Page 39 of Used By the Bratva

The two jumped to their feet and tried to run as we filled the room, but my guards caught them. Ana went down to the floor again as she tried to escape but seemingly couldn’t find her feet. Pedro stopped and pulled at her to assist, but it was in vain. My men got to them before they could move. They dragged Ana to her feet fighting and screaming, she was even kicking at them.

Pedro just complied, he lowered his head and just stood there. “Stop, Ana,” I yelled at her. “Don’t you two even try running! We know who you got into bed with to pull this off, but your plans won’t work.”

Walking to Jamie, I noticed the blood on her arm. Kneeling before her as I untied her, I spoke gently. “Jamie, I’m so sorry. Are you okay?”

She flung her arms around my neck, burying her head in me. “Thank you,” she whispered. I filled with warmth as I rose holding her tightly. Relief washed over me having her in my arms, even if it was only for a second or two.

Letting go, I checked her arm, noting it was only a scrape. I hugged her again. She was the best thing that had ever happened in my life, and I wouldn’t let anything happen to her or our child.

I wished Evelina had come with us. She would know better about treating wounds, but she had to stay behind. She was back at the den discussing an alliance with the groups that weren’t part of this attack. We had to be sure that something like this wouldn’t be possible moving forward. Our allies would become Jamie’s allies, and this would offer her more protection.

Leo took a look at Jamie’s arm. “She’ll be okay, we'll get the doctor in as soon as we get back,” he said.

“This isn’t over,” Ana screamed. Turning as the guards walked with her past us Jamie let go of me and stepped up to Ana.

Jamie was angry. Who could blame her? “Why, Ana, why do you want me dead?” Jamie inquired. I shared her pain and knew she only wanted answers. It didn’t make any sense to me either.

Ana started shaking, she twisted and turned violently. The guards struggled to hold her, and she managed to pull free of the grip they had on her. She grabbed Jamie, wrenched her around, and out of nowhere, she pulled a gun and held it to Jamie’s head. I felt my heart being ripped from my chest and stood for a minute frozen in fear. Moving forward very slowly, I realized we needed to tread carefully.

“Ana,” I heard Pedro speaking from behind me. “Please, don’t do this. Ashan will forgive us for our poor judgment.” He continued as I stepped back and turned sideways to see him. “You will, won’t you, Ashan.”

Before I could get a word out, the loud boom of a gunshot echoed through the open warehouse. Pedro sank to the ground, clutching his chest as his blood flowed through his hands out of the bullet hole. He lay groaning as some of my men rushed over to help him.

Looking back at Ana, she appeared wild and out of control. Her eyes were wide as she shook her head very faintly. She was aiming the gun left and right as she screamed. “Back off, all of you or I’ll shoot Jamie. Back off I said, back off!”

My men moved back a tad, but they all had their guns pointed at her. Ana placed the gun to Jamie’s head again as she took a step back pulling Jamie with her.

I slowly walked toward them, lifting my hands up into the air before me. I lowered my voice and spoke softly. “Ana, please talk to me, tell me what you want. Why are we here?”

Ana grinned at me angrily. “This is all you're doing,” she spat at me. She ground the gun against Jamie’s head as she continued. “Stop Ashan, what do you think you’re doing? Don’t come closer, I’ll shoot.”

I stopped moving and took a couple of deep breaths. Alarms shot through me as I noticed Ana looked a bit crazy not just wild. I didn’t want Jamie to get hurt. “Okay, then explain to me what’s going on?” I asked calmly, hoping to defuse the situation without anyone else getting hurt.

“Once she came along,” Ana spat, tapping the gun tip against Jamie’s head. “You discarded me like an old rag. You threw me away like all the years together meant nothing.” Ana’s eyes filled with tears as she spoke. Her voice started breaking and she swallowed a couple of times hard holding back the sobs. “I gave you everything.” She said, glancing at her feet.

Ana shook her head as she looked me in the eyes. “Wasn’t what we had special? Didn’t it mean anything to you?” She was screaming again. Ana was losing control, and I knew I had to get Jamie out of her grip.

My heart was racing a thousand miles, my ribs felt bruised as it pounded in my chest, and I felt sweat running down my back. “Ana, please, haven’t I been good to you all the years? I only let you go after you manipulated me.”

Ana shook her head, she pointed the gun at me, then back to Jamie. Then to me and again back to Jamie as she started rambling. “No, no, no. I gave you everything.”

At that moment, I realized I would have to swallow my pride to keep her calm. “Okay, okay, Ana,” I said as calmly as I could muster. “I’m very sorry if I hurt you. I promise you it wasn’t intentional.”

Slowly stepping forward, I hoped to get close enough to get Jamie away from her. “I really didn’t mean to hurt you or offend you in any way. If I wronged you, I ask your forgiveness. Please, Ana.”

Ana stared blankly at me for a moment. Jamie noticed Ana was distracted by me. She pulled her arm forward and elbowed Ana in the ribs. Ana exhaled sharply letting go of her grip. Jamie darted towards me, but I saw Ana regaining herself and reacting quickly.

She lifted the gun aiming at Jamie, but I couldn’t let her shoot, Jamie. As she squeezed the trigger, I jumped, pushing Jamie out of the way. The bullet bore through the upper right side of my chest just below my shoulder.

It was luckily a small gun, but the Smith & Wesson M2 packed a hard punch, nonetheless. I grabbed my shoulder and staggered backward a couple of steps. Feeling Jamie behind me, I tried to stay on my feet. I didn’t want to push her over or fall on top of her. My chest was burning, and a hot, sticky liquid flowed through my fingers.

Looking down, I saw my hand covered in red as the blood forced its way through my fingers. I was relieved to know I had taken the bullet, which meant Jamie was safe. Even though I was shot, I was glad it was me, and Jamie was safe.

Glancing at Ana, her mouth hung open, and her eyes were shocked. Her eyes followed me as I fell on my knees, trying not to tip over. She hadn’t intended on shooting me and her disbelief was evident. Dropping the gun, her hands shot up to her open mouth, covering it as she started screaming.

My guards moved in, kicked the gun away, and dragged her away. I could hear her screaming hysterically as they moved her out of the warehouse. I breathed out deeply as my body fell to the floor.

Staring up at the ceiling, I noticed Jamie kneeling next to me. She had taken off her jacket and balled it up. Taking away my hand she placed it on the wound and applied pressure. Luder had called our surgeon. They weren’t going to move me. He went outside to wait for him to arrive. I smiled at Jamie, noticing the tears running down her face. “It’s going to be fine. Please don’t cry.” I said softly reaching up and caressing her cheek.

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