Page 38 of Pike’s Redemption

I nodded, but I could tell she wasn’t convinced. I didn’t want to talk about it. Not now. Not when every inch of my skin was crawling with the memories of that place. She and I had talked about some things in my past that had happened, but not all of them. Natasha knew enough to know that it would have been hard for me. That meant a lot to me.

“This’ll be over soon.” My fingers lingered along her spine even though Enzo and Luca watched my every move like I was the villain in this story.

She reached out and squeezed my hand, her touch grounding me for a moment. “I know. I’m just glad you’re back safe.”

“Me too,” I muttered, glancing at the monitors where the live feeds from Kent’s place were starting to come in.

The tension in the room grew thicker as we settled in to watch the feeds. The minutes ticked by slowly, each one dragging into the next. Everyone was on edge, waiting for any sign of movement, any hint that Victor was out there.

Ronnie broke the silence first, her voice soft but clear. “So, if Victor shows up, what’s the plan? You’re kind of far now to catch him in the act.”

“I’m not trying to prevent a murder,” I clarified. “I have no problem if Kent dies.” Her eyes blinked at me in confusion. Had she thought all along I was trying to save that asshole. “He deserves all the fiery depths of hell for his actions.” My voice licked out with ferocity, and she reared back. I knew I’d gone too far when Nat’s small hand pressed against my chest.

“We let him make his move,” Dimitri said from where he stood near the monitors, his eyes never leaving the screens. “The cameras will catch everything. We’ll get enough evidence to put him away for good if we’re lucky. Victor’s face is what we need,” he paused and eyed her. “You good?”

She nodded. “I’m good. I understand.” She gulped. “Yeah, that’s all we need. His face and I can find him again. Victor.” Then she countered, “And if we’re not lucky?” Ronnie pressed.

Dimitri’s jaw tightened. “Then we take care of it ourselves.”

Ronnie didn’t respond, but I could see the worry in her eyes. Unlike the rest of us, she wasn’t built for this life. Natasha was older when she’d come back to Maxim. She’d been a lawyer for the Bratva and criminals for long enough that she’d seen a lot of evil men. She understood the rules and the risks, but Ronnie… she was different. Softer. I wished it was possible to protect her from this, but I knew that wasn’t an option. Not now. We were past the point of no return.

As the hours passed, we all took turns monitoring the feeds, the tension growing with each hour that went by without any sign of Victor. While Nat seemed to lean into watching the monitors, making snacks, putting on slippers with little bunny ears, and removing her makeup, my tension had racketed up.

“There,” Maddox said, his voice sharp as he pointed to the monitor showing the front yard. A shadowy figure moved in the distance, slowly approaching the house. “Right there.”

My heart pounded as I leaned in closer, eyes fixed on the screen. The figure moved closer, and as they stepped into the faint light of the porch, I recognized him. It was Kent. The years hadn’t been kind to him, but neither had I — not that he’d deserved any kindness.

“Kent. That slimy fuck,” Maddox muttered, his eyes narrowing at the screen with an intensity that rivaled my own. We watched Kent move to the front door, glancing nervously over his shoulder before fumbling with his keys. The door creaked open, and he slipped inside, the darkness swallowing him up. Dimitri tapped the buttons as he flipped screens to show the interior.

Minutes ticked by, each feeling like an eternity as we stared at the monitors, but nothing flickered on the screens as Kent moved about the house like just another regular person settling in for the evening. Maybe I hadn’t thought this whole thing through. If we were there, I could end this shit show — or perhaps this had all been a ploy.

“I’ve got some work to do. I’ll come back and check on you in a bit,” Natasha said, giving me a light kiss before she padded off into the house’s recesses.

CHAPTER

SEVENTEEN

NATASHA

I slipped out of the living room, but still, I wanted to chat with Max. The house was almost too quiet, even with all the people gathered in it, and I craved a moment away from the tension that clung to every corner. My footsteps were soft against the hardwood floors as I made my way to the back of the house and away from the men gathered around the screens. I pushed open the heavy glass door leading to the private courtyard I loved. I needed to get away from those monitors — I needed a break.

The cool evening air greeted me, a welcome contrast to the heavy atmosphere inside. The courtyard was enclosed, surrounded by high stone walls that offered privacy and a sense of security. It was one of the reasons this spot was my favorite—a place where I could think without interruption. Nobody came here, not even Enzo and Luca. Although there were windows on the other side of the courtyard, there was visibility.

The soft rustle of leaves and the bubble of the fountain were the only sounds as I crossed the courtyard to the table and chair near the center. A light scent of jasmine filled the air, mingling with the faint traces of smoke from the nearby chiminea. I thought about lighting it but decided against it. I wasn’t sure how long I could hide away out here. Rubbing my palms against my arms, I tried to ignore the chill I felt. I sat, pulled my phone from my pocket, and dialed Max’s number. He picked up almost immediately. My cousin had become one of those sounding boards I relied on to calm me instantly. It might also have to do with the fact that he had rescued us in my life when I was young and naive—when I couldn’t do it for myself.

“Nat,” he greeted me, sounding concerned. “Thank fuck you called,” he growled.

“Hey, Max,” I said, leaning back to look at the stars that dotted the night sky. “The house is... tense,” I admitted. “I was going to call and check in with you earlier, but I couldn’t get away.” Generally, I spoke to Max several times for work or to talk about what was happening in my day or with Ronnie. Since I moved, this new dynamic hadn’t allowed me to do that. Well, that wasn’t true. I’d been distracted with Pike and with the case. Grrr. Not the case. I had to be honest. Pike was the distraction. I needed to do better and make sure my family didn’t slip by the wayside. I owed Max a lot.

“I can imagine,” Max replied, his voice laced with a hint of worry, making me feel bad. He was overprotective, but I would have thought he’d feel good about us being with Dimitri. At least he hadn’t smothered me and given me too much shit about not calling. We were safe here. We also had Enzo and Luca, two of his right-hand men. “This situation with Victor sounds dangerous.”

“It is,” I admitted, letting out a slow breath. “But we’re handling it. I just wanted to keep you in the loop in case things get... complicated.”

“I appreciate that, Natty,” he said, his tone softening. “You know I don’t like you in danger. I get that you need to do your job, but this sort of shit is something else.” His voice took on another edge. I did understand what he meant. “You’re my family.”

“I know,” I said, a small smile tugging at my lips. “But this is my choice. I can handle it, Max. I promise.”

There was a brief pause, and I could hear the concern in his silence. Finally, he spoke again, his voice more composed. “If you need anything—backup, resources—you let me know. I’ll make sure you have what you need.” He huffed out a breath. “I know that dumbass knows it, but I needed you to hear it from me too.”

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