Page 4 of Captured By the Bratva

“Interesting,” I murmur, tapping my fingers on the desk. “Jeff’s always been a cautious man. If he’s this scared, there must be something—or someone—serious behind this.”

Dimitri nods. “He’s not one to exaggerate threats. If he says someone’s targeting him, we should take it seriously.”

I fold the letter again, placing it back on the desk. “He wants me to protect his daughter. He must be out of his mind.”

“Or out of options,” Dimitri suggests. “Either way, it’s clear he trusts you to get the job done.”

I smirk, the irony of the situation not lost on me. “Hmm. Interesting.”

“It’s a strange world, Boss,” Dimitri agrees. “What do you want to do about it?”

I stand up, walking over to the windows that offer a panoramic view of the city. The lights twinkle below, each one representing a story, a life. Jeff’s daughter—what’s her name again? Violet, I think—must be in her twenties now. If Jeff’s fears are justified, she’s in real danger.

“We’ll look into it,” I decide, turning back to Dimitri. “Find out who’s targeting Jeff and why. Gather information on his daughter. If we’re going to protect her, I want to know everything about her.”

“Understood, Boss,” Dimitri says, already pulling out his phone to set the wheels in motion.

As Dimitri makes his calls, I return to my desk, my thoughts still on Jeff’s letter. It’s not every day that a man like Jeff Harrison shows fear. He’s always been the picture of control, of power. For him to be this scared, the threat must be substantial.

One thing is certain: Jeff Harrison’s world is crumbling, and he’s reached out to the one person he thinks can hold it together.

I can’t help but find it entertaining. This twist in our long and complicated history is almost poetic. I always get what I want, and now it seems Jeff is handing me more power, more leverage, without even realizing it.

“Tell me about Jeff’s daughter,” I say, turning back to Dimitri.

Dimitri pulls up something on his phone, quickly scanning through the details. “Her name is Violet Harrison. She’s twenty-three, has a master’s degree in business and finance, and graduated a year ago. It’s unclear if she wants to handle her father’s empire. Seems she’s never really been in the public eye. She’s kept a low profile.”

“Interesting,” I murmur, leaning back in my chair. “She’s well-educated, but not involved in the family business. Jeff must be worried about exposing her to their world. Why keep her hidden?”

“Could be a protective measure,” Dimitri suggests. “If she’s not in the spotlight, she’s less of a target.”

“Or he could be preparing her for something without the public scrutiny,” I add, considering the possibilities. “If Jeff is grooming her to take over, he’d want to ensure she’s ready without any external pressures.”

“That makes sense,” Dimitri agrees. “It also means she’s vulnerable. If Jeff is taken out, she could be next in line.”

I nod, absorbing the information. “If she’s next, it makes sense why he’d reach out to me. In this world, money can buy a lot of protection, but it can’t buy the kind of ruthless loyalty and effectiveness that the Mafia provides.”

Dimitri’s eyes meet mine, a shared understanding passing between us. “So, what’s the plan, Boss?”

I smile, a predatory gleam in my eyes. “We’ll protect her, of course. First, we need to understand exactly who we’re dealing with and what they want. No one targets a guy like Jeff Harrison without a damn good reason.”

Dimitri nods, already dialing another number to set up the necessary surveillance and intelligence gathering. “I’ll get our best men on it. We’ll have everything we need by morning.”

“Good,” I reply, turning my chair back towards the window. “Let’s see what Jeff’s desperation brings to our doorstep.”

The city below glows with the promise of the night, a landscape of opportunity and danger. Somewhere out there, a threat looms over Jeff and his daughter, and it’s my job to uncover it. It’s a game of power and survival, one I’m all too familiar with.

Chapter Three - Violet

The house is alive with the sounds of laughter and music. My friends and I are gathered around the pool, the air filled with the scent of chlorine and barbecue. The water sparkles under the string lights that are strung up around the yard, and the energy is infectious.

Sarah, my closest friend, is beside me, her long dark hair cascading over her shoulders and her striking green eyes twinkling with mischief. She’s always the life of the party, and tonight is no exception. We’re sitting on the edge of the pool, our legs dangling in the cool water, watching as our friends splash.

“It’s so good to get out and just have some fun,” Sarah says, her voice warm and cheerful. “We needed this.”

I nod, feeling the same sense of relief. With everything that’s been going on in my life, this party is a welcome distraction. “Definitely. It’s been way too long since we had a night like this.”

Sarah grins and nudges me with her shoulder. “Speaking of fun, have you noticed Nick checking you out?”

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