Page 2 of Sheltering Hollis

“Hmm, the old fucker’s really dead,” I muttered, looking at Maxim. “You killed him.” The comment was unnecessary and obvious, but my father had always been like the bogeyman in the stories. It was best to check that he was dead. If it were up to me, I’d cut off his head just to be sure.

“He was bad for the Bratva, and I am finally ready,” Maxim said, more like he was trying to convince himself. I hoped he would inject more confidence in his voice when he told others. The Vor, Lev, looked over at him with skepticism. “Give us a moment, Lev,” he said, realizing he was still standing there listening.

“Of course, Pakhan. I’ll arrange the cleaners and bring the other Vors back for a meeting.” He bowed quickly and left without glancing at the floor and the body there. I gave it another nudge, somehow fascinated that the meat sack on the floor was all that was left of the nightmare that was my father. Huh. That was all it had taken, a bullet. Maxim should have done it sooner. Maybe I should have done it.

“I’m leaving,” I announced, looking up at my brother, the idea that had been simmering for so long now spoken out loud.

Maxim's eyes widened at my declaration but quickly masked his surprise. "Leaving? What? Dima, where will you go? You aren’t even done with your studies.” His tone was even, but he excelled in that. If anything, it was scathing and mocking, which infuriated me. The gun was still clenched in his hand, held down by his side, but there was concern in his eyes. If anything, Maxim was the one person in my world who protected and cared for me. He’d agree to this.

"Anywhere but here," I replied, stepping away from my father's lifeless body. The sight of him, once a towering figure of terror, now reduced to a lifeless heap, stirred something within me. Not fear, not sorrow, but a strange sense of liberation. "I need to get away from all of this, Maxim."

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Dimitri, you can't just walk away from the Bratva. This is our life. Our duty. Besides, I will need you by my side now more than ever. The transition of power won't be easy. Challenges and enemies will try to take advantage of our father's death. Now, you will be my heir.”

I shook my head. “No, Maxim. It is your duty. Marry some heiress. Have some babies. I don’t give a shit. I’m sorry, but I won’t be a part of it. I can't stay here and become what he wanted me to be. I can't." I looked at the blood on the floor, the remnants of a life lived in violence and fear. "I need to be free. To breathe.”

Maxim took a step closer, placing that fucking hand on my shoulder again, but this time his grip was gentle, almost pleading. "You're my brother, Dimitri. I want you to be free, to find your way. But you can't do it alone. Let me help you. Stay for a while until things settle down. Then we can figure out a way for you to leave safely without putting yourself or the Bratva at risk."

I could see the sincerity in his eyes, the genuine concern for my well-being. I knew he was right; leaving abruptly could cause more harm than good. But I also knew I couldn't stay trapped in this world forever.

“No,” I said finally, meeting his gaze. “You'll let me go."

He nodded, “Alright, brother.” His eyes were sad on mine, but he nodded. “You’ll have your funds to use, but I’ll let you go. It’ll be as you wish.”

My breath whooshed out. Freedom. I could almost taste the wind in my teeth. I would travel. Get a motorcycle. Do whatever I wanted. Fuck the Bratva. I was never coming back.

THREE

Dimitri - age 29 - Present Day

I stood at the edge of the room, my eyes fixed on Maddox and Helena. The flickering light cast long shadows across the worn wooden floors, making the bruises on Helena's face appear even more pronounced. She sat in the booth, her body wrapped in a thick blanket as if it could shield her from the horrors she had endured. Even though she laughed lightly with Jillian as the other woman tried to brush her hair for her, I could see how much it hurt. She was putting on quite the show for Maddox and me.

“This kills me,” Maddox muttered, his voice low but seething with rage. “Every bruise…”

My heart ached for Helena. She had been through so much, and the sight of her bruised and broken made my blood boil. I clenched my fists, feeling the familiar pull of the darkness within me, the call of the Bratva. I had tried to leave that life behind, but it seemed like it was always there, lurking in the shadows, waiting to drag me back. We’d already killed her kidnapper violently, but that didn’t mean it was over.

Helena looked up, her eyes meeting mine. There was a silent plea in her gaze, a desperate need for reassurance. I smiled, nodding slightly as if to say, “It will be okay.” But deep down, I knew that words were not enough. Actions spoke louder, and the actions I needed now were the kind I had sworn to leave behind.

“Dimitri, we need to find Makarovich,” Maddox said, snapping me out of my thoughts. “We need to find him. He can’t get away with this. Ultimately, what happened was because of him.”

I took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the decision pressing down on me. I had found a family with the Iron Brotherhood MC, a sense of belonging that I had never felt with the Bratva. But the past few days’ events made me realize that some battles required a different kind of power, which only the Bratva could provide.

“I know,” I replied, my voice steady but carrying the weight of my resolve. “And we will. But this... this isn’t something the Iron Brotherhood can handle alone.”

Maddox frowned, his brow furrowing in confusion. “What are you saying, Dimitri?”

“I’m saying that to protect Helena, all of us, I need to go back,” I said, my gaze unwavering. “I need to return to the Bratva, at least for this. So I can deal with Makarovich. Maxim has connections and resources we can use.” It was a concession that I’d thought long and hard about. Reconnecting with Maxim wasn’t easy, but it wasn’t all about me.

Helena’s head swung towards me, her eyes widening, and she shook her head vehemently. “No, Dimitri. You can’t. I know you don’t want to go back to the Bratva. We need you here.”

Helena and I had our issues in the past. I’d blamed her for something long ago, something that wasn’t her fault. Luckily, I had manned up and realized it. I’d hung onto it for way too long, though. “I know what I’m doing, Helena. I’ve called Maxim. He tracked Makarovich as far as Colombia. These men aren’t just criminals. They’re a part of something bigger, something more dangerous. And to stop them, I need the resources and the power of the Bratva.”

Maddox stood, his expression conflicted. “Are you sure about this, brother? Once you go back, there’s no turning around. The Brotherhood can’t help in Colombia.” His gaze shifted to Helena. “I could come with you.”

“No. Your place is with Helena.” My resolve solidified with every passing moment. “I’m sure. This is about family, about protecting the ones we love. And if that means stepping back into the shadows, then so be it.” Those feelings of hate I’d allowed to fester in myself towards Helena long ago when she’d just been a little girl of thirteen made me still feel like less of a man. This was a way for me to repent that I’d ever been so small as to think like that.

Helena had grown up in the MC; she’d always been beautiful, even as a young girl. Her father had been our president back in the day, and Roscoe Marsh had drawn lines in the sand regarding his daughter. You did not look, you did not touch, and you did not think about his daughter, or there were consequences. Unfortunately, his daughter had thoughts all her own, and when she tried out her flirting skills with me, I’d politely turned her down. I’d only been eighteen and flattered, but she was just a baby to me. We’d been friends of a sort. I liked her quirkiness and appreciated her humor. I had been a prospect in the Brotherhood and didn’t have anyone to talk to. At that point, it had only been three years since I’d left home, bouncing around the country, traveling like a nomad. My social cues were pretty rusty, and I certainly didn’t know what it was like to be in a family.

Roscoe didn’t believe me when I said I didn’t make any advances. He kicked me out of the Brotherhood and spread rumors that I was some creep who was into kids. I was devasted and almost went home to the Bratva. Only after his death and when Maddox took over did I get another chance to return to the Brotherhood.

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