Page 75 of Forced By an Obsessive Bratva Stalker

Fuck!

I’d been caught.

I spun around, my voice rising a little higher than I wanted it to. “Yelena, hi…”

She stared at me, something suspicious flickering in her gaze. “Can I help you with something, ma’am?”

I swallowed hard, chest heaving subtly.

I told you this was a bad idea. Now we’re caught. Don’t make this weirder than it already is—apologize and walk away now.

That’s a terrible thing to do. Audacity opposed the motion. We’re not leaving here without that strip. We’ve been caught already. What’s the worst thing that’s gonna happen?

“Listen, Yelena, um…” I began, my eyes locked on hers. “This is embarrassing.” A nervous chuckle slipped out. “I need something from you.”

“From me?” She raised her brows slowly. “What…what could I possibly have that you would need?”

My throat tightened with sudden dryness. I drew closer to her and lowered my voice. “One of your pregnancy strips.”

A hint of shock crossed her face as she wondered how I knew about them.

“I kinda overheard you talking about your strip collection with the girls,” I explained.

She lowered her head, as if to hide her embarrassment. Yelena scratched the back of her head. “I promise, ma’am. It’s not what you think—I’m not weird or anything…” Her voice trailed off into silence.

“Hey, I’m not judging,” I said softly. “But I really need one of those.”

She finally met my gaze again and nodded. “Okay.”

No questions asked, she headed to the same cupboard I had checked earlier on and picked out a strip.

What the…?

“It’s been there this whole time?” I asked her, amused.

“Yes.” She curled her full lips into a faint grin.

“How come I missed it?”

She halted in front of me. “Let’s just say I’m very good at hiding stuff in plain sight.”

“Hmm. That’s true talent right there.”

She smiled, handing me the strip.

I accepted it. “Thank you.”

She hesitated. “Do you know how to use it?”

A pause.

“Yes.”

“Okay.”

I lingered a second longer than necessary. “Goodnight, Yelena—and sorry for invading your privacy.”

Her response was a bright smile. And with that, I walked out of her room, staring at the strip in my hand.