Page 57 of Married to the Bratva

“More cars pulling up, boss,” Nikolai shouts. “It’s a fucking ambush.”

“You were right,” Maxim yells my way, grabbing my arm and pulling me toward the back door. I stumble but keep moving.

We burst out into the cool night air, the shadows of the trees stretching long and menacing.

The gunfire follows us, bullets ripping through the underbrush as we sprint deeper into the woods. My lungs burn, and my legs ache, but I don’t stop.

Maxim’s hand never leaves mine, his grip firm and unyielding. When a figure appears in front of us, Maxim doesn’thesitate. He raises his gun, firing twice in quick succession. The man drops without a sound.

Nikolai’s drawing the newcomers toward him, edging backward to his car, firing as he goes.

I spot Evan by the trees. He takes one glance my way, his expression one of pure hatred, and then he disappears. Maxim goes to run after him but I grab his shoulder. “It’ll be a trap,” I say. “Don’t fall for it.

He looks at me and then back at the wood. “You were right about the ambush,” he says. “I better listen. Let’s get out of here.”

“What about Nikolai?”

“He can handle himself. In the car, now.”

41

SOPHIE

We enter my bedroom without speaking. My heart still pounds from the fight, the adrenaline simmering just below the surface. I sit on the edge of the bed, my hands clasped tightly in my lap as I watch him check the windows, the corners, every possible threat.

“Secure,” he says at last, turning to face me. His eyes are darker than usual, shadows of the ambush still lingering in their depths. “You should get cleaned up,” he says. “I need to call Nikolai.”

I nod, standing on shaky legs, heading through to the bathroom. My reflection in the mirror is unrecognizable—dirt smudges my face, my hair a wild mess, my eyes wide and haunted. I splash water on my face, scrubbing away the grime, but it doesn’t touch the unease clinging to my skin.

I could have died tonight. Pregnant with Maxim’s child. He’d never have known. I put my hand on my stomach. I have to tell him.

When I return to the room, Maxim is seated in one of the chairs by the window, his posture relaxed but his gaze far away. The air between us feels heavier than before.

“You knew it was an ambush,” he says. “How?”

“A guess.”

He eyes me suspiciously for a moment. “A fucking good one.”

“You think I want you dead?” I ask. “I’ve still got the gun you gave me. I could have shot you any time.”

He’s silent for a moment. “I suppose you could.”

“Where did you learn to move like that? You were like a ninja or something.”

His gaze flicks to mine, something unreadable passing over his face. “It’s what I do.”

“That doesn’t make it less impressive,” I reply, taking a tentative step closer. “Or less terrifying.”

“That’s all I’ve ever been. Violence. Control. Survival. There’s no room for anything else.”

I swallow hard, his words hitting me harder than I expected. “That’s not true.”

He looks at me then, really looks at me, his expression hard but his eyes betraying a flicker of something softer. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Don’t I?” I step closer, my voice trembling but determined. “I’ve seen you protect me, trust me, even when you didn’t want to. You can say you’re just a monster, Maxim, but I don’t believe that.”

He laughs bitterly, shaking his head. “You’re wrong. And one day, you’ll see the truth.”

---