Page 52 of Stolen By the Bratva

Alek limped with my assistance, but I worried what would happen on the sidewalks. He’d been in better health and was uninjured when those cartel members tried to stop us on our way to our wedding. Now, he was still in pain, shot and beaten, and not as fast to fight. If anyone tried to bother us on the return trip to the apartment, it would be up to me to somehow defend us.

I’d gotten lucky with that shot at his cousin. I’d killed Andrey because he was within such a close range. It was still a miracle of a shot. I knew how to operate a gun, but my aim and accuracy left much to be improved.

I didn’t need to worry for long. Maxim saw us to the first floor and led us back to a garage exit. A car was waiting for us, and it was only then that I realized we might not be going back to the first place where he’d kept me.

Alek held the door open for me to enter the passenger side. After he shut the door, he rounded the car with his brother. They continued to speak in hushed tones, but their conversation was over by the time my husband opened the driver’s door and got in with a deep wince of pain.

“It would be better to keep moving,” he said for an explanation after he started the car and drove out of the garage.

“In here?” I asked, feeling stupid to misinterpret what he’d said. Of course, we wouldn’t just stay in the car.

“We’ll go to another hideout,” he replied dryly, still wincing at the moment as he flexed his arm.

I’d wondered if he’d move me somewhere else after Yusef had burst in through the window, but as I thought back to all that had happened, it dawned on me that the incident had only happened yesterday. Not even a full twenty-four hours ago. Time had blurred so fast, so many things happening so quickly with a violent pace of life and death.

In the blink of an eye, I was married. Before that, I’d suddenly lost my virginity. Just as rapidly and unexpectedly, I’d killed a man.

My life was becoming a tumbled series of unfortunate and bizarre events, and all I could do was hold on and make the best of it that I could. I’d wished so desperately for another option. When my father told me that I would need to marry Andrey, then later, when he instructed that I report to him after my marriage, I’d dug deep and wished from the bottom of my heart for an alternative to my fate, that someone else from the bratva could be the bride, that a marriage could wait. Anything.

It turned out that there was something else waiting for me. Marriage. Murder.

Alek. I turned and watched him drive as he eventually pulled into another underground parking area. This garage was darker and seemed more abandoned, but with the anchored cameras on the walls and the shadows of men patrolling in the area, I knew this place was more secure. It had to be a residential property within the Valkov territory.

“Will we be protected here?”

“My men will keep us safe,” he replied as he parked close to an elevator.

“Your men?” Already, he was assuming the position of power over his Pakhan. I’d killed Andrey for him in the spur of a moment. That was one of the two figureheads gone, but Pavel was still out there. He would be furious by now, hearing about our wedding and his son’s death.

A death you took the blame for. I wouldn’t forget how he’d protected me, taking the blame.

“Close friends and soldiers who have listened to me for the last seven years while my uncle neglected his power,” he said as we walked toward the elevator. He limped slightly, but he didn’t look like he needed my assistance to move inside.

Once we were in the elevator, I took in the details. Clean floors. Sleek, mirrored walls. If just this elevator looked so nice and well-maintained, I wondered what this new place would be like.

“They swear their loyalty to me.” He reached out and took my hand in a rough grip as we rose to the upper floors. “My uncle will not be happy with the news.”

I smirked at him. “No, really?”

He sighed. “But it had to be done.”

I squinted. “Is this your way of thanking me for saving your life?”

He sobered, studying me closely as the elevator came to a stop. “Why did you?”

I swallowed hard, put on the spot to explain myself. It was simple, even though I felt vulnerable to admit it. “I didn’t want you to die yet.”

“Yet?” He led me out of the elevator car into a hallway lined with plush carpet. At the end of the corridor, he opened a door to a spacious apartment. With actual rooms and décor, this looked like a home. It was a far cry from the one-room abode where Yusef shattered all the glass and informed me of the hit placed on me.

“I didn’t run,” I shot back as I surveyed the large living room and took in the details of this new place.

“Why not?”

I let my shoulders droop in defeat. On one hand, I was grateful that he wasn’t giving me a chance to say that I hadn’t considered taking off. On the other hand, I was nervous to tell him that I needed him. I couldn’t have run and lost his protection after I’d killed the heir to the Valkov Bratva. Because it wasn’t only a matter of needing this strong, protective man. It was quickly becoming a matter of wanting him against my better judgment.

“Because I wanted to stay. With you.”

He grunted in reply, pulling me through the apartment and into the bathroom. “Any good at stitches?” he asked.

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