Page 48 of Captured By the Bratva

The words hit me like a punch to the gut. My grip tightens on the steering wheel, my knuckles turning white. Caleb. The man who’s always been close to her, who’s always been a part of her life.

I might not care about Caleb, but I know Violet does.

I glance over at her, seeing the worry etched on her face. She’s scared, and that fear cuts through me like a knife. I press the accelerator harder, weaving through traffic with precision and speed. I need to get her to the hospital, to find out what happened to Caleb, and to ensure that whoever is responsible pays dearly.

“Tell me everything you know,” I demand, my voice edged with tension.

She takes a deep breath, trying to steady herself. “I don’t know much. The call was from a nurse. They said he was in an accident, that he’s hurt badly. I don’t know any more than that.”

My mind races with thoughts of revenge, of protecting what’s mine. Caleb may have his faults, but he’s important to Violet, and that makes him important to me. “We’ll be there soon,” I say, my voice a promise. “I won’t let anything happen to him. Or to you.”

Violet nods, her eyes filled with gratitude and fear. She reaches over, placing a hand on my arm. “Thank you, Kirill. I just… I just need to know he’s okay.”

“We’ll find out soon,” I assure her, my jaw set with determination.

As we speed towards the hospital, the city blurring past us, I can’t help but feel a surge of protectiveness for the woman beside me. She’s been through so much already, and I’ll be damned if I let anything else hurt her. Caleb’s injury is a blow, but we’ll handle it together.

If someone is responsible, they’ll answer to me.

We pull up to the hospital fifteen minutes later. I park as close to the entrance as possible, and we hurry inside. Violet’s pace is quick, her face etched with worry. We navigate the sterile hallways, following the signs to Caleb’s room.

When we finally reach the room, Violet pushes the door open and rushes inside. Caleb is lying on the hospital bed, a bandage around his head, but otherwise looking surprisingly well. He glances up as we enter, a tired but relieved smile spreading across his face.

“Violet,” he says, his voice warm.

She rushes to his side, throwing her arms around him in a tight hug. “Caleb, I was so worried!” she exclaims, her voice choked with relief.

I stand back, watching the scene with narrowed eyes. Seeing her so concerned about another man stirs something dark and possessive inside me. As I step forward, I place my hand on Violet’s waist, a clear signal to both of them. She’s mine. I can see the flicker of annoyance in Caleb’s eyes as he notices my possessive gesture.

“You made it sound like his injuries were serious,” I say, my tone flat and edged with barely concealed irritation. “Not just a few stitches and a mild concussion.”

Caleb’s jaw tightens, and he pulls back slightly from Violet, looking directly at me. “It was serious enough,” he replies, his voice steady but with an undercurrent of defensiveness.

Violet pulls back from the hug, glancing between us. “I didn’t know how bad it was,” she says, her voice softer now. “I was just scared when I got the call.”

I keep my hand firmly on her waist, my gaze locked on Caleb. “Well, it looks like you’ll be fine. That’s what matters.”

Caleb’s eyes flick to my hand on Violet’s waist and then back to my face. “Yeah, I’ll be okay. Just need to rest up for a few days.”

I nod, but I don’t move my hand. “Good. Violet has enough to worry about without you adding to it.”

Violet glances up at me, sensing the tension. “Kirill, he’s my friend. My brother, even. Of course, I’m going to worry about him.”

I meet her gaze, my expression softening slightly. “I know, but it doesn’t mean we all have to fawn over him until he’s better.”

Caleb shifts slightly, trying to sit up more in bed. “Thanks for the concern.”

I give him a tight smile, still not entirely convinced. “Just making sure. You know how important Violet’s well-being is to me.”

The room falls into an uneasy silence, the tension between us almost tangible. Violet looks back at Caleb, her concern still evident. “Do you need anything? Is there anything I can do?”

Caleb shakes his head. “Just having you here is enough. I’ll be fine.”

I squeeze Violet’s waist gently, a reminder of my presence and my claim. “We should let him rest,” I say.

Violet looks torn but finally nods. “Can’t we stay a while longer?”

I suppress a sigh, seeing the worry in her eyes. “Alright, but just for a little while.”

---