Page 53 of The Bratva Sinner

“This isn’t about them.”

“Isn’t it?” She throws off her blankets and climbs out of bed. She’s wearing shorts and a loose shirt. Nothing remotely sexy, but I find it to be the hottest outfit she’s ever worn.

“Why do you assume that I sleep with a bunch of women?”

She waves her hand at me. “Look at you.”

“I don’t know what that means.”

“I told you we weren’t going to share a bed. Get out.”

“Maybe I want to renegotiate terms,” I say.

“Trust me; you don’t. You don’t want a virgin in your bed. I could not compete with your other women, nor do I want to.”

“Wait… what?”

“You heard me.” She lifts her chin defiantly. “Sorry to disappoint you. I know men like you prefer women who know what they’re doing.”

My mind is racing. A virgin. She’s afuckingvirgin.

“I didn’t know,” I say quietly.

“Well, now you do. So, go fuck someone else.”

I’m still processing this information. A virgin. That’s why Arlind wants her so badly. Not just because of a debt; because she’s pure. Untouched. The perfect gift for whoever he’s trying to impress.

“Does Arlind know?” I ask.

She frowns. “Know what?”

“That you’re a virgin.”

“How the hell would he know? Can you see it on my face?”

In their world, virginity is currency. It’s value. A virgin girl is worth a fortune to the right man.

“Do. They. Know.”

She steps back. “I don’t know. No. How could they?”

I rub my hands over my face and fight to keep my voice even. “You said you were drugged. Your memory is fuzzy.”

I see the second she understands what I’m saying. One hand covers her mouth, the other arm wraps around her middle. “Oh, God.”

“Lila.” I move closer. “This changes things.”

“How?”

“You’re more valuable than I thought. To them.”

She laughs bitterly. “Great. So, I’m valuable. What does that mean? I’m worth more on the market?”

“It means you’re in more danger than I realized.” I run a hand through my hair. “It means marrying you was the right call.”

“Because now I’m your property instead of theirs?”

“Because now you’re protected by the bratva.” I step closer until I’m right in front of her. “No one touches what’s mine.”