Page 24 of Owned By the Bratva

Nine to two, I thought. Our odds were quite good. Even though I had a little too much to drink, we faced worse. “Right,” I said. “Now we have a party.”

Piotr and I stood back to back, taking on our fighting positions. Adrenalin coursed through me, bringing life to all my senses. Piotr was the better fighter between us, but I had never backed down and could stand up for myself.

“What’s your beef with us guys?” Piotr asked.

The men didn’t bother to answer. As the three before me stepped closer, I caught a glimpse of a logo on their shirts. They were from the lab we were investigating for the Morozovs.

As the guy on the right swung his pipe at me, I grabbed it, pulling sharply. He came tumbling forward, going down to the ground before me. Raising his pipe, I slugged it down on his back as he tried to stand. His arms gave way, and he huffed out, collapsing back to the ground.

I knew he wouldn’t stay down for long, but there were more men to focus on. Behind me, I heard Piotr scurrying as he took on the guys on his side. This distraction, even though it was a split second, cost me dearly as I felt a sharp sting on my side. Grabbing at the pipe that connected with my ribs, I swung the one I held.

There was a loud cracking sound as the pipe made contact with the perpetrator's head, followed by a piercing scream. Armed with two pipes, I stepped sideways, blocking the next hit as the third guy moved in. The night air filled with the clanking sound of pipes against pipes.

Glancing over my shoulder, Piotr had already taken down the three on his side. He was holding two steel bats up in the air. The three men to our side had started their approach. But I knew he would be able to hold them off.

Turning back to the man left standing before me, I didn’t see the guy with the knife approaching. I swung the two bats in concession one after the other, laying down enough blows until he collapsed. The first guy I knocked down was on his hands and knees, getting ready to charge Piotr.

Swinging the pipe with force, I let go and watched as it hit him on the side of his head. There was a loud clonking sound as it struck him. He instantly collapsed as blood streamed down the side of his face. Feeling triumphant, I grinned as I turned to see how Piotr was doing.

He was, as usual, taking on two at once. Feeling the sudden burn in my side, I turned to see another one standing slightly behind me with a knife. He had just stabbed me and was getting ready to do so again. I shoved him back as I also moved backward. Feeling Piotr’s back against mine again, I spoke, holding my side. “We have to get out of here.”

Piotr glanced at me and then down to my side. “You’re bleeding,” he huffed.

“Yeah, I noticed.” I felt the warm liquid bulging out and running down my side. I knew soon I wouldn’t be much aid to him. Grabbing hold of the side of my truck, splattering it with my blood, I started towards the door. My vision was coming and going, but I still held the pipe up as the other guy came at me again.

“Piotr,” I breathed out loudly. I was sure the one guy had suddenly turned into two or three. I couldn’t be sure as my vision betrayed me. Piotr stepped into view, swinging the damn bat left and right.

I felt the backdoor handle and pulled on it. Sliding onto the cool leather seat, I called out. “Piotr, let’s go.”

The front door of my truck swung open, and then she roared to life. I felt her moving fast as Piotr drove. I was barely conscious and could only hope it was him and not the knife-wielding guy.

“Piotr, Piotr,” I breathed out. My voice was barely audible as I felt myself drifting off.

“Hold on, Leon, please, brother,” I heard him screaming somewhere in the distance. It was the first time I heard fear in his voice. Knowing he was with me soothed my anxiety slightly as I slipped away into the unknown.

Chapter 15 - Cindy

I was in the spare room looking through the clothing Mila and I purchased. Those with their labels still on, I felt sure we could return, seeing as I wasn’t interested in wearing them anymore.

Hearing a commotion from downstairs, I peeked out the door. Mila and Konstantin were arguing about something. I hadn’t heard Leon or Piotr coming in last night and wondered if it had something to do with their meeting.

Coming down the stairs, I saw them in the kitchen doorway. Whatever they were discussing had Mila all worked up. She pointed a finger at Konstantin and shoved it into his chest as she spoke. “If you’d been there, this wouldn’t have happened. They were outnumbered.”

When she saw me, she turned into the kitchen, ending their discussion. Konstantin glanced at me and then turned and went out to the back. His face spoke volumes even though he didn’t say a word.

Stopping in the doorway, my throat tightened, and my words came out louder than I had anticipated. “What happened?” I was practically screaming at them as trepidation invaded my mind.

Mila looked back at me and then down at the floor. Turning to the glass doors, Konstantin had stopped just outside. He slowly came back toward me, looked at Mila, and cleared his throat before speaking. “Cindy, Leon, and Piotr, well…” He looked at Mila again, rubbing his neck.

“What, what happened to them?” I demanded, feeling my eyes stinging as tears welled up in them. My heart sat in my throat, trying to choke me.

“Leon’s been hurt; they were attacked,” Konstantin breathed out as he reached out, squeezing my shoulder.

I gasped, feeling the air leaving my lungs as they closed up. No, this couldn’t be happening,’ I thought, walking forward in a daze and sitting down. My legs were wobbly. They felt like jello.

What if he died? Would I ever see him again? My chest filled with a sharp pain. Mila stepped closer and placed her arm around me as she gently spoke. “He’ll be fine, dear.” Mila’s voice was filled with a care I had not noticed before. But it was fleeting.

Turning to her as my tears made their lazy path down my cheeks, I breathed in deeply. “I want to go to him,” I whispered.

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