Page 60 of Captured By the Bratva

Violet clings to Joe, her body trembling, but she nods, understanding the necessity of what must be done. Joe’s face is grim, but he holds Violet close, shielding her from the sight of Caleb’s final moments.

I take a deep breath, steeling myself. This is the part of the job I don’t enjoy, but it has to be done. Caleb made his choices, and now he has to face the consequences.

I turn back to Caleb, who is gasping for breath, his life slipping away with every second. I raise the knife one last time, my hand steady, and end it quickly, ensuring he feels no more pain.

Standing, I wipe the blade clean and slip it back into my jacket. The room is eerily quiet now, the chaos of the fight replaced by a heavy stillness. I walk back to Violet and Joe, my expression serious but calm.

“It’s over,” I say, my voice firm. “Caleb won’t hurt anyone ever again.”

Violet looks up at me, her eyes filled with a mix of relief and sorrow. “Thank you, Kirill.”

I offer her a reassuring nod.

Without warning, she throws herself into my arms, embracing me tightly. Her lips find mine in a desperate, messy kiss, full of all the emotions she’s been holding back. I kiss her back, making me forget where we are, even who we are for a moment.

The world fades away, and it’s just the two of us, clinging to each other as if our lives depend on it.

The sound of Dimitri clearing his throat pulls me back to reality. “What should we do with the bodies?” he asks, his tone professional despite the carnage around us.

I pull away from Violet, our breaths mingling as we stand close. “Call our men to deal with it. Make sure it’s thorough. I don’t want any loose ends.”

Dimitri nods, already reaching for his phone. “I’ll handle it. Take your time.”

I turn back to Violet, my hand gently brushing a strand of hair from her face. “Come on,” I say softly. “Let’s get out of here.”

She nods, her eyes still shining with unshed tears. Together, we step out of the chaos, leaving Dimitri and the others to handle the aftermath.

We find a quiet room, away from the blood and violence. I sit her down on a worn-out couch and kneel in front of her, taking her hands in mine. “Are you okay?” I ask, my voice gentle.

Violet takes a shaky breath, trying to steady herself. “I think so. It’s just… everything happened so fast.”

I squeeze her hands, my eyes locked on hers. “I know. It’s over now. You’re safe.”

She nods, but I can see the turmoil in her eyes. “I never thought… I never imagined Caleb could do something like this.”

“Betrayal can make people do terrible things, even if it’s only perceived betrayal,” I say, my voice tinged with bitterness. “He’s gone now. He can’t hurt you or anyone else anymore.”

Violet leans forward, resting her forehead against mine. “I don’t know what I would have done without you, Kirill.”

I close my eyes, savoring the closeness between us. “You’re stronger than you think, Violet; but I’ll always be here to protect you.”

We stay like that for a moment, finding solace in each other’s presence. The weight of what she’s been through hangs heavy in the air, but there’s also a sense of relief, of a new beginning.

“I can’t believe it’s over,” she whispers, her voice barely audible.

I lift her chin, making her look at me. “It’s not over, Violet. This is just the beginning. We have a lot to rebuild, a lot to fight for. You’ll be chairman now, I imagine.”

She nods, a small smile breaking through the sadness. “Small win, really.”

I kiss her again, this time slow and tender, a promise of better days to come. When we finally pull apart, I see the determination in her eyes, the fire that Caleb tried to extinguish but couldn’t.

“Let’s get out of here,” I say, standing and offering her my hand. “There’s a whole world waiting for us.”

Violet takes my hand, standing by my side. “Lead the way, Kirill.”

As we walk out of the room, I feel a sense of purpose, of resolve. Caleb’s betrayal has scarred us, but it hasn’t broken us. And together, we’ll face whatever comes next, ready to fight for the future we deserve.

Chapter Twenty-Seven - Violet

---