Page 107 of Bratva Knight

“Whoa-Nik.” Aleksandr tried to catch me, his arms wrapping around my body, but it was too late. We fell to our knees together.

I screamed again and again. Over and over. My hands scratched at my chest, trying to relieve the pressure I could feel smothering me.

Make it stop. Make it stop. Please. Make it stop.

Aleksandr was trying to talk to me but I just kept screaming. Crying. I hunched inwards, wrapping myself up into a ball, and sobbed.

“Ahhhhhhh!!!!” I wailed. My voice went hoarse but I didn’t stop. I didn’t stop screaming.

Tears fell, only to be replaced with more. My whole body shook as I cried and Aleksandr held me, begging me to tell him what was wrong, but I couldn’t. I could do nothing but scream as the agony ripped me apart from the inside out. I could do nothing but cry for my son.

“Oh, Nik.” The feel of Illayana’s arms wrapping around me pulled me from the past. “I don’t know what to say.”

I took a deep breath, trying to reign in my emotions. The pain was still there, even to this day. It never went away. I learned to live it, but it was always a constant ache in my chest. Always.

I patted her on the back and cleared my throat. “Are we done talking about this now?” I hoped we were. There was only so much I could take. I loved my son, but thinking of him brought me so much pain I just wanted to let the darkness swallow me up and never let me go.

She sniffled and leant back, wiping tears from her eyes. “Yes. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked you to relive that.”

“You’re forgiven…ifyou sort things out with Tatiana.”

She nodded. “I will.”

“Good.” I got to my feet and offered her a hand. “Now, I’m hungry. Should we go and see what’s in the fridge?”

“Yes. Please.”

We chatted a little bit as we made our way down the stairs. When we stepped into the foyer, there was a knock on the front door.

“I’ll get it,” she said, stepping towards it. “You go see if there’s any chocolate cake left.”

I snorted. “I doubt it. Lukyan would have eaten it all.”

“He better fucking not have!”

Shaking my head, I turned and headed for the kitchen.

“Arturo! You’re here!” I heard Illayana greet as I fished through the fridge. I was right. Lukyan had eaten it all, the jerk. There was a bag of M&Ms though. I shrugged.

Close enough.

I ripped open the bag with my teeth and started eating them as I made my way back to the foyer. Arturo was standing in the doorway, his brother at his side with an arm in a sling. Bruises marred their faces. They looked like they’d both been in a massive fight.

Arturo’s gaze snapped to me and the look in his eyes made me stiffen. Illayana turned and tears were streaming down her face. Something bad had happened.

I dropped the bag of M&Ms. “Where’s Tatiana?” I asked, voice cold.

Arturo stepped into the house. He licked his lips, trying to pick his words carefully. “Our trap for Franco had to be moved forward—”

“Did I ask about Franco or did I ask about Tatiana?”

Arturo’s jaw clenched.

“Where is she, Arturo?Where is Tatiana?”

He stood a little taller and cleared his throat. “Franco has her.”

I stared at him, his words swirling around in my head. A dark anger settled over me and I roared, lunging for him.

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