Page 27 of Till Death Saves Me

The man's words tumble out in a rush. "He wanted to show you're vulnerable. That even your women aren't safe."

I grit my teeth. "Why my wife?"

"He said not to target the Sokolov women - no one has a death wish, you know." He chuckles like it's fucking funny that my wife was the one they went after. "He just wanted to rattle your Pakhan."

Rage boils in my veins. The thought of Virginia, terrified and hunted, because of this piece of shit...

I force my voice to remain steady. "You made a grave mistake."

Confusion flickers across his face, quickly replaced by dawning horror as I raise my gun.

"Wait, no-"

The gunshot echoes through the warehouse, cutting off his plea. A spray of red mists the air. The man slumps in his chair, a neat hole between his eyes.

I lower my weapon, the acrid smell of gunpowder filling my nostrils. My mind races, adrenaline still coursing through my veins. The Red Serpents have crossed a line. This isn't just business anymore - it's fucking personal.

"Clean this up," I bark at one of my men. He nods, already moving to dispose of the body.

Lev steps closer, his face grim. "What are you thinking of doing next?"

I holster my gun, jaw clenched tight. He might be the Pakhan's righthand, but this is fucking personal. He'll let me do what I need to. "We hit back. Hard."

"Nikolai will want to know about this," Lev says, knowing as well as I do that his brother is going to snap when he finds out that this little gang is coming after our women.

The Pakhan is known for being possessive and ruthless. They don't know what they just unleashed.

"I'll tell him," I say.

We stride out of the warehouse, the cool night air a stark contrast to the stuffy interior. My thoughts drift to Virginia, safe at home but unaware of how close she came to real danger. My blood starts to boil all over again.

"I want eyes on every Red Serpent hangout," I tell Anatoly as Lev and I reach our cars where more guys wait. "Find me their weakest link."

He nods, already pulling out his phone. "Consider it done."

As I slide behind the wheel of my car, my mind is already mapping out our retaliation. Volkov thinks he can rattle us by going after our women? He has no idea what he's unleashed.

I start the engine, my resolve hardening with each passing second. The Red Serpents wanted to send a message? Fine. I'll send one right back - written in fucking blood. The guys know exactly what to do with that body to get the point across. No one touches what's mine and lives to tell about it.

By the time I get home, it's pushing the early hours of the morning. I step into the darkened living room, exhaustion weighing heavy on my shoulders. The events of the night replay in my mind, each gruesome detail etched into my memory. But as my eyes adjust to the dim light, all thoughts of blood and vengeance fade away.

Virginia’s curled up on the couch, her dark curls spilling across the cushions. She's still wearing the clothes from earlier,a book lying forgotten on the floor beside her. My chest tightens at the sight.

She waited up for me.

I move closer, careful not to wake her. In sleep, her face is relaxed, free from the worry and defiance that usually mark her features around me. She looks younger, more vulnerable. The urge to protect her surges through me with unexpected force.

Gently, I slide one arm under her knees and the other behind her back. She stirs slightly as I lift her, mumbling something incoherent before nestling against my chest. The scent of her shampoo - vanilla and something floral - fills my senses.

As I carry her towards her bedroom, I'm struck by how light she feels in my arms. How fragile. The thought of what could have happened if I hadn't gotten there in time today... My arms tighten around her instinctively. I consider taking her into my room, but I don't want to push her too far.

I nudge the bedroom door open with my foot, maneuvering carefully through the darkness. Moonlight spills through the curtains, casting a soft glow across the room. I lay Virginia down on the bed, my movements slow and deliberate.

She sighs in her sleep, turning towards me as I pull the covers over her. My hand hovers over her cheek, wanting to brush away a stray curl but not daring to touch.

Something unfamiliar stirs in my chest as I look at her - a warmth I can't quite name. It's more than just protectiveness or desire. It's...

I shake my head, stepping back from the bed. Whatever this feeling is, I'm not ready to examine it too closely. Not yet.

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