Page 43 of The Bratva's Knocked-Up Bride

A pang of something I can’t quite place hits me in the chest. This family… they barely knew me, yet they were allso ready to put their lives on the line to save my friend and guarantee my safety.

Tears threaten to well up in my eyes as I’m suddenly overwhelmed with gratitude, but I fight them back.

Once the meeting adjourns, Roman pulls me aside. “We need to talk,” he says, his expression serious.

“What is it?” I ask, a knot tightening in my stomach.

“I can’t have you there when the ambush happens,” he states firmly.

My first instinct is to protest, but I understand as I look into his eyes. I would only distract him, pulling his focus away from the mission and risking my friend’s life. Besides, with how violent the ambush is likely to be, I understand entirely why Roman wants me nowhere near the crossfire.

“Okay,” I finally acquiesce, my heart heavy but resolute. It marks possibly the first time I have ever and will ever agree with him on something without fighting him on it first. “I’ll wait for you outside.”

“No,” Roman puts firmly. “You’ll stay here. At home.”

Roman’s expression softens, and he reaches for me, pulling me close. We cuddle on the couch in his now-shared space, the intimacy enveloping us like a warm blanket. I nestle into his side, feeling the steady beat of his heart against me.

“I promise I’ll come back for you,” he murmurs, his breath warm against my hair.

“I know,” I reply, my voice barely above a whisper. Even though I’m scared shitless for him, for his safety, I put on a brave front. “I know you will. I trust you.”

He presses his lips to my forehead tenderly. In that moment, surrounded by the quiet calm of our shared space, I feel a sense of trust bloom between us. We are in this together, and no matter what challenges lie ahead, I know we will face them as a team.

I nod, my resolve solidifying. We lean into each other, sharing a moment of closeness that feels both electric and comforting. There’s no denying the bond we’re forming, and I realize just how much I’ve come to rely on him.

As we cuddle on the couch, I lay my head against his shoulder, feeling the rhythm of his heartbeat against me. The world outside feels distant, and in this moment, I find solace in our connection. It’s a bond forged through chaos and uncertainty but also something deeper—a promise to protect each other.

The hours slip away, the night wrapping around us like a cocoon. And as we drift off, I can’t shake the feeling that whatever comes next, we’ll face it together.

Chapter 16 - Roman

I leave Gwen with Anya as I head out with my brothers and my men. The look on her face, the sweet but worried sick look, lingers on my mind, but I try to push it away. I can’t afford to let my thoughts linger on it; I have more pressing matters at hand. Our cars take off, adrenaline pumping through my veins as we gear up for the retrieval mission.

The plan is simple. We’re going to ambush the Vultures at one of their hideouts and take back what’s ours—Gwen’s best friend. As we approach the location, I can feel the tension in the air thickening like a storm cloud. My brothers, Victor and Dmitri, flank me, their expressions steely and focused. They understand the stakes as well as I do. I can’t allow anything to happen to Gwen’s friend. Not after everything she’s been through.

The building looms ahead. It’s an abandoned factory, an unassuming front masking the chaos that brews inside. We know that Riley is being held on the second floor in a storage closet, with roughly nineteen men scattered about the floor to keep guard.

My heart races, but I remind myself that this is for Gwen, for her loyalty and unwavering strength.

“Are you ready?” Victor turns and asks the rest of us. There are seven of us in total—we’re outnumbered, yet still advantageous, and armed with pistols and the element of surprise. We all nod, and Victor counts to three before he kicks down the door.

The door bursts open, and we storm in, weapons drawn and senses heightened. The dim lighting does nothing to mask the sound of footsteps scrambling, panic erupting within theconfines of the place. I feel alive, the rush of danger coursing through my veins.

We move as one, each brother a cog in a well-oiled machine, each knowing their role without needing to speak. The adrenaline rushes through me, but I keep my focus sharp. We weave through the hallway, a cacophony of shouts and grunts echoing off the walls as we approach the stairs leading to the second floor. We talk in a line, each one of us angling our pistols in different directions as we advance, the sound of voices hauntingly close as we approach the area.

Suddenly, the chaos erupts as we encounter two men, who get taken out with the lead before they even have the chance to realize what’s happening. Shouts sound out from across the hallway, which I can only assume is the Vultures’ men's attempt to mount a defense. Three men run into the hallway with machine guns, but they’re unprepared, their faces a mix of confusion and dread as they realize who’s intruded upon their territory. I catch sight of one of them—a rat-faced bastard I recognize from previous encounters. Anger surges within me, and I zero in on him.

“Roman!” Victor shouts, snapping me back to the moment. I turn just in time to avoid a fist aimed at my face, countering with a swift kick to the attacker’s stomach. He crumples to the ground, and I can’t help but revel in the satisfaction of taking down another enemy. Before he has the chance to get up, I aim my weapon between his eyes and fire.

The fight continues as men appear seemingly from the shadows, fists and bodies colliding in a flurry of violence. Gunshots ring out, multiple bodies dropping to the floor amidst the storm of punches and kicks. I can’t help but feel alive amidst the chaos; it’s what I know best. The exhilaration fuels my determination, but it’s Gwen and getting Riley back to safety forher that really drives me. I need to make this quick; I need to get her friend out of here to ensure they never have to suffer at the hands of this scum again.

More men hit the floor, and I count roughly thirteen, leaving about six standing. We advance down the bloodstained hallway towards a source of light at the end of it. Finally, we reach the back room, and I find her—Gwen’s friend, bound but unbroken. Relief floods through me, but I don’t relish in it as the remaining six men emerge from their hiding spots, aiming their weapons and shooting in our direction. Two of my men to my left hit the ground while the rest of us responded. I grunt as I hit the ground, having dove for cover behind a fallen-over table. Victor joins my side, and we both catch our breath and reload our pistols. He mouths3, 2, 1,and when he mouthsgo, we both jump up and fire our weapons.

The remaining bodies hit the floor, and I feel a wave of satisfaction surge through me as I watch growing pools of blood surrounding the mound of bodies on the floor. I holster my weapon, then turn to check on the men who fell. Luckily, nobody was seriously injured. One of them was grazed in the shoulder and was blown back by the impact, while the other only suffered a flesh wound to the side.

“Cut her free,” I command, my voice firm. Anton steps forward, swiftly slicing through the ropes that bind her. She looks up, eyes wide with confusion and fear, and then, recognition dawns.

“Roman?” she stammers, and I nod. I’m surprised she actually remembers my name.

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