Page 81 of Captured By the Bratva

Of all the times to learn that I’m carrying his child!It seemed so incredulous that I struggled to accept it as a fact. I hadn’t taken a test, but Ifeltit. It was just like what I experienced before.

But right now, when I could really help Ivan with this Mafia war, this vendetta against Steven, I was unable to reach him or contact him for help.

Just stall him. Stay safe and alive. Cooperate. And stall him.

Because Ivan had to care too much not to chase me down. Somehow, he had to find me. I willed it to be true.

Dominic returned to me, walking lopsidedly and tired from the exertion of winging that sledgehammer up and down to pulverize the sculptures, then slicing and smashing the paintings.

Breathing hard, looking every bit the diabolical maniac he was, he glared directly at me.

“Where is the rest of it? Tell me where the rest of your artwork is that I showed them in Italy.”

I bit my lip so he wouldn’t see it tremble. I had to remain strong. I would be strong. There was no other choice.

Stall him. Cooperate. And pray Ivan will know how to find me.It was that or I wait for a chance to run away. As soon as I could—safely, since I wasn’t running for just my safety but also my baby’s—I would.

“Back there,” I said, wishing my voice were stronger as I pointed to the rear storage room.

He lifted the knife and aimed it at me. “Lead the way.”

31

IVAN

Maxim called with Becca’s location as soon as Alek met up with me.

He jumped in the passenger seat, confused when the address led to an art gallery. “What the fuck?”

I wasn’t questioning it. I pressed the pedal down and sped in that direction.

“Send backup,” Alek ordered. “But have them keep their distance.”

I smirked at my oldest brother, grateful for his help but wondering why he personally came with me. Since he’d taken over as thePakhan, he’d struggled with stepping back and not being in action. This had to be another one of those times, and I’d roll with it.

“Why an art gallery?” he asked.

“Because she’s an artist,” I guessed.

“But it’s closed,” Alek said.

I shook my head as we neared it. “And normal operating business hours have stopped us before?”

I parked further from the building so I wouldn’t tip anyone off inside. She had to be here. I resisted the thought of her necklace being here, but not the woman I loved.

My desperation to save her scaled higher with every step I took jogging closer. Caught in a mix of anger and calm, I tried to bank on the anticipation of killing the motherfuckers who took her and letting that bloodshed wash away this hellacious agony of worrying about losing her. Only when they ceased to live would my world be tilted back on its axis like it should be.

Alek hadn’t lost his street smarts since taking over the Bratva leadership. He crept along with me in the shadows, still just as much of an expert at sneaking and spying on the enemy.

Side by side, we peered through the windows and watched.

Becca!

She was alive, if scared. Standing in the center of the gallery space, she wrung her hands together and flinched each time a tall man smashed a sculpture.

“Dominic,” Alek said, glancing around to see our Bratva men killing Rossini guards stationed out front. We worked as a team, and I would never forget that.

“That’s Dominic?” I asked, seeing the man in the flesh for the first time. Laying my eyes on Becca’s rapist had me itching to wrench these locked doors open and kill him with my bare hands.

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