Page 68 of Stolen By the Bratva King

He and Vlad step out of the car, and I watch them walk toward the apartment, more nerves burrowing under my skin with every step he takes away from me.

“David will be fine,” Miroslav tells me, looking out the window, not at me. “He knows what he’s doing.”

“I know.” Then, after a pause, I whisper. “Thank you.”

Miroslav looks at me in the rearview mirror again. “He cares about you deeply.”

I smile. “I’ve heard.” When he laughs, I add, “I care about him, too.”

A crew of three other cars follows us out to the first warehouse on the list. My heart slams against my ribs and my face burns so hot that even with the AC blowing on my face, I can’t find any relief. It’s two in the morning, the next night after we sat up late in David’s apartment with Vlad putting the pieces of the plan together.

We couldn’t wait to act, because we don’t know what Oleg’s next move will be, and we need to stay one step ahead of him.

Now that we’re living the moment, it’s thrilling to watch it all unfold, coming one step closer to David gaining his much-deserved freedom and peace to run his business.

He stays in the car with me as Vlad runs up to the warehouse with the crew. Everyone is wearing masks and black clothing to blend in with the night. I hear Vlad giving orders in a low voice as they run toward the building.

I turn to David. “Why aren’t you going with them?”

David’s gray eyes shine under the moonlight. “Vlad can handle it. That’s why he’s my top captain.”

“I’m sure he appreciates the level of trust you put in him.”

David’s mouth tugs at the corners like he’s trying to smile but the stress of the moment makes the muscles in his face too stiff to accomplish it. “I trust him with my life, and the members of our crew do too.”

“Speaking of life…” I trail off, glancing down at my stomach. If I squint my eyes just right, I can see a tiny bump starting to form, making it poke out just a little, below my navel.

David instinctively cups his hand over my stomach. His skin is warm. My pulse quickens and suddenly I’m very hot again.

David spreads his long fingers out over my belly, pressing gently. “I can’t wait to see you with a big, pregnant tummy.”

A deep laugh rolls from inside me. I love being close to him. He makes me feel so safe and comfortable. His torso is strong, his arms are thick, and his chest is the perfect pillow at night. He’s my pillar in everything. He grounds me, keeps me centered on what’s most important.

David’s expression turns soft and distracted. He gazes out the window. “That’s why I really stayed in the car with you.”

I feel myself frown. “What do you mean?”

David is still staring out the window when he says, “I can’t take the risk right now of something happening to me. The thought of you being alone and raising the baby by yourself is too much to bear.”

My throat feels very tight suddenly, and my arms are heavy like lead. I would be lying if I said I didn’t sometimes resort to these terrible thoughts myself. And when it happens, it causes me crippling anxiety.

But David’s face is twisted, almost as if he’s in pain, and I know I need to pacify him. So, I put my fingers on his chin and pull his face toward me.

At that moment, a huge fireball of orange blazes through the inky night, and I know the first warehouse of the night is going up in flames.

The car windows are open so David can hear what’s going on with the crew. The heat from the fire touches my skin, making me feel wild and passionate.

The glow of the torched building reflects in David’s gray eyes, making them appear as if they are on fire too.

“Hey,” I whisper, my throat dry. My hands are sweaty as I press them to David’s. He’s looking at me as if he’s waiting on me to cure all the internal torture he’s ever felt.

“I’m going to write a story,” I begin. “Where your bravery, your selflessness, and your glory will be known by everyone who reads it. You will own this city in a new way once it’s complete. Don’t worry about the warehouses. You can find a new location to operate, and you have the bratva’s support.”

David’s eyes shimmer. “You are the most amazing woman I’ve ever met, Hazel.”

I love it when he says my name in his sexy Russian accent. I know my boss Robert isn’t going to like the new spin on the story, but I don’t care anymore. He doesn’t know David.He doesn’t understand how much he means to me. It’s not important to me anymore to impress Robert.

From now on, I will do things for my own mental health and for the heart of my creativity, not some boss who wants to control me and keep my career stagnant and boring.

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