His bratva princess

Chapter 2

Swallowing her pride, Milana reluctantly walked over and climbed into the back seat. The heavy door clicked shut, instantly sealing them into the quiet, leather-scented luxury of the vehicle. She slid as far against her side of the seat as possible, staring out the window, her arms crossed tightly over her chest.

In the rear-view mirror, the driver’s eyes were wide and anxious as he started the engine. "Boss, I am so sorry. The blind spot—"

"Drive," Rodion interrupted, his voice a low, gravelly snap. He rubbed the bridge of his nose, completely uninterested in the driver's excuses or anything else going on around him.

"Yes, Boss. Miss, where am I dropping you?"

Milana quietly gave the driver her address, her voice small but steady. She turned back to the window, completely sulking, her mind racing at a million miles an hour. She was desperately trying to construct a believable lie to tell her dad, but nothing made sense.

The silence in the backseat grew heavy, thick with the scent of his expensive, smoky cologne and her lingering panic.

Rodion shifted slightly, his massive frame demanding space even without trying. He cut his grey eyes over to her, taking in the sharp curve of her jaw.

"Are you injured?" he asked flatly.

Milana didn't move. She didn't blink. She kept her eyes locked on the window, completely ignoring him as if he were nothing but background noise.

Rodion's jaw clenched. "I asked you a question," he said, his voice dropping an octave, visibly irritated.

Milana kept her eyes glued to the glass, stubbornly refusing to look at him.

A harsh, humorless laugh left Rodion’s throat. "Well, if you’re going to play dumb, you can do it out of my car. Pull over," he commanded.

In the rear-view mirror, the driver’s eyes widened. He wouldn’t dare defy his boss. The heavy SUV immediately began to slow, pulling toward the dark, empty shoulder of the highway.

Panic pierced right through Milana's stubbornness. Her eyes went wide, and she whipped her head around. "Wait... what? Please, don't..." The words stumbled out of her mouth. "I... I’m not injured."

For the first time since the crash, the alcohol and adrenaline finally wore off, leaving her completely exposed. And for the first time, she actually took a good look at the man sitting next to her in the dim light of the cabin.

Her breath caught in her throat.

Up close, he was terrifyingly handsome, but it was his sheer size that made the air evaporate from the backseat. His broad shoulders blocked out the light, and his cold, grey eyes locked onto hers like a predator sizing up its prey. The space inside the vehicle suddenly felt strangely thick—suffocatingly tense.

Real fear coiled in her stomach. Why in her right mind had she been so incredibly rude to this...man? He wasn't just a rich guy in a suit. He was something else entirely.

A cold shiver ran down her spine as she looked past him at the dark, deserted highway outside. What would have happened if he had actually thrown her out? If he had left her out there, alone in the dark?

Rodion watched the fear dawn on her face, satisfied that she finally understood her place. He tapped the glass twice with his knuckles. "Keep going," he murmured to the driver.

The driver instantly hit the gas, pulling back onto the road. The rest of the ride passed in a suffocating, heavy silence. Milana didn't dare look at him again, keeping her eyes glued to her lap until, a few minutes later, the SUV finally pulled up to her driveway.

Instantly, the front door of the house flew open. Her dad almost sprinted down the steps, looking absolutely frantic.

Seeing him, the fear rushed right back into Milana’s chest. She swallowed hard, took a deep breath to steady herself, and pushed the door open. The moment her feet hit the pavement, her dad enveloped her in a massive, suffocating hug.

"Oh, thank God," he breathed, pulling back to look at her, his voice tight with panic. "You said you'd be back two hours ago! I tried calling you a hundred times, but your phone wasn't going through. And whose car is—"

He paused as the SUV's driver’s side door clicked open. The driver stepped out, bowing his head respectfully toward her dad.

"Sir, I deeply apologize," the driver said smoothly. "There was an accident down the highway. It was entirely my fault. Your daughter's vehicle is being towed to a top-tier repair shop as we speak, and all expenses are completely covered."

Milana glared at the driver, her eyes flashing with a look that promised actual murder. Who asked him to say all that?! Her father’s face went completely pale, his worry instantly doubling. "An accident? My princess, you had an accident? Are you okay? Are you hurt?" He frantically spun her around, hands on her shoulders as he examined her.

"Dad, Dad, chill out! I’m fine, I swear," Milana insisted, gently pushing his hands down.

Relieved, her dad pulled her back into a tight hug, kissing the top of her head. "Please, next time, just give me a call. You frightened me to death."

Inside the dark sanctuary of the back seat, Rodion watched the entire scene unfold through the tinted glass. A faint, cynical smirk touched his lips. The sight was genuinely amusing. No wonder she was such a defiant, fearless little brat; her father completely pampered her. She was a protected princess playing at being tough.

Outside, her father waved a thankful hand at the driver. "Thank you for bringing her home safely."

The driver nodded, stepped back into the SUV, and shifted into drive. As the heavy vehicle rolled away into the night, Rodion kept his grey eyes fixed on the rear window, watching the brunette princess disappear into her brightly lit house.

He still had a headache, but for the first time all day, he wasn't bored.