Page 72 of Caught By the Bratva Boss

“It’s not real, it’s not. He’s not coming.”

It took a second for me to realize that Lily was muttering to herself, her face screwed up like a crying infant. She kept repeating it over and over again.

“Lily.” Again, I drew her attention back to me, “I’m here, my love. I’ll always come for you.”

Confusion clouded her eyes. “You came for me?” She asked again. “Or am I dreaming?”

Leaning down, I pressed my lips to her greasy, knotted hair. “Of course, I did. I love you.”

“Oh.”

I didn’t mean to say that last part, but that didn’t mean I didn’t mean it. I’d been falling in love with her from the second I had seen her. It had just taken me a while to let myself admit it. But now that I had, I was going to do everything I could to keep her with me.

“I’m sorry,” she muttered, a single tear falling down her dirt-streaked face. “I’m sorry I put Timothy in danger. I didn’t mean to. Please don’t send me away again.”

“I’m never sending you away ever again, Lily. Just conserve your strength, and you will be home before you know it. Timothy misses you.”

It looked like she gave a small smile. “I miss him, too,“ she whispered. “But I’m so tired, Danill. So tired.”

“Just rest.” I soothed her. “Just close your eyes and rest. It’s all going to be ok. I promise. You’re safe now,” I promised.

Someone moved behind me, and I whirled around, the gun in my hand, but it was just one of my men. He held out a single key, and I snatched it from his hand. It fit the padlock perfectly, and the thick metal band around her slender throat snapped open, revealing a deep, red welt around her throat that I couldn’t even stand to look at.

As gently as I could, I lifted her into my arms, and she cried out in pain. “Get the car in front,” I ordered. “And a doctor at the house.”

It was clear her injuries were much worse than I had originally thought. She felt all wrong in my arms like a broken little doll.

“Already done, boss. I’ll make sure the way is clear.”

I nodded my thanks to him, and together we headed back up the stairs and out into the freezing New York street. Lily didn’t say one word, and neither did I. Not because I didn’t have anything to say but because I had too much, and I didn’t know where to even start explaining how much she meant to me.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Lily

I woke up disoriented, not knowing where I was. Under me was something soft and not the hard, damp floor I had grown used to. But that didn’t make me feel instantly better.

There were mattresses in my prison. I’d seen other girls on them, shackled and bound just like me. I’d just been the only one left on the floor and beaten. And I was broken. Even in my jumbled mind, I knew that. They had broken me.

A single tear slipped down my face, and I reached for my cheek to capture it on my fingertips. It was then that I realized I could move. There were no chains around my throat. The sheets over me were clean and fresh, and the mattress was soft. It smelled like home.

My eyes flew open, and I found myself staring up at a familiar ceiling. The lights were off, but it wasn’t dark in here. There was light coming through the drawn curtain, and a lamp was on by the side of the bed.

The whole place felt instantly familiar. I didn’t even have to look around to know where I was. A wet sobbing sound hit my ears, and it took me several seconds to realize that the sound came from my lips.

I was home, I was safe.

“Lily?”

Slowly, I turned my head. Every move I made was agony. “Daniil?” I croaked.

It was definitely him, I would know him anywhere, even if my eyes were blurry. He stood and came to me in a rush. The mattress dipped as he went to grab me. I scuttled back, with a small scream, and his arms dropped to his side. When he looked at me, there was nothing but pity in his eyes.

“It’s just me, Lily.” He perched on the edge of the mattress. “I’m not going to hurt you.”

Sucking in a deep breath, I nodded, settling back down against the pillows, but I kept some distance between us. It wasn’t that I didn’t trust him. I didn’t trust anyone. And I didn’t want to be touched. Not even by him.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered my eyes on my lap.