Page 71 of Stolen By the Bratva King

In the caroutside the warehouse, we’re cast in shadows. I turn, addressing Hazel and Vlad. “Hazel wants to be responsible for handing over the information to the police after tonight. She’s the journalist, they’ll take her seriously and won’t suspect her involvement.” I pause and look at her. “Not that you’re involved, really.”

Hazel chews on her thumbnail again. I’m surprised there’s anything left of it. “Well, not in the illegal aspect, anyway.”

Vlad shifts in his seat. “What kind of information?”

“Well for starters, I’m going to be taking pictures,” Hazel explains.

“From a distance,” I add.

“Yes.” Hazel nods slowly. “And I’ll give them information from what I saw when I came to the warehouse by myself.”

“Just so you know,” I begin, clamping my hand on her thigh to feel its warmth, and because I need it to ground me. “You don’t have to doanyof this if you don’t want to.”

Hazel still has that motivated gleam in her eye. “I want to do anything I can to erase these charges from your record.”

I lean in and kiss her again as if my life depends on it. Maybe it does. Kissing Hazel is like breathing air.

I whisper in her ear so only she can hear me. “When this is over, I am going to be the best father and most attentive partner.”

There is magic in her eyes. Her palm presses flat against my cheek. “Those qualities are already woven into your soul.”

My phone buzzes in my pocket. I swipe to answer. One of Vlad’s crew captains says in a gruff voice. “They’re here.”

“Thanks. We’ll be there in a minute.” I look at Vlad. “Oleg and his men are inside. “Ready to do this?”

Vlad cocks his pistol. I hate that we must resort to violence, but Oleg will be prepared. Using guns is more about survival than anything else.

Vlad’s jaw is razor sharp enough to cut through glass. “Let’s take them down one by one, so they’ll regret ever betraying us.”

25

Hazel

David opens the car door. He turns around before he stands up, a mixture of hesitation and resignation blending into his features.

He cradles my face in his hands. I feel the dampness on my cheeks. He wipes away my tears with the pads of his thumb, then leans in, pressing his lips to mine. This time, the kiss is soft.

“It’s not goodbye,” I whisper to him. “Go do what you need to do. Save us all.”

David nods. Vlad is already storming the building with his men. Fights are breaking out. Yelling echoes through the darkness.

“If you hear gunshots, do not get out of this car,” David warns. His eyes scan my face. “Promise me, Hazel.”

I’m nodding before words form. “I promise.” Now that we’re in the thick of it, I’m too scared to argue.

“Just take pictures from the safety of the car,” he says. “If anything happens, if any of Oleg’s men come after you, run. Call the police and run.”

I’m nodding like my head is being controlled by a marionette. “I will. I promise.”

My pulse thunders through my ears as David rushes into the building. I’m by myself. Miroslav joined David and Vlad in the attack.

I roll down the window and point my camera lenses at various targets. The warehouse. The unmarked box trucks for transporting guns. The machines manufacturing them. Several crates piled high with contents I can’t make out from this distance. I zoom in as close as I can. I’ll examine the photos later, hoping I’ll spot something useful.

My heartrate spikes with excitement. We’re so close to victory now. I’m gaining a ton of evidence in these photos, adding to the bulk of what I’ve already obtained in my research logs. I’d taken a few quick snapshots at this same warehouse when I came here by myself, which reinforces what I’m finding tonight.

I can’t wait to present these to Robert and watch his jaw drop in shock. He doesn’t even know the mountain of gold I have to make this a story of the year. He’ll regret taking me for granted.

This concept makes me feel fearless and invincible.

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