Page 50 of Captured By the Bratva

“That’s not good enough,” Kirill snaps, his grip on my waist tightening protectively. “You should have done more.”

Caleb’s eyes flick to me, a mixture of regret and determination in his gaze. “Easy for you to say, swooping in to play savior!”

I squeeze his hand, trying to offer some comfort. “We’ll figure this out, okay? So stop fighting. Please.”

Kirill’s anger simmers beneath the surface, but he says nothing more, his jaw set in a hard line. The tension in the room is thick and cloying.

Just then, Kirill’s phone rings. He pulls it out, glancing at the screen before answering. His expression shifts from irritation to focused intensity as he listens to the voice on the other end. After a brief exchange, he ends the call and turns to me, his face set in grim determination.

“Joe was caught meeting some gang members,” Kirill says, his voice tight. “My men are closing in on him now. I need to get there.”

A mix of relief and anxiety floods through me. “What do you mean? Is he arrested?”

“Not yet,” Kirill replies. “It’s only a matter of time until something happens. I need to be there to oversee it and make sure he doesn’t slip away. You should go home, Violet. It’s not safe for you to be involved in this.”

I feel a surge of defiance rising within me. “This is my family’s matter, Kirill. I need to be there. I have questions for Joe. I deserve to face him.”

Kirill’s eyes harden, his protective instinct clashing with my determination. “Violet, it’s dangerous. Joe is desperate, and desperate men do reckless things. I can’t risk your safety.”

“Don’t you see?” I argue, stepping closer to him. “This is personal for me. He’s betrayed our family, hurt people I care about. I need to confront him.”

Caleb, who’s been watching the exchange with growing concern, swings his legs over the side of the bed and stands up. “I’m not staying back either,” he says, his voice steady despite his injuries.

“Caleb, you’re injured,” Kirill snaps, his frustration boiling over. “You need to rest. You’re not in any condition to be running around, chasing down dangerous criminals.”

Caleb’s eyes flash with determination. “You don’t get to tell me what to do.”

I turn to Caleb, my heart aching with concern. “Caleb, please. You need to take care of yourself. You’ve already been through so much.”

“I’m fine, Violet,” he insists, his tone gentle but firm. “I won’t let you face this alone. We’re in this together.”

Kirill looks between us, his jaw clenched. “This isn’t a game. Joe is dangerous. If you come with me, you follow my lead. No arguments, no questions. Do you understand?”

I nod, my resolve unshaken. “We understand, but we’re going. This is something we need to do.”

Kirill exhales sharply, clearly torn between his protective instincts and respecting our determination. “Fine. You stay close, and you do exactly as I say. If anything happens, you get out of there immediately. No heroics.”

“Agreed,” Caleb and I say in unison.

We find a nurse, and Caleb insists on being discharged despite her warnings. She reluctantly agrees after checking his vitals one last time, and soon we’re making our way to Kirill’s car. The tension is thick as we pile into the vehicle, Caleb settling into the back seat while Kirill and I take the front.

As we start driving, Kirill’s grip on the steering wheel tightens. “I need you both to listen to me and do exactly as I say. No arguing, no discussions. This is serious, and I can’t afford any mistakes.”

Caleb bristles, crossing his arms over his chest. “I don’t like being treated like some helpless child, Kirill. I’m more than capable of handling myself.”

Kirill’s eyes flash with irritation as he glances in the rearview mirror. “Shut up, Caleb. This isn’t about your ego. It’s about keeping Violet safe.”

I can feel the tension rising, my own frustration bubbling to the surface. “Both of you, calm down!” I snap, turning to look at them. “We need to work together, not tear each other apart. We all want the same thing: to stop Joe and protect our family.”

The car falls into a tense silence, the weight of my words hanging in the air. Caleb mutters something under his breath, but he doesn’t argue further. Kirill’s jaw is set, his focus back on the road.

We drive on, the city lights flickering past us, each of us lost in our thoughts. The confrontation ahead looms large, and the only way we’ll succeed is if we can find a way to trust and rely on each other.

I break the silence, my voice tentative. “Where are we going, Kirill?”

He glances at me, then back to the road. “It’s an industrial estate on the outskirts of town. Brunswick Avenue. A lot of illicit things go on there.”

I swallow hard, a knot of anxiety forming in my stomach. “What kind of illicit things?”

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