Page 25 of The Bratva Bosses' Surrogate

Me, Ivan, and Viktor have an agreement. We know our roles in these fucked-up situations. Mine was to get Sofia to safety, and they’d handle the rest. And I trust them. They’ll sort out who’s behind this, make them pay.

As we reach the shore, Sofia’s body finally gives in to the overwhelming shock. She leans over the side, throwing up. It’s a lot for anyone to take in, especially someone not used to our brutal world.

I don’t blame her. This isn’t her normal. This isn’t what she should ever have had to face. I hold her hair back, my hand steady on her back. “It’s okay,” I tell her.

“No, don’t look,” she mutters between heaves.

I give a short chuckle, not because it’s funny, but because it’s such a damn human reaction. “Come on, I’ve seen worse.” And that’s the truth. In my line of work, a little vomit is nothing.

But I get it. She’s embarrassed, shaken, and probably feeling a thousand different things right now. I don’t push her.

“Will you be alright?” I ask her, knowing it’s a stupid question even as the words leave my mouth.

She’s incredulous, her voice rising with a mix of fear and frustration. “Will I be— We were under a fucking assault back there—” She cuts herself off as she notices a few bystanders turning to look, their curiosity piqued by her outburst.

Realizing she’s attracting unwanted attention, she crosses her arms and moves closer to me, her voice dropping to an urgent whisper. “Who the hell was behind that shooting, Maxym? How did they find out where we were?”

I sigh, feeling the weight of her fear and frustration. “I don’t know, but I’m sure Viktor and Ivan have already handled it.” I try to sound confident, but the truth is, the uncertainty gnaws at me too.

Sofia exhales sharply, her eyes locking onto mine. “Okay, okay, but where are we going?”

“Somewhere safe,” I reply, but even as I say it, I know it’s not enough.

“I thought that island was safe, too!” she retorts, her fear turning to anger. “I didn’t agree to this, Maxym!”

“Sofia,” I say, my voice softer, trying to convey every ounce of reassurance I can muster. “I know. I know you didn’t agree to this. But I promise you, I’ll do everything in my power to keep you safe. We’re going to a place I know, a place no one would think to look for us. Trust me, please.”

She looks at me, and for a moment, neither of us says anything. Then, slowly, she nods. “Fine. I trust you.”

Then, in a move that catches me off guard, she slips her hand into mine, interlocking our fingers. Her hand is warm against mine, a stark contrast to the cold, harsh reality we’ve just faced. It’s a small gesture, but it feels significant, like she’s not just placing her hand in mine, but also a piece of her trust.

I give her hand a gentle squeeze, a silent promise I won’t let her down.

I pat my pockets, a sinking feeling hitting me as I realize my phone’s not there. Must’ve left it back at the house. Fuck, this is a problem. Without my phone, I’m cut off, can’t even call for a damn pickup.

Of all the times to be without a phone, this has to be the worst. And to make matters worse, I’m practically penniless. No way to get us out of here without contacting one of my men.

I’ve always relied on my phone, never bothered to memorize numbers. Why would I, when everything’s just a click away? But now, as I stand here, Sofia’s hand in mine, I’m cursing myself for not listening to Viktor and Ivan. They always nagged me about memorizing their numbers, just in case.

Turns out, they were right. Not that I’d ever say that to their face.

“Do you have your phone with you?” I ask, hoping against hope she’s more prepared than I am.

She checks her pockets, a look of disappointment crossing her face. “No...” she trails off.

“Fuck.” The word slips out before I can stop it. “Then we’re fucked because I didn’t memorize anyone’s number.”

But then, she surprises me. “I have memorized all of your numbers,” she says, and I stare at her in disbelief.

“What? Really?”

She nods, “Well, there isn’t much to do in your house other than memorize stuff, and I thought I might need it one day.”

I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding. Of all the things Sofia could have done to pass the time, memorizing our numbers might just be the thing that saves us now. I never expected this, never even considered she’d be the one to bail us out in a situation like this.

“You’re a lifesaver, Sofia,” I say, meaning every word. “Let’s find a phone. Any phone. We need to make that call now.”

We stumble upon a phone booth, a relic in this modern age, and it’s our best shot. But damn, these things work with coins, and I don’t have a single penny on me. Fucking hell. We can’t use it, and I sure as hell can’t just rough up some passerby for their phone.

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