Page 67 of An Arranged Virgin for the Bratva

I nod grimly at his explanation, feeling the weight of responsibility settling heavy on my shoulders. The workers' safety is my concern, and this incident was a glaring failure in our protocols.

"We need a thorough investigation into the equipment," I tell him, tone firm. "This can't happen again and no one is to use the machines until the auditors come in."

“Noted, Boss,” he tells me.

“And the ambulance is on the way?”

He opens his phone. “Another ten minutes or so.”

“Good,” I nod. “Get the men to slowly start their way home. There’s no point for them to mill around.”

With that, I turn back to Sofia. She looks up inquiringly from her spot on the floor, where she sits holding the victim’s good hand. I’m about to tell her that the ambulance will be here soon when a deafening crash echoes through the factory. Heads whip around, searching for the source. Then I see it—thick, black smoke billowing from the eastern wing.

"Fire!" someone shouts.

My heart leaps into my throat. "Sofia!" I call out, already moving toward her. The acrid smell of burning plastic fills the air.

As chaos erupts around us, my only thought is getting her to safety. I reach for her arm, but she's already moving—not toward the exit, but deeper into the factory.

"There are still people inside!" she shouts over her shoulder at me in the midst of the growing panic. “I can’t carry them out, but you can with the help of the others. I’m going to go warn the rest. I swear I’ll be out in five minutes.”

“Sofia, no! Wait!” I scream, but she doesn’t hear me.

I curse under my breath, torn between admiration and frustration. This woman will be the death of me. I hate to see her run into the danger.

I stay behind for just under a minute to order the evacuation of the injured. And then, I head in the direction Sofia went to find her and make sure she gets out.

Chapter 24 - Sofia

The acrid stench of smoke assaults my nostrils as I burst through the factory doors of the eastern wing, my eyes watering from the thick haze. Flames dance along the walls, casting eerie shadows across panicked faces. I steel myself, pushing aside the fear threatening to overwhelm me.

"Everyone, listen up!" I shout, my voice cutting through the chaos. "Head for the nearest exit immediately. Stay low and move quickly!"

Workers scramble around me, their eyes wide with terror. I grab the arm of a young woman frozen in place, her face ashen.

"Move, now," I command, my tone leaving no room for argument. She nods shakily and stumbles toward the door.

The heat presses against my skin, suffocating in its intensity. Sweat trickles down my spine, but I force myself to remain focused. These people need a leader, and I'll be damned if I let them down.

"This way!" I call out, gesturing toward the emergency exit. "Single file, don't push!"

As I guide the stream of workers, I spot a man collapsed on the floor, clutching his leg. Without hesitation, I dart to his side.

"Can you walk?" I ask, my voice softening slightly as I assess his injury.

He grimaces, shaking his head. "I-I don't think so."

"Well, that's unfortunate," I mutter, my lips quirking into a wry smile. "Looks like you're getting a free ride out of here."

I loop his arm over my shoulder, grunting as I haul him to his feet. He's heavier than he looks, but I refuse to let it show.

"Hang on," I instruct, leading him toward the exit. "And try not to enjoy this too much. I don't make a habit of rescuing damsels in distress."

He lets out a pained chuckle as we stumble forward. "Wouldn't dream of it, Miss."

***

As I usher the last group toward safety, my eyes scan the smoky haze. Something's not right. The hairs on the back of my neck stand up, a warning I've learned never to ignore.

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