Page 81 of Caught By the Bratva Boss

“Ok.” I sighed. He was hiding something from me again, and so was Anya. The one time I had managed to speak to her, she had squealed like an excited puppy and then fell silent when Daniil had given her a pointed look,

They were definitely up to something, but I just didn’t have the energy to worry about it too much. It was taking all of my self-control just to act like a normal functioning person. The urge to run screaming from the room and hide myself away in a closet was all-consuming.

“Hey.” Catching my face between his big hands, he smiled down at me. “You’re doing so well. I want you to know that. I know this is a lot.”

Yeah, it was. It was a ton more than a lot. “Do you want to dance?” I blurted out.

His eyes widened for just a moment before his smile grew lazy. “You want to dance with me?” He asked softly.

I shrugged. I didn’t really want to dance, but I felt like I had to do something. We’d been sitting in the corner for hours. It wasn’t normal, and I was desperately trying to act normal, even if it was exhausting.

I nodded. “I think I would.”

“Then it would be my pleasure to dance with the most beautiful woman in the universe.” Standing, he offered me his hand with a small chivalrous bow that made me smile the first real grin of the night.

“Could I have this dance?”

Nodding, I slipped my hand into his and let him lead me into the middle of the dance floor. He didn’t twirl me. He just pulled me into his arms and held me tight against his body.

Looping my arms around his neck, I pressed my face against his tuxedo. “You look very handsome today,” I whispered. “I should have told you that earlier.”

Gently, he lifted my face up to his. “Thank you.” His dark eyes swept across my face. “But only if you mean it. I don’t want you to ever say things you don’t mean.”

“I do mean it,” I said with more force. “I wouldn’t say it if I didn’t.”

“Good.” He pulled me into him again and swayed back and forth.

He kept acting like I was important to him. He’d even said he loved me more than once. And earlier, when I had been falling asleep, I had sleepily said it back. But did I love him? Was that what I was feeling, or was I feeling it because he made me feel safe and protected?

Of course, I hadn’t needed to be protected before he had decided he wanted me. Not that I was blaming him entirely. Greg was the one who had sold me. Not once but twice. And I had agreed the first time because deep down I had wanted Daniil as well. I’d wanted to know how it felt to be with a man like him.

Now I knew. It felt wonderful but terrifying. But did that mean I was in love with him? Shaking my head softly, I pressed my cheek back to his chest and continued to sway.

I guess it didn’t really matter right now. There was plenty of time to figure out what I was actually feeling. This was Anya and her new husband’s day. All I had to do was get through it with a smile on my face until I could go home, change out of the dress and into my sweatpants, and crawl into bed.

Just a few more hours.

“Lily?”

There was a look in Daniil’s face that made my head snap up. If I didn’t know better, I would say he was nervous about something. What could the untouchable Daniil Popov be nervous about?

“I have been thinking about this for a while and—”

My gut twisted. Was he breaking up with me? Could you even break up with someone who you weren’t officially dating? He kept saying that our arrangement was over and that it had changed. He had said he loved me, but that didn’t mean we were dating. We weren’t a couple.

Maybe he was finally sick of not being able to touch me. But then why would he bring me here just to break up with me? He could have left me at home. I would have been happier at home. Home was safe.

“Ok,” I whispered, and I hated the way my voice cracked. “You don’t need to say anything else. I understand.”

Daniil’s eyes widened. “You do? I mean, I hoped you felt the same, but I didn’t want to pressure you into saying it.” Hooking his thumb under my chin, he tilted my head up and brushed his mouth against mine.

And this time, when he kissed me, I didn’t freak out. I was too confused for that. If he was ending things, why was he kissing me? None of this made any sense.

“God, I love you so damn much,” he whispered against my mouth. “So Lily,” he stepped back so suddenly that I almost tipped forward.

To the left of us, someone shrieked. Not a happy, they are playing my favorite song, screech, but one of pure fear.

A dull, muffled pop sounded, followed by a cry that was cut off. Confused, I turned my head to see what was going on, but I didn’t get very far. Launching himself at me, Daniil tackled me to the ground, his body covering mine, and his hand pushing my face into the dance floor.