Page 61 of Savage Surrender

She huffed. “How? You, alone, will ensure that Maxim isn’t killed and is safe?”

“I’m never alone,” I told her after I let her inside. Just because we were here and making progress, I kissed her hard. “I will fight to always haveyou.”

She blinked up at me, so afraid to hope. I hated that she’d been used and treated like a pawn for so long like this, and for something as sweet as being a protective sister to her brother.

I wasn’t wrong about her. She wasn’t an icy brat or bitch. Of course, it would be something huge to motivate her. Something inherently good.

“And you can be sure that Oleg Baranov will give you the resources to retrieve Maxim and take him from Igor’s reach?” she asked, that dreamy, dazed look after the kiss fading.

She snapped her fingers. “Just like that? The Baranov family will risk war with the Petrovs just for my brother’s sake? You ask and shall receive?”

I led her toward the couch, sitting with her for a moment before I planned to call the Boss, Lev, and many more. She was sharp, well aware of how our families opposed each other. “Oleg does not want war,” I said, relenting to her truth, “but he does want the upper hand over whatever Igor is trying to do.”

“I will not tell him anything until I see Maxim is safe.”

She was bargaining on me, testingmeto advocate for her wishes. While it would’ve been instinct to be mad that she could be so stubborn not to want to give in to me out of love, it was easy to understand her perspective. She was a fighter, a survivor. Instead of seeing this as an impasse and her not cooperating, I viewed this as a chance to prove she didn’t have to fight alone. That she could trust in me, in us. No longer enemies, but together.

“I know.” I leaned in to kiss her brow, then sighed. “I know. You are not going to surrender anything until your terms are met.” And I had to admire her for being tough like that. For the right reason, she was acting admirably. This wasn’t a demonstration of her being sassy or rebellious. This wasn’t a last-ditch attempt to fight for Igor. She was protecting her brother, and I had to respect the hell out of that.

“So, let me make a call, and I’ll start proving to you that everythingwillbe okay.”

I felt the burn of her stare as she gazed up at me. Nervous, hopeful, scared, and in awe. So many unspoken things passedbetween us as I stood, taking my phone with me to call my brothers.

Lev was first. I gave him just enough to work with—that I had Irina with me and she would not reveal anything until we could promise Maxim was safe. He contacted several others, soldiers who could most skillfully rescue Maxim.

Because I needed more information from Irina, I returned to find her hugging a pillow on my couch. With the phone on speaker, we had her provide all the details that she had about Maxim’s whereabouts and what he looked like. She freely told us everything. Where he used to live. The nasty area he’d been relocated to. What he looked and sounded like. The details about the guard with him. Everything.

I hated how anxious she was, but she seemed slightly more optimistic when the Baranov soldiers interviewed her for everything they could use to retrieve Maxim.

Back in my room, though, I wrapped up the call with Lev.

“You have to tell the Boss,” he said.

“I’m calling him next.”

“Hurry,” he replied, “because this rescue operation will only happen with his approval, Vik. This is a big risk.”

I nodded, rubbing the back of my neck. “I know.”

“Asking the Baranov organization to essentially kidnap the only son and heir to the Petrov Family, a son Igor has hidden well, won’t go over well.”

“We’re risking war,” I agreed, parroting what Irina said earlier.

“And you’re not even making her speak up first. Oleg will expect her to talk first.Thenhe’ll help her get her brother.”

I cringed. “Maybe not.”

“Are you delusional?” he barked.

“Maybe not,” I repeated.

“Vik. Areyouwilling to risk war for her?”

“Absolutely.”

“You care that much for your target? You’re serious about her?”

“I am.”

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