Page 24 of Surprise Bratva Daddy

Someone's house is on fire, and as we roll over the hill, I see it in the distance.

It's my house, engulfed in flames.

16

Zane

There’s nothing that can be done at this point. Both of us know it, but that doesn’t stop the whirlwind of anger from being directed at me. It’s not as though I’m the one who set the house on fire, but Monroe doesn’t care. She only sees her life burning in front of her eyes, and I’m the one with the match in my hand.

“What the fuck, Zane,” she screams so loud my ears ring.

I recoil as I stop the car in front of the burning house. It’s already so engulfed in flames that it barely resembles a building anymore. It’s more like a giant bonfire, melting the paneling off the side of the house next to it.

I can feel the heat from inside the car, but the fury coming from Monroe is even hotter. She grabs my arm, her nails sinking into my skin as she stares daggers at me. “What did you do to my house?”

“You think I did this?” I ask with a bitter laugh, jerking my arm away. “Get real. Obviously, it was Maksim. He’s out to get both of us, and he’s reckless about it, too. He’s always been that way.”

She rolls her eyes. “Oh yes, sure, blame it all on Maksim. That’s awfully convenient, now, isn’t it?”

I sigh, running my hands over my face and leaning back against the seat. Kiro's car is parked just a few meters down from ours, and there's a group of men already standing by the house.

It does look like I'm the one behind this, but I had nothing to do with it. I'm certain it was Maksim, taunting me with a fire because he knows my family history. He's trying to hit me where it hurts, but I don't feel pain anymore. All I feel is anger for what he's done to my precious Monroe.

She looks out the window, tears streaking down her face as she watches the fire. Her hands are balled into fists, and she's trembling. It's a heartbreaking scene, but I don't know how to console her.

"I'm sorry, Monroe," I whisper, putting my hand on her shoulder. "I'm going to make sure Maksim pays for this."

"Sure you and your Bratva buddies. I believe you," she replies sarcastically.

I clench my jaw, letting out a long sigh through my teeth. There's no getting through to her. She's in shock. I can't blame her, but she's lashing out at the wrong person.

"Kiro," I call out, getting out of the car and slamming the door shut. I walk toward him, and he turns to face me.

"What the hell happened?" I ask, glancing over at the house.

"Maksim's men did it, we assume," Kiro replies. "We arrived here shortly before the two of you. There's not much more to say about it, honestly. We can't save the house."

"It's fine. She'll be fine," I mutter, looking back at the car.

Monroe is sitting in the passenger seat, her head leaned back against the headrest. Her eyes are closed, but she's no longer crying. She looks angry again, trying to hold it all in to unleash upon me when I return to the car. I'm almost scared to go back.

Her eyes flutter open, and she looks right at me. "Who's going to pay for the damage?" she yells through the windshield.

I shake my head, looking back at Kiro. "We'll need to keep an eye on her. I'm keeping her at my estate for the time being. I doubt we're going to get any information out of her for a while. Not after this ordeal."

Kiro gives me a doubtful look, glancing back at the car. "Sir, respectfully, there are ways of getting information out of people."

I grab him, anger surging through me. My fingers curl around his shirt collar, and I pull him so close that our noses touch. "What exactly are you suggesting?" I growl. "Monroe is a human being, not one of Maksim's lowlife minions. You will treat her with respect. I will not hear a single word otherwise."

Kiro raises his eyebrows, obviously surprised by my sudden burst of emotion. "Yes, sir," he says, swallowing hard.

"I'm sorry," I say, releasing his shirt. "I'm just... frustrated. I'm allowed to have feelings about this. There's a lot on the line."

"Of course," he agrees, but he looks supremely uncomfortable, like he witnessed something he knows he wasn't supposed to.

"I'm going to take her home," I continue, ignoring the awkwardness. "Keep an eye on Maksim, and let me know if you hear anything. This is going to end very soon. He's not going to et away with this garbage. Not on my watch."

Kiro nods, looking away. "Yes, sir."

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