Page 64 of Stolen By The Bratva King

I could call it in. Yeah, that seems fucking obvious now. I only have two eyes, but hundreds of men are available.

Surround this place, block every egress point, and flush out any would-be sniper.

I back up a little and take out my phone to call Viktor, but there’s a message from an unknown number. I curse and risk looking away from Emery for long enough to read it.

ALEC BRIGHT SET YOU UP. THEY’RE COMING FOR HER.

What the fuck?—

A flash of brightness catches my attention. It’s only there for a second, but the silvery color contrasts with the yellowish glow of the cafe lights.

It’s a rifle barrel. Over there, in an office window.

The guy isn’t far away, but I can’t shoot him from here. Even I can’t walk around with a long-distance weapon tucked up my sleeve, and my pistol lacks the necessary range.

Fuckthe fucking High Line. Sniper’s wet dream, this place. A million vantage points, perfect visibility.

I hurl myself past the cafe patrons, their eyes following me as they realize something is wrong. Emery hears me calling to her and turns to face me, her emerald eyes wide with shock.

“Get down!” I yell as I approach.

She screams as I flip the table onto its side, pushing her and Alec to the ground behind it. The air splits as bullets gouge chunks out of the table, and I sprawl over Emery’s back, pinning her onto the dusty floor.

Alec has his hands over his head, whimpering as commotion erupts around us.

“What have you done?” I shout. “Alec, for fuck’s sake, tell me!”

“Dante came to see me shortly after your accountant guy left,” he says. “He said he’d deal with you if I could get Emery safely out of your way. When she called me, I saw an opportunity, but I didn’t know she?—”

“Leon!” Emery tries to buck me off, but I’m far too heavy, and her wriggling gets her nowhere. “What’s happening? Who’s shooting at us?”

The gunfire falls silent. I hear terrified sobbing and the sound of people scrambling to escape, but the shooter has no interest in them.

It’s clear this is a targeted hit.

“He’s shooting atme,val’kiriya,” I whisper, kissing the top of her head. “Whoever it is must have followed you here. They didn’t have the balls to tail me but knew damn well that a threat to you would draw me out.”

An eerie quiet is settling over the cafe now that the customers and staff have fled.

Someoneis here, though. The crunch of boots over broken glass seems strangely loud, and it’s getting louder by the second.

Emery starts to cry in earnest, and I roll off her body and lie beside her.

“It’s okay,” I murmur, brushing her hair away from her tear-streaked face. “Do exactly what I tell you, and we’ll all get out of this in one piece.”

Alec suddenly speaks up. “Hey!” he shouts, addressing the gunman. “Dante made a deal with me. Let me and my daughter go!”

Our eyes meet, and I open my mouth to speak, but he cuts me off. “It’s worth a try, Leon. If he’ll be satisfied just to kill you, I can save her.”

“Dad!” Emery’s voice cracks as she speaks, hoarse from the dust in her throat. “No! Why would you even?—”

“He loves you, Em,” Alec says. “I see it, plain as day. This is how we get you out of this.”

I sigh. “Thanks for the change of heart, dear father-in-law, but you just gave away the fact that we’re all still alive. Any chance of you shutting the fuck up and leaving this to me?”

Alec looks crestfallen. I understand he was trying to help, but we wouldn’t be in this mess without him, and his back-seat driving is not appreciated.

“Toss your gun, Vasiliev,” a voice calls out. “I know you have one.”

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