I never said you were helpless.”

“You didn’t have to.”

She’s breathing harder now.

“Get out,” she whispers.

“I handled it,” I say again.

It’s my only defense. It’s the only thing that matters.

“Just go, Nikolai.” Her voice is tired now. I hear the defeat. “Please. Just go.”

I want to argue. Want to make her understand.

But I don't know how.

So I turn and walk out, closing the door behind me.

I sit on the edge of my bed and replay every word and reaction. I break it down like a threat assessment: cause, response, outcome. Her goal is to protect her son. I kept him safe. He's good. Happy. Thriving.

By every metric I know how to measure, I did what I was supposed to do.

So why does it feel like I lost her?

Damn it, Gabby. Why won’t you let me handle this for you?

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Gabby