Chapter 26 - Sofia
A dull throb pulses through my temples as I blink awake, consciousness seeping in like a slow dawn. The room swims into focus—stark concrete walls, a single bulb swinging overhead. Panic claws at my throat as I try to move, only to find my wrists bound tightly behind me.
"What the—" I mutter, my normally composed voice cracking.
That's when I hear it—Alexei's low rumble from somewhere behind me. My blood runs cold as memories come flooding back. The ambush. The struggle. Blackness.
"Yes, everything's on schedule," Alexei says smugly. "I've got the Orlov bitch trussed up nice and tight. She'll be ready for delivery within the hour."
Delivery? My mind races, piecing together the implications. The Crimson Crew. Of course. Those ruthless bastards want their revenge.
And what better revenge than to get ahold of the infiltrator?
Suddenly, cold, seeping fear washes over me. For a brief second, I freeze, thinking of Vlad. I’m in here, with no idea of what’s happening out there. If they’ve found me, what if they…
No. The thought of Vlad being in danger scares the hell out of me. Besides, chances are, he’s surrounded by his men. He’s safe—or so I pray.
At the same time, a small voice in my head begins to worry in self-preservation. No one knows where I am. No one will be able to find me.
In this moment, I realize I’m truly alone for the first time. My brothers, Vlad—I can depend on no rescue, for it might be hours before they trace me. And by then, Alexei could have me moved.
I can't afford to wait. The Adrenaline overcomes the panic. My stomach twists with dread, but I force myself to stay calm and think. As Alexei paces, still chattering away, I test my bindings. There has to be a way out of this. There always is.
My eyes dart around the dimly lit room, searching for anything I can use. There—a jagged edge on the rickety wooden table behind me. I inch my chair backward, careful not to make a sound. Alexei's still engrossed in his call, his back to me. Perfect.
I grit my teeth as I drag my bound wrists across the splintered wood, feeling the rope fray. My heart pounds so loudly I'm sure Alexei will hear it, but I can't stop now. Not when freedom is so close.
Almost there, I think, willing my hands to steady as I work the last stubborn threads. Finally, with a muffled snap, the rope gives way. I have to stifle a gasp of relief.
Keeping my hands behind my back, I survey the room again. The door's only a few meters away, but the floorboards look ancient. One wrong step and I'm done for.
Alexei's voice drones on in the background. "Yes, yes. We'll make the exchange tonight. Don't worry, she's not going anywhere."
I almost snort. Shows what he knows.
Slowly, carefully, I rise from the chair. My legs are wobbly, but I force them to cooperate. One step. Two.
I'm mere steps from the door when a floorboard lets out a traitorous groan. Alexei whirls around, his eyes widening as he takes in my unbound state.
"You little bitch!" he snarls, lunging toward me with surprising speed.
I dive to the side, narrowly avoiding his grab as adrenaline courses through me. I can't let him catch me now, not when freedom is inches away. Besides, I’ve already learned that I can’t fight him.
I’m petrified, and I know my only option is to run as fast as I can.
“Stop, Sofia!" he bellows, chasing after me, running as fast as he can.
But I'm faster. I open the door and sprint down the corridor, heart pounding in my ears, desperation lending strength to my limbs. The hallway stretches on endlessly, lined with closed doors and ominous shadows. My mind races—where do I go? How do I get out?
“Bitch!” he screams after me.
I can’t help talk back, even though my heart is in my throat. "Careful, Alexei. Your hospitality is slipping," I scream over my shoulder.
His face contorts with rage as he continues chasing. "I'll teach you to respect—"
I see a door labeled exit, and I run toward it. I’m almost there—just a few more steps. Once outside, I can hail down a car, hide behind a tree, and buy some time.
Just when I’m near it, the door explodes inward with a deafening crack. Three figures burst into the room, their presence electric. My eyes lock onto Vlad, his face a mask of cold fury. On either side stand Denis and Mark.
“V…Vlad?” I whisper. The emotions of the day overcome every sense of self-preservation; I no longer have to worry. They’re here, the brothers who never fail to come through.
Vlad looks over me from head to toe, checking to see if I’m harmed. His eyes then turn to look behind me.
"Get away from her," Vlad growls, his voice low and dangerous. I look over my shoulder to see Alexei pale as a ghost.
Alexei freezes, his eyes darting between Vlad and me. "This isn't what it looks—"
“Denis, Mark, keep Sofia,” Vlad says without taking his eyes off Alexei. The next thing I know, Denis and Mark are by my side, each of them asking to see if I’m alright.
I nod, unable to form words, my eyes glued to the scene unfolding before us.
"You didn't think I'd let you get away that easily, did you?" Vlad growls, fury pulsing off him in waves as he walks toward Alexei.
“Listen, I swear, I wasn’t going to hurt—” Alexei starts to plead, but Vlad cuts him off with a cold sneer.
"Shut up!" he barks, his hand tightening into a fist. "You had no right to take her. You have no idea what you've put her through."
A muscle in Alexei's jaw twitches as he clenches his teeth, but he says nothing. His defeat is palpable, and it only fuels Vlad's anger further.
"Now," Vlad continues, his voice low and menacing, "I will decide what happens to you. You won't see the light of day again."
Beside me, I hear Denis whisper in my ear. “Look away, Sof.”
I shake my head. I realize now that wanting to be a part of this world means wanting to see it all. I watch as Vlad pulls out his gun. Alexei whimpers on the ground like the coward he is, and Vlad walks over to him, lowering the barrel.
"Your last words will be my choice, not yours." With a cold determination, Vlad fires.
Alexei's body jerks violently, his life extinguished in an instant. The impact is bone-jarring, and I feel a shiver run down my spine. Vlad stands over Alexei's body, his expression unreadable, but something burns in his eyes. He looks back at us and nods once, dismissing this unsavory business with finality.
I quickly look away as Denis had instructed, feeling sick and shaken. This is not what I wanted, but seeing Vlad's fierce determination to protect me fills me with an overwhelming sense of safety and love. In this moment, I realize I finally belong in the Bratva.
***
"Sofia," Vlad says moments later, walking up to me, his eyes softening as they meet mine. "Are you hurt?"
I don’t want to worry him, but my legs shake. "I'm fine," I manage, hating how small my voice sounds. "Just peachy. Nothing like a little kidnapping to liven up one's day."
Vlad's lips twitch, almost like he wants to smile, but concern wins out. He steps closer, his hand hovering near my arm. "It's over now. You're safe."
I nod, surprised by how much I want to lean into his touch. I see no reason not to, and allow him to wrap an arm around my waist.
Meanwhile, Denis, Mark, and the rest of the men spring into action. Someone secures the body while Mark scans the room for any remaining evidence, his eyes sharp.
"Clear the area," Denis orders, his voice clipped. "Leave no trace."
I watch, impressed, as they methodically sweep the room. Denis pockets Alexei's phone to hack it and manage any other threats.
"Efficient, aren't they?" I muse, trying to keep my voice steady. "I suppose this isn't their first rodeo."
Vlad's eyes never leave me as he replies, "We take care of our own."
His words send an unexpected warmth through my chest. I've always prided myself on my independence, but right now, being part of "our own" doesn't sound so bad.
Vlad steps closer, his eyes scanning me for injuries. "Are you sure you're alright?" His hand reaches out, hesitating before gently touching my arm. The contact sends a jolt through me.
I swallow hard, but seeing him worried worries me. I try to ease the distress we’re both feeling. "I'm fine, really. Just a bruised ego and a newfound distaste for rope burn."
His eyes darken at my words. "I shouldn't have let you out of my sight," he murmurs, his voice rough with emotion.
I raise an eyebrow, summoning what's left of my sass. "Let me? I wasn't aware I needed your permission, Vlad."
He chuckles softly, the sound warming me from the inside out. "You're right. No one tells Sofia Zolotov what to do."
My heart races as I realize he called Sofia Zolotov , not Orlov. I watch his face, smiling as I understand he didn’t even register the difference.
His thumb traces small circles on my arm, soothing and electrifying at the same time. "But I promise you, I won't let anything like this happen again."
I want to bristle at his protectiveness, to remind him that I can take care of myself. But the genuine concern in his eyes, the gentle strength of his touch… it makes me want to believe him.
"I'll hold you to that," I whisper, allowing him to lead me to the car while the rest of the guys handle things here.
***
The drive home is a blur of city lights. Vlad’s arm stays firmly around my shoulders, a warm shield against the night's chill and my own lingering fears. I find myself nestling closer, finding peace I never thought I could.
"You know," I murmur, breaking the comfortable silence, "I never thought I’d understand why you always checking in on me from the moment we got married, but I'm actually grateful for your overbearing tendencies right now."
Vlad's chest rumbles with a low chuckle. "Careful, Crimson. I might get used to your gratitude."
I roll my eyes but can't help giving a small smile. "Don't push your luck!”
As we pull up to the house, Vlad's grip on me tightens slightly. "Home sweet home," he says softly, his eyes searching mine. "Ready?"
I nod, steeling myself. "As I'll ever be."
Inside, Vlad guides me straight to the bedroom, his hand a constant presence on the small of my back. The familiar surroundings should be comforting, but I can't shake the lingering unease.
"You need rest," Vlad says, his voice gentle but firm. He pulls back the covers and helps me into bed, his movements surprisingly tender.
As he tucks the blankets around me, I catch a glimpse of raw vulnerability in his eyes. It's so unexpected, so unlike the stoic Bratva leader I've come to know, that it takes my breath away.
"Vlad," I whisper, reaching out to touch his face. "I'm okay. Really."
He leans into my touch, his eyes closing briefly. "I know," he says, his voice rough. "But seeing you in danger… I've never been so terrified in my life, Sofia."
The admission hangs heavy between us, charged with unspoken emotions. I swallow hard, trying to find the right words. "I… I didn't think you cared that much."
Vlad's eyes snap open, intense and burning. "Of course I care," he says fiercely. "More than I should. More than I ever thought possible."
My heart races, a mix of fear and something dangerously close to hope. "Vlad, I—”
“Sofia, please,” he cuts me off. For a second, he closes his eyes, his face crunched in anguish. That look on his face tears at my heart, and I instinctively reach out, caressing his cheek.
“What is it, Vlad?” I ask, praying to take away his pain.
“Tonight.” He opens his eyes. “I thought I might have lost you for good. And I swear it was the darkest moment of my life. Everything good seemed to lose meaning. Every hope, every prayer became useless. The future seemed unimaginable. Sof, I truly don’t remember what life was before you came into it. I truly don’t think I could live without you by my side.”
He takes my hand and presses it to his cheek, raw, unadulterated affection flowing through. I feel my heart race at his words, not for the novelty of it, but because…
“I feel the same way, Vlad,” I whisper. His eyes widen, he sits a little straighter and his face breaks into a smile that could light a million homes.
“You know,” he says, a mix of mischief and guilt crossing his face. “In the spirit of honesty, I do have a confession to make.”
“You’re an alien?”
He snorts, getting into bed and taking me in his arms. “Unfortunately, no. But since the family gathering, I have been hooked on you, Sofia. From the moment I saw you, this stunning, fiery woman who wouldn’t give me the time of the day… I was captivated. You were a mystery, an equal. Someone who could keep me on edge."
I blink, processing his words. "So the mission…?"
"It was a way to get closer to you," he admits, shame coloring his voice. "I'm sorry, Sofia. I should have been honest from the start. I knew about it, but I never married you to jeopardize it. In fact, I used it to get close to you, to get you into my bed."
I stare at him for a moment, a flurry of emotions swirling inside me. His admission leaves me feeling both stunned and weirdly touched. Maybe I shouldn't have been so surprised; after all, he’s Vladimir Zolotov. He’s a strange man, but he’s my strange man.
"I don't… I don't know what to say."
The truth is, I don’t know whether to laugh or whack him for the audacity of it all. But more importantly, I don’t feel the need to do either. None of what brought us here matters. All that matters is that we’re in this together, safe and happy in each other’s arms.
Vlad reaches for my hand, his touch hesitant. "Say you forgive me. Say you feel even a fraction of what I feel for you."
I look at him, this man who's turned my world upside down. "I don’t think I have anything to forgive,” I say, surprising myself with the truth.
I feel it before I say it in the way he makes my toes curl up, the way he makes me feel safe, the way I sleep better in his bed than I ever did in my own, the way I no longer look over my shoulder. The way he makes me belong.
"You don’t?" he asks, his voice barely above a whisper.
I nod, surprising myself with the certainty I feel. "You're the only one who truly understands me, Vlad. Your quiet strength, your ability to love even when we disagree… your undying loyalty. It's everything I never knew I needed."
Vlad's hand tightens around mine. "Sofia, I—”
"Let me finish," I interrupt, needing him to know the depths of what it is I feel. "I've spent so long being the dutiful sister, the girl with a mask. But with you, I can just be… me."
A smile tugs at the corners of Vlad's lips. "And who is that?"
I lean in closer, my breath mingling with his. "Someone who's no longer afraid to say… I love you."
The moment the words leave my mouth, Vlad's eyes light up like stars. He cups my face gently, his thumb tracing my cheekbone.
"I love you too, my fierce, beautiful Sofia," he murmurs.
And with that, our lips meet in a kiss that speaks more than any words ever could. It's the kiss of a thousand sunsets, and it fills me with an unmatched warmth, a feeling of homecoming like nothing I've ever experienced before.
I part my lips, and he tastes like the sweetest fruit. Vlad's hands start to move down my body, his fingers dancing along my collarbone, sending chills down my spine. He's always been so good at reading my body language, even though we're worlds apart. But now, in this moment, there's a deep understanding between us.
"Let me show you how much I love you," he whispers in my ear before trailing a line of kisses down my neck.
“You don’t have to show me, Vlad,” I whisper, throwing my neck back. “I already know.”
“And we have a lifetime to explore the depths of it,” he says, his fingers now trailing up my arms, leaving a line of fire in their wake. His fingers slide to the hem of my shirt, grazing the under of my belly, and with a gentle tug, he lifts it over my head, exposing my body to the cool air. His eyes linger on the curve of my neck and the rise of my breasts.
"You're more beautiful than even I imagined," he says, his voice husky with desire. He slowly trails a line down my cleavage, down to my belly, down to my trousers.
I lie there, entranced, as he takes his time undoing my trousers. He makes his way down, and I arch my hips up for him to slide them off.
Slowly, he kisses my leg. He moves inch by inch, all the way from my knee up to my inner thigh. His hands slide gently, teasingly up my sides, sending shivers through my entire body, leaving me aching for more. His breath is hot as he reaches the apex of my thighs. He slides his fingers in through the elastic of my panties, slowly pulling them down and discarding them on the floor before positioning himself between my legs.
"Vlad," I whisper, rising from the bed and resting on my elbows, tugging at his shirt. My voice rises in pitch with each passing second. "Please…"
He sits on his haunches and lets out a low growl as he pulls off his shirt in haste. I watch every dip and muscle on his broad, chiseled chest, still unable to believe that he’s mine.
Within seconds, his trousers are off, too, and he positions himself above me.
I can't help but bury my face in his chest, inhaling the musky yet comforting scent of him. It is a scent that is only his, a scent that wraps around me and keeps me close. I never thought someone could make me feel like this, so safe and secure.
"Sofia, I need you," he says, his voice strained with desire. His large hands catch my hips, lifting me to his throbbing length. I whimper at the contact, my body urging for more.
"Then take me," I breathe, wrapping my legs around his waist and pulling him closer to me. With one swift motion, he pushes into me, filling me up in ways I never thought possible.
I gasp at the sensation of him inside me, my body clinging to him tightly. His gaze locks with mine, and I see the raw hunger in his eyes.
From the vantage point he has, he takes in my naked form, his cock circling within. His hands trace patterns from my throat to my breasts and to the curves of my ribs. The warmth from his body seeks out mine, melding us together like the perfect puzzle pieces.
He sits back a little, positioning his cock deeper in me. I let out a soft cry that turns into a moan as the pleasure starts to seep over me. He’s moving at the same pace, hitting the same spots, and my mind is on nothing but him and this moment.
“God,” he moans, looking down at where I’m splayed out. “You’re beautiful.”
His hands reach for my hair, and he closes his eyes as he clutches onto me, his powerful hips rhythmically thrusting into me, each movement sending shockwaves of pleasure coursing through my entire body.
I’m feeling more… alive. More… awake.
I want and need more.
I lift up my hips until I feel stuffed and slide my legs around his ass, my hands clutching at his back.
“Oh god, Sofia.” He falls on me, his weight a delicious sensation, and he nuzzles his mouth in my neck, pumping his cock in me.
“That’s it, Baby,” I tell him. “Just like that.”
The feeling of him inside me, so deep and yet still able to cause such intense pleasure—it's something I never want to end.
Vlad's breathing quickens as he continues his rhythmic movements, each thrust sending a jolt of pleasure through us both.
"You're mine," he growls, nipping at my neck, thrusting deeper into me with renewed passion.
“I’m yours,” I moan, throwing back my head and closing my eyes. The pounding of our hearts, the mewls of pleasure, the slick wetness of our bodies—it’s all too much to handle.
Each thrust brings us closer to the brink, his cock sliding in and out against my sensitive nerves, sending me on the brink of no return.
“Vlad,” I moan as I feel the need to erupt. “Vlad…”
I feel a small fire burn in my core, ready to blow. I clench my thighs tighter around his ass and meet the frenzy of his hips.
"Sofia," he groans, "I'm close, Baby."
My heart is pounding, the rush of blood in my ears a cacophonous symphony. "Me too," I whisper, my voice barely audible.
"Sof…ia," he groans, his breathing heavy and ragged. He thrusts harder into me, and I let out a strangled cry as I feel it start, the sensation cresting like a wave and then crashing over me. My body shudders as I give in to it, my back arching off the bed as I ride out the waves of pleasure coursing through me.
I see a million stars against a night sky.
He rolls his hips into me one last time and stays there. I feel him throb within me, my body responding to his the same way his does to mine.