Page 67 of Bratva Butcher

Would she do it? It was her chance to finally get away from me like she’d been saying she wanted to do from the moment we met…would she take it?

I held my breath, waiting.

“Thanks for the offer, but I’m going to have to pass.” Relief filled me, and I had to work hard to hide it. “I’ve seen what Samuel can do, and no offence, but I think I have better odds with this lot.”

Talon smiled evilly. “It’s your funeral.” He walked to Aleksandr’s cell, stopping in front of it. I squeezed the bars tightly in my hands out of frustration. I didn’t want him anywhere near my children.

“You killed three of my men, evenafterthey darted you.”

My son just grunted, his usual form of communication.

“I assume I couldn’t convince you to fight for me in a different competition? Could make you a lot of money.”

That fucking bastard.

“I have a lot of money.”

“Moremoney.”

“Not interested.”

Talon hummed. “Disappointing.” He moved away, making a beeline right for Illayana. The hair on the back of my neck stood up, a horrible feeling sinking right down into my bones. “You lot have proven to be very resourceful, so I think a few extra precautions are necessary to ensure you don’t try to pull off some sort of ridiculous escape plan.” He stepped back. “Open the cell,” he commanded the guards.

No. No, no, no.

The cell doors opened. Four guards strolled in and surrounded Illayana, two of them slapping a pair of thick, metal handcuffs on her wrists before escorting her to Talon’s side.

“You touch her, Talon, and I swear to God, I’ll—”

“You’ll what?” Talon smirked, victory shining in his eyes. He moved behind her, pressing his body up against hers and burying his face in her hair, smelling her.

I squeezed the bars even tighter, my teeth grinding.

She stayed completely still, head up, face strong, acting like what Talon was doing wasn’t affecting her.

My brave little girl, putting on a strong front. Not for herself, but for us. For me.

“There’s nothing you can do, Dimitri.I’mthe one in control here. You can spend the next few days thinking about all the nasty ways I’m defiling your pretty little daughter here.”

NO!

I rammed my body into the cell bars over and over again. “Don’t you fucking touch her, Talon! Let her go!” I screamed,Aleksandr, Nikolai and Lukyan all doing the same, but Talon just smiled, like that was exactly what he wanted to happen.

“That’s it,” he encouraged, ecstatic about the reactions his words and actions brought forth. “Let that anger build! It will make for a more entertaining fight.” He ran his tongue up Illayana’s cheek, and she shivered in repulsion.

I roared, pounding against the bars with everything I had. I couldn’t let him do it. I couldn’t let him take her. Touch her. Not my daughter. Not my fucking daughter. I had to protect her.

“Ostanavilvat’sya,” Stop, Illayana whispered, tears in her eyes from watching us hurt ourselves trying to get to her. To stop Talon.

How could I stop? She was my little girl. It was my responsibility as her father to keep her safe. I beat my fists against the bars until they were red and bloody. I slammed my shoulders into the bars until they ached with pain. I refused to give in.

“Ostanavilvat’sya,” Stop,lllayana begged, pleaded.

I was never going to fucking stop. Never. I didn’t care if it killed me. I couldn’t let him leave with her, knowing what he would do to her.

One by one, her brothers listened to her pleas, but I couldn’t. I had to keep trying. I had to save her.

“Otes. Ostanavilvat’sya. Pozhaluysta.” Father. Stop. Please.

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