Page 19 of Obsession of the Bratva

He loosened the top button of his shirt. “You stay here.”

I blinked. “That’s it?”

“For now.”

“What do you mean for now? What does that entail? What is the timeline for any of this? How long are you planning to keep me here?” I was beginning to lose patience. This was not how I had imagined the conversation going down, but here we were.

His gaze found mine again. Cold and sharp. For a second, he looked almost dangerous.

“You don’t get any details, Vera.”

I folded my arms.

“Have you lost your goddamned mind, Nico? I don’t know what kind of midlife crisis you are going through right now, but I will not sit down and become party to it. I have a whole life outside of this.”

“Of course. I am sure your dad’s business will stop running since you are no longer there to handle things for him.” His tone was purely sarcastic, and that only made me angrier.

“As a matter of fact? It will. I have been managing the company for years now, when Dad was busy trying to be a bratva man, and you know it. I have friends and commitments and places to be. You know damned well I volunteer at shelters and NGOs five days a week. You cannot bring me here and ask me to put a full stop on my life and live on your terms for god knows how long!”

“I get to do exactly that.”

Four days of being treated like a prisoner, and now this.

“You don’t get to do that.”

His eyebrow lifted. “Do what?”

“Act like this.”

A humorless smile appeared. “Like what?”

“Like you’re the only person affected by this, Nico! You cannot go on living your life while I have to be a prisoner in this goddamned house.”

Something flashed behind his eyes, but it was gone instantly. Good. Maybe he wasn’t as detached as he wanted me to believe. I took a step closer.

“Nico, this entire situation is insane, and you know that.”

“You think so?”

“Yes.”

“Interesting.”

I took another step forward, and my pulse accelerated.

“You kidnapped me.”

“Correct.”

“You destroyed a wedding.”

“Correct.”

“You probably started a war.”

“Possibly.”

“And your response is what?”