Page 77 of The Bratva's Hostage Bride

Penny holds herself firm. “Pacheco, you don’t want to do this. The Pakhan will not take kindly to you touching me.”

“You’re lucky I don’t beat you within an inch of your life for the inconvenience your family has put me through,” Pacheco says.

Penny doesn’t take her eyes off him. “You are seriously going to regret this.”

She’s brave, but she’s stupid. They have us tied up.

Asher doesn’t say anything, and I follow suit because I don’t want them to hurt me or my baby.

“We will see, Mrs. Milov. Perhaps you’ll learn something new on your stay here, like some humility.”

“Good luck with that,” Asher snorts. This woman oozes confidence. Now, there’s no turning that off.”

“Gah, you Russians are all the same.”

“Except I’m American,” Penny says with a smile.

“Come, Aram. We need to contact the Milov Bratva and tell them we have a present for them. Whether they get them dead or alive is up to Mr. Milov.” Pacheco turns around, and they leave. Outside the door, I hear him pause.

“Stand guard, don’t let anyone in or out this door.”

“Yes, sir.”

With that, silence falls.

Immediately, Penny begins wiggling, and it hurts the binds around my hand. “Ow.”

“Hold on.” She twists her hands and starts what feels like rubbing. “Are you trying to break out your binds?”

“I have a little knife on my bracelet. It actually is a razor blade.” She whispers the words as she works. I look at her, surprised and even more elated, when she manages to break through the cable tie holding her one hand. She quickly makes work of our binds, and then we stand up.

“What now? There’s a guard outside the door,” I say quietly.

“We’re getting out of here,” Penny says. “I’m not waiting for my husband to figure out where I am.”

Asher goes to the window and carefully peeks out. “There’s some cars and vans downstairs. We can probably lift one and drive off.”

“Right, I’ll pretend to fall out of the room. Asher, you push the guard over me as I’m getting up. We attack him once he’s down and knock him out, or get him in here and lock him in.”

“What makes you think the door is unlocked?” I whisper to Penny once she’s finished with her plan.

“I didn’t hear a lock slide into place when they left,” Penny says with a smile. Right, let’s do this.”

“Wait, what do I do?” I ask.

“Find a weapon that you can use and stay out of sight,” Penny says as she and Asher walk toward the door.

This isn’t going to work. They’re both going to get us killed.

Penny throws the door open, stumbles out, and lands on her hands and knees. I cannot believe the guard actually walks over, asking how she got loose.

Asher pushes him over Penny, and he flips over onto his back, knocking the wind out of him.

Broken from my daze, I rush out, pick up a nearby vase, and bring it crashing down on his head.

Penny quickly gets up. “Nice, Hannah. You might be suited to the life of a badass after all.”

Penny reaches down and takes the guard's gun. “Onwards, ladies.”

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