Page 68 of The Bratva Enforcer and His Virgin Bride

Of course.

The woman treats books the way most people treat family.

A small smile touches my mouth before I can stop it.

She begins removing them one by one, checking their condition as though she’s greeting old friends.

Then she does something incredibly stupid.

She lifts the entire box.

My jaw tightens immediately.

The thing is obviously heavy.

I can see the effort in the way her shoulders tense and her arms strain beneath the weight.

One of the men reaches for it.

Another says something.

Sofia shakes her head.

Stubborn.

The box wobbles slightly as she adjusts her grip and starts carrying it toward the house.

I push away from the balcony railing.

What the hell is she doing?

The movers are literally standing right there.

She disappears through the front doors.

I turn and stride back into my room.

A minute later, I’m downstairs.

I tell myself it’s because I need to speak with Ben. Not because I’m checking on my wife. Definitely not that.

The lie lasts all of ten seconds.

By the time I enter the foyer, I see her heading toward the staircase with the box. It’s obviously too heavy for her.

Her arms are wrapped around it awkwardly. The cardboard is digging into her sweater, and she’s moving carefully, concentrating on every step.

The stubborn woman is actually trying to carry it herself.

I walk straight toward her.

She notices me immediately.

Her eyes widen slightly.

Then she adjusts her grip and keeps walking.

As if I don’t exist.