Page 66 of The Bratva Enforcer and His Virgin Bride

That thought alone is enough to pull me slightly back into myself.

Without thinking too much about it, I tap her name and call.

She picks up almost immediately.

“SOFIA,” she says instead of hello. “You are AWAKE. Do you know what time it is? Because I’m about to talk about a man who is ruining my life, and I need you fully conscious for this.”

I close my eyes again, sinking into the bed.

“Hi, Ash,” I laugh. “Yeah, I’m awake.”

And for the first time tonight, my voice actually sounds like mine again.

“Great!” Ashley doesn’t waste a second before launching into it. “Okay, so this man—Achilles—right? I’m telling you,Sofia, I don’t think you understand the level ofobsessionI have for him right now.”

I let out a soft laugh, turning onto my side.

“The mythological one?” I ask.

“Yes! The one and only,” she says, as if there could possibly be more than one. “He’s literally the hottest thing on the planet. I don’t care what anyone says.”

I smile into the pillow.

“He’s not a real man, Ash.”

There’s a beat of silence on the line.

Then she scoffs.

“He is real in my heart,” she says firmly. “And I love him. Don’t invalidate my relationship.”

That makes me laugh properly this time, a real one that eases something tight in my chest.

“Okay, okay,” I say. “I apologize to you and your imaginary husband.”

“Good,” she replies, satisfied. “Because he would not like you disrespecting him.”

I shake my head, still smiling, letting her keep talking. She goes on and on the way she always does when she finds a new fictional obsession—dramatic, passionate, completely unbothered by reality. I respond when I need to, tease her when I feel like it, and otherwise just listen.

And I realize I’m grateful for this.

For her voice.

For something normal.

Something that isn’t him.

I don’t mention Lukyan.

Not the way he looked at me.

Not the way my body reacted.

It feels too fragile to say out loud. Like naming it would make it real in a way I’m not ready for.

So I keep it where it is.

Temporary.