Page 58 of Captured By the Bratva

His jaw clenches, but he doesn’t respond. I can see the doubt beginning to creep in, the cracks in his confidence. I tighten my grip on my gun.

“Let her go, Caleb. This isn’t worth it.”

Caleb’s eyes flash with anger, but he shakes his head. “No. She’s part of this now. She’s always been part of this.”

I take a deep breath, preparing myself for whatever comes next, every second stretching into an eternity. I need to find a way to neutralize Caleb and his men, to protect Violet and bring this nightmare to an end.

As I look into Caleb’s cold, calculating eyes, I know it won’t be easy. He’s prepared for this, and he’s not going to back down without a fight.

I glance over at Dimitri, who catches my eye and gives a barely perceptible nod. I know that look. Dimitri’s hand is already in his pocket, and I see the slight movement as he presses a button on his phone, silently declaring an emergency to our backup. There’s a moment of tense silence, then all hell breaks loose.

Caleb’s men start firing, the deafening sound of gunshots reverberating through the room. I act on pure instinct, grabbing Violet and pushing her behind the nearest cover. My heart pounds with adrenaline, my only thought to protect her at all costs.

“Stay down!” I shout over the chaos, my voice barely audible above the gunfire.

Violet’s eyes are wide with fear, her body trembling as she crouches low. “Kirill—” she starts, but I cut her off.

“Don’t move! I’ll take care of this.”

I peek around the corner of our cover, my gun raised. Caleb’s men are scattered around the room, their guns trained on us. I fire off a few shots, taking out the closest threat, and move to a better position, keeping myself between Violet and the danger.

Dimitri is in action too, his gun blazing as he takes down enemy after enemy. Blood pools at his feet as a man drops, and Dimitri kicks him aside.

There are too many of them, and I can see the strain on his face. We need to hold out until our reinforcements arrive.

“Dimitri!” I shout, making sure he knows where I am. “Hold the line!”

He nods, his focus unwavering as he continues to fire. Bullets ricochet off the walls, and the room is filled with the acrid smell of gunpowder. I feel a sharp sting in my arm but push the pain aside. I can’t afford to be distracted.

Violet is huddled behind a heavy wooden table, her eyes filled with terror as she watches the chaos unfold. “Kirill, be careful!” she cries, her voice breaking.

I look back at her, my heart aching at the fear in her eyes. “I will. Just stay hidden.”

I take another shot, hitting one of Caleb’s men square in the chest. He drops, his gun clattering to the floor as crimson blood pours from the wound. More keep coming, their determination relentless.

Suddenly, I see Caleb moving through the fray, his gun raised. He’s trying to get a clear shot at me, and I know I need to act fast. I duck behind a pillar, firing at the men closest to him. One by one, they fall, but it’s not enough. Caleb is getting closer.

“Kirill, behind you!” Violet’s voice rings out, and I spin just in time to see a man lunging at me with a knife. I block his attack with my arm, the blade slicing into my flesh, but I manage to kick him away and fire, dropping him to the ground.

The pain in my arm is intense, but I grit my teeth and focus. Caleb is still advancing, his eyes locked on me with deadly intent. I take aim, but before I can fire, a burst of gunfire erupts from the entrance.

Our reinforcements have arrived.

A flood of my men pours into the room, their guns blazing as they engage Caleb’s forces. The tide turns almost immediately, and I seize the opportunity. I push forward, determined to end this once and for all.

Caleb sees the shift and knows his time is running out. He turns to flee, but I’m faster. I tackle him to the floor, my gun pressed to his temple.

“Give up, Caleb!” I growl, my voice filled with rage. “It’s over.”

He struggles beneath me, his eyes wild with desperation. “You think you’ve won, Kirill? This isn’t the end!”

“It is for you,” I say coldly, tightening my grip.

The room is finally quieting down, the sounds of gunfire fading as my men secure the area. I look up to see Dimitri standing over us, his gun trained on Caleb, ensuring he can’t escape.

I rise, dragging Caleb to his feet and pushing him toward Dimitri. “Take him. Make sure he doesn’t get away.”

Dimitri nods, a grim smile on his face. “With pleasure.”

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