Page 63 of Arranged to Marry the Bratva

As the torment continues, I struggle to maintain my composure. I know that if I want to protect Fedor, I'll have to tread carefully around Demetrius and his men. But watching them hurt the man I consider a brother, it's nearly impossible to keep the rage in my heart at bay.

I take a deep breath, gathering every ounce of courage I have left. My determination to protect him outweighs the fear that grips me. I know Demetrius is a powerful and dangerous man, but I cannot stand by while Fedor suffers at his hands.

"Stop!" I shout, my voice trembling, trying a different tactic. "You will pay for this, Demetrius. If you don't release us immediately, you'll face the wrath of not only my family but also our cousins! Ivan won’t let this go!"

Demetrius' eyes widen in surprise before his face contorts with rage. He turns his attention to me, his eyes narrowing as he contemplates the consequences of my defiance. My heart pounds in my chest, knowing that I may have just sealed our fates with my outburst.

"You dare threaten me?" Demetrius snarls, his voice dripping with venom as he walks toward me like a snake hunting prey. "You have no idea what you're getting yourself into."

"Neither do you," I retort, my voice steadier now. "My family won't rest until they bring you down. And if anything happens to Fedor or me, their vengeance will be swift and merciless."

"Your family?" Demetrius scoffs dismissively. "They won’t even know where you are.”

Then, with a cruel smirk, he steps closer, towering over me as a silent threat. I brace myself to keep a straight face, refusing to let him see any trace of fear in my eyes as I stare at him defiantly.

He spits on my face before turning away from me, signaling his men to continue Fedor’s torture. I clench my fists, struggling to maintain my composure despite Fedor’s screams and moans making me want to break down and cry on his behalf.

Just as Demetrius is about to give the order to have him strung up on a chain, a cacophony of shattering glass and shouting erupts around me. My heart leaps into my throat as I whip my head toward the commotion. Nikolai and Dima burst into the room with my brothers Boris, Lev, and Damien close behind. Their faces are set in determination, and their eyes burn with fury.

They’re surrounded by their men. I gasp, my breaths coming in short, ragged motions, as my knees tremble from the knowledge that, at last, we are safe. Fedor won’t have to die right in front of my eyes.

“Nikolai!” I scream from where I’m held back, tears pouring down my eyes. Nikolai stares over at me, his smoldering brown eyes assessing that the baby and I are alright before he turns to face the others.

"Get away from them!" Nikolai roars, his voice commanding and authoritative, leaving no room for argument.

About time you showed up, I think to myself, relief flooding through me. This rescue attempt might just work.

"Anoushka!" Lev calls out, concern etched on his face. "Are you alright?"

"Focus on Fedor!" I shout back, not wanting to waste precious moments on my own well-being. "We need to get him out of here!"

A chaotic battle scene unfolds before my eyes, the air thick with tension and the sounds of grunts and gunfire. Dima rushes to Fedor's side, expertly freeing him from his restraints while his men shoot down all those trying to stop Dima. He carefully lifts Fedor into his arms and carries him away from the fray, his strength and loyalty shining through despite the chaos surrounding us.

Suddenly, more and more of Demetrius’s men are falling to the ground. Behind me, I feel my arms being released as gunfire comes in our direction. My captors now run for their lives.

"Get down, Anoushka!" Boris warns from a distance, and I duck behind a pillar as bullets whiz past. My heart races, adrenaline pumping through my veins as I witness the fierce unity between the Orlov and Zolotov men. They fight together as one, their loyalty a formidable force against our enemies.

As I watch, I see a man raise a gun straight at Boris. “Boris!” I scream from where I am. Nikolai, in a split instant, looks over at me and follows my gaze.

"Shit, watch out, Boris!" he shouts, and in a single, fluid motion, he takes out his gun, takes aim, and blasts the assailant away.

Boris looks behind him, and then at my husband, and nods in gratitude before kicking a knife out of the hands of a man coming toward him.

I watch in awe as the men I love continue to battle their way through Demetrius's minions, each one determined to protect our family at all costs.

My heart pounds in my chest as I see Demetrius, his face contorted with fear and desperation, scrambling to make a run for it. The chaos around us momentarily fades into the background as I watch him attempt to flee the room.

"Demetrius!" Nikolai's deep, commanding voice pierces through the noise. I turn my head just in time to see him raise his gun, his eyes focused and unyielding. In that split second, time seems to slow down as his finger tightens on the trigger.

The gunshot echoes through the room, and all at once, everything goes still.

"Is… is he… ?" I can't bring myself to finish the sentence, my breath catching in my throat as Demetrius crumples to the ground, lifeless. My heart races, a mix of relief and disbelief washing over me. It's finally over; the man who had tormented us for so long is no more.

From that point on, Demetrius’s men begin laying down their arms. “Capture them all,” Boris commands his men. “Let them live. But before, get help for those injured amongst our ranks.”

With trembling legs, I step away from behind the pillar, right in the line of sight of my husband and brothers. I watch as Boris and Nikolai’s men begin handcuffing and tying our enemy ranks and carrying out our injured.

"Anoushka," Nikolai says softly, concern etched onto his face as he notices me and comes running toward me. "Are you alright?"

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