The Crippled Mafia King’S Forced Bride EP 17

Rodion POV's

Her voice is stronger now, almost normal, but still, she doesn’t move.

Her back is plastered to the fridge like she wants to melt into it.

Rodion Ivanov/Pakhan/ML

*focus his eyes on her face, making sure I catch her reaction*

Rodion Ivanov/Pakhan/ML

What did you mean by ‘I’m not a fan of large things’?

Natalia Grey/FL

*blinks and, instead of answering, turns on her heel and runs into her room*

The door closes with a bang at the same time my realization settles in and anger starts boiling in my stomach.

Someone hurt her, and for her to react this way, it must have been really bad.

...

Natalia POV's

The clock on the nightstand shows two p.m.

I can’t stay locked in the room the whole day, I know that.

But still, I can’t make myself go there and face Rodion after the episode from this morning.

Natalia Grey/FL

He probably thinks I’m crazy.

Natalia Grey/FL

God, even after two years, I’m still fucked up in the head.

Natalia Grey/FL

It was getting better.

I came to a point where I was able to be in the company of huge men without freaking out.

Natalia Grey/FL

I could even hold a normal conversation, as long as they didn’t touch me.

Natalia Grey/FL

Yes, most people, especially men, are taller than me.

But most of them don’t trigger a panic attack.

Natalia Grey/FL

I only react to men who are as tall as Brian had been, and who have significant muscle mass.

Natalia Grey/FL

Rodion looks nothing like Brian, who was blond and had a surfer look about him,

Natalia Grey/FL

But they have similar height and build.

Maybe if I was warned in some way, or if I knew what to expect, I wouldn’t have reacted so extremely.

But I was still sleepy, and with Roman suddenly towering in front of me, I just flipped.

Natalia Grey/FL

I have to get out of this room.

Natalia Grey/FL

There is still work to do, people to deceive. I can do this.

Natalia Grey/FL

Lifted by my self-pep talk, I get up from the bed,

Natalia Grey/FL

And with my head held high, I march out of the room.

Rodion Ivanov/Pakhan/ML

*sitting at the table, fork in one hand and holding his phone to his ear with the other*

Judging by the dark look on his face, it’s not good news.

I do my best to school my features and join him, picking the chair next to him on purpose.

Natalia Grey/FL

I’m not afraid of you.

Natalia Grey/FL

The episode from the kitchen was just a misunderstanding.

Natalia Grey/FL

Let’s pretend it never happened

Rodion Ivanov/Pakhan/ML

*still on the phone*

Natalia Grey/FL

*sit down*

he’s been following my every step with his eyes. Making sure that my moves are perfectly calm,

Natalia Grey/FL

*fill a glass with water and focus on the food in the middle of the table*

There is a bowl of mashed potatoes, an assortment of fish, and some salads, so I take a plate and pile it up. I grab a slice of bread as well and dig in

Rodion Ivanov/Pakhan/ML

📞I’ll be downstairs in twenty minutes

Rodion Ivanov/Pakhan/ML

*phone, puts it down on the table, and resumes eating*

We eat in silence, the only sound coming from the cutlery and it’s strangely . . . domestic. I expected him to start asking about this morning, but he doesn’t even mention it, and I’m relieved.

Rodion Ivanov/Pakhan/ML

I sent Valentina to pick up some of your clothes

Rodion Ivanov/Pakhan/ML

They’re in a bag in the living room

Natalia Grey/FL

Hm...

Natalia Grey/FL

*grab a cherry tomato from her plate and throw it in her mouth*

Rodion Ivanov/Pakhan/ML

*leans back and, crossing his arms in front of him, watches her for a few seconds*

I try to focus on my food instead of his muscular arms which are stretching the material of his shirt.

I fail miserably

Rodion Ivanov/Pakhan/ML

*tilts his head to the side and narrows his eyes at her*

Rodion Ivanov/Pakhan/ML

You know, I find it very interesting that you are handling this situation much better than I hoped

Natalia Grey/FL

What situation?

I reach for the salad bowl and refill my plate with lettuce and more cherry tomatoes.

Rodion Ivanov/Pakhan/ML

This. Being blackmailed into a marriage with someone like me.

Rodion Ivanov/Pakhan/ML

Having to put your life on hold for six months.

Rodion Ivanov/Pakhan/ML

I expected you to be wary. Reluctant. Scared. You seem . . . unnaturally nonchalant

Natalia Grey/FL

You think I’m mentally unstable?

...

To be continued