Page 57 of Captured By the Bratva

Suddenly, Joe darts forward, his eyes wild with desperation as he reaches for me. “Violet, get away from him!”

Caleb’s grin vanishes as he fires a warning shot into the ceiling, the sound deafening in the enclosed space. “Stay back, Joe!” he snarls.

Dimitri moves quickly, grabbing Joe and pulling him back. “Don’t be stupid,” he hisses, his eyes flashing with anger.

I look at Joe, trying to reassure him, even though my own fear threatens to overwhelm me. “Uncle Joe, please, it’s okay. I’m fine.”

Joe’s eyes are filled with guilt and despair. “I’m so sorry, Violet. I didn’t know it would come to this.”

Caleb’s grip on my arm tightens, and he leans in close, his voice a cold whisper. “See how easy it is for me to control everything, Violet? Even your beloved uncle can’t save you now.”

I take a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. I need to understand why Caleb is doing this, to find some way to get through to him. “Caleb,” I say softly, “why are you doing this? What did my father ever do to you?”

Caleb’s eyes darken, and for a moment, I see a flicker of pain beneath his cold exterior. “Jeff was like a father to me,” he says, his voice bitter. “He took me in, gave me a place in his family. In the end, he betrayed me.”

I frown, confusion mingling with my fear. “Betrayed you? How?”

Caleb’s grip tightens, and his voice rises with anger. “He didn’t even write me into his will, Violet. Not until after all of his blood family. I was nothing more than an afterthought to him. All those years, I was loyal, I did everything he asked, and he still treated me like I was disposable.”

My heart aches at his words, but I push through the fear, trying to keep him talking. “That’s not true, Caleb. My father cared about you. He always said you were like a son to him.”

Caleb laughs, a harsh, bitter sound. “Words, Violet. Just words. When it came down to it, I was nothing compared to you and your family. I was just the help, always second place.”

I glance at Kirill, who is watching Caleb intently, his gun still trained on him. Dimitri is holding Joe back, and the rest of Kirill’s men are tense, ready to act but unsure of how to proceed with so many guns pointed at us.

“Caleb,” I say softly, trying to reach the part of him that once cared for me. “Killing us won’t change anything. It won’t make you more important; it won’t give you the respect you deserve. Please, let’s find another way.”

Caleb’s eyes flicker with something—doubt, maybe?—but then his expression hardens again. “It’s too late for that, Violet. I’ve come too far to turn back now.”

I feel a wave of despair wash over me, but I force myself to stay calm. “You don’t have to do this, Caleb. We can figure something out. We can make things right.”

He shakes his head, his jaw set. “No, Violet. This is the only way. Jeff’s gone, and now it’s time for the rest of you to pay.”

Chapter Twenty-Six - Kirill

Caleb’s words hang in the air, a bitter echo of betrayal and resentment. I grip my gun tighter, my mind racing through every possible move. The men around us are tense, their guns unwavering as they wait for Caleb’s next command.

“I had my eyes on Jeff’s wealth for a long time,” Caleb says, his voice cold and calculating. “Years ago, Jeff wrote in his will that after his direct family, I would get all the rights to his property. That was my aim. I killed Jeff to make sure that would happen.”

Violet gasps beside him, her eyes wide with horror and disbelief. I see her world crumbling around her, the pain of betrayal cutting deep. There’s no time for comfort, no time to reassure her.

“Violet was my next target,” Caleb continues, his eyes flicking to her with a cruel smirk. “And then Joe. One by one, I would eliminate anyone who stood in my way.”

I feel a cold fury building inside me, the need to protect Violet and end Caleb’s madness growing stronger. But I have to be smart, calculated. Any wrong move could mean death for all of us.

“Today,” Caleb says, his tone almost casual, “I planned your visit to the hospital. Once you and Violet left, you were supposed to be attacked and killed. Now, there’s a change in the plan. You’ll all be killed here.”

I can see the fear in Violet’s eyes, her body trembling beside Caleb. She stands her ground, her chin lifted in defiance. My brave, stubborn Violet.

“Caleb, you bastard,” I growl, stepping forward despite the guns aimed at me. “You think you can get away with this? You think we’ll just roll over and die for you?”

Caleb laughs, a hollow, chilling sound. “Well, yes. Even you can’t fight your way out of this.”

I take a deep breath, my mind racing through every possible scenario. I need to buy us time, find a way to turn the tables. “What’s your endgame, Caleb? Even if you kill us, do you really think you’ll be able to hold on to Jeff’s empire? The Bratva will never let you have it.”

Caleb’s eyes narrow, a flicker of uncertainty crossing his face. “I have connections, Kirill. More than you know. I’ll make sure no one stands in my way.”

“Connections?” I scoff, taking another step forward. “Do you really think your so-called allies will back you up once they know you’ve betrayed the Harrisons and the Bratva? You’re playing a dangerous game, Caleb.”

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