Page 24 of The Bratva Bosses' Surrogate

“Well, that’s one way to put it,” I respond, trying to lighten the mood.

Ivan speaks up, voice slightly shaky. “We’ve never done anything like this before. It’s not part of our, our rules.”

“Yeah, I get that,” I reply, understanding the gravity of what I’ve just suggested. “But haven’t we already broken so many rules? We’re way past traditional here.”

Maxym, who’s been quietly listening, finally speaks. “It’s unconventional, to say the least. But,” he pauses, considering, “it might be the most equitable solution.”

Before I can process Maxym’s words, my gut twists. Something’s off. A faint sound, almost like a yell, cuts through the air, abruptly silenced. It’s chilling, making my skin crawl.

Then, before I can even utter a word, hell breaks loose.

In an instant, the calm atmosphere shatters, literally. The sound of glass breaking violently fills the room, followed by the unmistakable echo of gunfire from outside. It’s chaos, sudden and terrifying. It’s a sound so horrifying, so real, it’s like nothing I’ve ever heard before.

Bullets whiz through the shattered windows, embedding strikes of death in the walls, sending plumes of plaster and debris into the air.

Maxym’s reaction is immediate. He pushes me down to the floor, covering me with his body, an instinctive shield against the danger. His weight presses down on me, a protective barrier between me and the flying bullets. “Get down!” he screams to the others.

Ivan and Viktor are already moving, ducking for cover, their expressions hardened into those of soldiers ready for battle. The room is a mess of noise and motion, everyone springing into action, but all I can focus on is the rapid beat of Maxym’s heart against my back and the sound of my own frantic breaths.

As the gunfire continues, a terrifying thought crosses my mind: we’re under attack. The Bratva’s enemies have found us, and they’re not holding back. I’m suddenly acutely aware of the danger, the reality of the world I’ve found myself in.

Ivan and Viktor return fire, their movements swift and practiced. The air is thick with the smell of gunpowder and fear. I’m trembling, the realization of how close I came to death sending shockwaves through my body.

Through the chaos, I see one of our attackers fall, his body crumpling to the ground in a heap. The others retreat, dragging their fallen comrade, leaving behind a trail of blood and destruction.

Maxym’s voice is in my ear, firm, and commanding. “Stay down, Sofia. Don’t move.” I nod, understanding the seriousness of the situation. I’m no longer just an unwilling participant in their plans; I’m now a target in their war.

The sounds of gunfire mix with shouts, the screech of tires, and more breaking glass. It’s a symphony of violence, one that I never wanted to hear.

As I lie there, beneath Maxym, I realize how fragile our little bubble of safety was.

Chapter 10

Maxym

The chaos finally dies down, the silence almost as deafening as the gunfire. But we can’t stay here. Not when Sofia’s in danger. Her whole body is trembling like a leaf in a storm, shock painted all over her face. This isn’t her world, and she’s never seen shit like this before.

“Sofia. Sofia!” I shake her gently by the shoulders. She tries to speak, but no words come out, just uncontrollable shaking. Without wasting a second, I scoop her up, her weight almost nothing in my arms, and bolt towards the backdoor.

We need to move, and fast. I carry her through the sprawling gardens, her head resting against my chest. The mansion’s no longer safe; it’s a damn war zone.

The boat’s docked at the back, our quickest escape route. “Hold on,” I tell her, even though she’s too shaken to respond. I can feel her heart racing against mine.

Fucking enemies, always lurking in the shadows, waiting to strike. But they won’t get her. I’ll die before I let that happen.

I rev the engine, the boat cutting through the water like a bullet. Sofia’s silent, her body still pressed against me, her breathing erratic. This isn’t what she signed up for, being caught in the crossfire of our Bratva bullshit.

But she’s with me now, and I’ll protect her with every damn breath in my body. They want a war? They’ve got one.

We’re speeding away, the boat slicing through the water like a hot knife through butter. Sofia’s next to me, her body still shaking, her silence a heavy weight in the air. She’s in shock, the poor girl.

“Sofia, hey. Look at me,” I say, my voice firm but gentle. She needs to snap out of it, to understand we’re safe now, at least for the moment. “Hey, you’re okay, alright? We got out. You’re safe here.”

Her voice is a trembling whisper when she finally speaks. “W-what about the others? Viktor and Ivan? Who is behind this attack?”

I keep my eyes on the water ahead, but I squeeze her hand reassuringly. “Viktor and Ivan will be fine. Don’t worry about them right now, okay?” I mean, those guys are as tough as they come. They know how to handle themselves.

But I understand her concern. We’re a fucked-up family, but we’re a family nonetheless. “As for who’s behind this, I don’t know. But I swear, Sofia, I’ll find out. And when I do, they’ll regret ever messing with us.”

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