Page 41 of Till Death Saves Me

I grip the steering wheel tightly as Lev and I speed towards another warehouse, one where weapons and men are. Lev has already called ahead, made sure we had enough guys there.

My mind's racing, torn between strategizing and imagining every horrific scenario Virginia and Anya might be facing. I'm still covered in blood, and every dried flake makes it feel like I'm personally responsible for my wife's and my sister's. I'm not hopeful enough to think they're untouched.

I just hope I get there in time to keep them from too much.

And then I'll burn every fucking person involved alive.

"We need at least twenty men," Lev says, his voice tight with tension. "Maybe more."

I nod curtly. "Three cars. We should have all that at the warehouse."

As Lev barks orders into his phone, I can't help but think about how this fucking mess escalated so quickly. What started as a simple turf dispute has spiraled into full-blown war.

We screech into the parking lot of our main warehouse. Men are already gathering, their faces grim and determined. Good. I hope that they are ready for true bloodshed.

As we brief the team, I catch Lev's eye. There's a storm brewing there, matching the fury I feel coursing through my veins.

"Ivan," Lev says quietly as the men prep their gear. "This shit with the Red Serpents... it needs to end. For good."

I clench my jaw, nodding. "You're right. It's gone too far."

Lev's eyes harden. "If Nikolai gives the word, I swear I'll burn their whole fucking organization to the ground. Every last one of them."

"I'm with you," I growl, checking the clip in my gun. "They crossed a line they can't come back from."

Lev nods, a grim smile playing on his lips. "I'll save as many for you as I can."

The air crackles with tension as we finish our preparations. Every man here knows the stakes. This isn't just about territory anymore. It's personal.

As we load into the vehicles, I look over at Lev one last time. There's an unspoken agreement between us. Whatever happens tonight, the Red Serpents have sealed their fate. And we'll be the ones to deliver it.

We climb back into my car, three guys now in the back as I take off. The engine roars as I push the accelerator to its limit, weaving through traffic with reckless precision. My knuckles are white on the steering wheel, every muscle in my body coiled tight like a spring ready to snap. Lev sits beside me, his usual wisecracks silenced by the gravity of our mission.

I never wanted this for Virginia. When I first met her, all I saw was a liability – a pampered princess who had no place in our world. I tried to keep her at arm's length, to shield her from the ugliness of what we do. But somehow, she wormed her way past my defenses, and now...

Now the thought of her in danger makes me want to tear the whole fucking city apart.

A car cuts in front of us, and I swerve sharply, earning a string of curses from Lev. I barely hear him. All I can think about is Virginia's smile, the softness of her skin, the light in her eyes that I've grown to cherish. What if that light's gone out? What if they've?—

No. I can't let myself go there.

The rage inside me is a living thing, clawing at my insides, demanding release. I've never wanted to hurt someone as badly as I want to hurt the fuckers who took her.

As we near the docks, I feel a shift in the air. The calm before the storm. My focus narrows, the world outside fading away until all I can see is our target. The old fish processing plant looms ahead, a hulking shadow against the night sky.

I pull up a block away, killing the engine, and I turn to Lev, my voice low and deadly. "No one gets away," I growl. "Anyone who laid a hand on them dies screaming or waits for me to slowly do it. I'm sure their friend will love the company."

Lev's eyes meet mine, and I see my own fury reflected there. He nods once, a grim smile playing at his lips.

The Reds don't know who they fucked with.

And I'm about to make them pay.

20

GINNY

Igrip the door tightly, my heart pounding as Anya and I speed away from our captors. Freedom is so close I can taste it. But as we round a corner, my stomach drops. Three SUVs screech to a halt, blocking our escape route.

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