Page 66 of Innocent Bratva Hostage

Andrei’s body tensed, but the rage on his face vanished. He remained calm—plotting and calculating.

A loud knock rattled the door, reverberating the entire house. “This is the police! Open up now!”

A shiver ran down my spine, and panic flared in my chest. “We need to get out of here.”

Andrei shook his head. “It’s too late. We’re already surrounded, and we’ll be arrested the second we step outside that door.” He heaved a sigh, and I honestly wondered how he managed to remain so calm. “Whose name is this house under?”

My brows drew together in confusion. I didn’t see how that was important in this situation, but I answered anyway. “It’s under my name.”

It was transferred under my name after Dad died—this house and the other assets he’d left behind.

“The police are here for one thing, and that is Tyfun-1.” Andrei peered at me with all seriousness in his expression and tone. “You’re already a suspect,solnishko. If they find these here, you’ll not be able to escape getting a sentence. Finding the drugs in your house is proof that you hid it away, and that is all they’ll need to lock you away for as long as possible.”

My bones trembled with fear and unease. He was right. Why hadn’t I thought of that before?

If they managed to burst through that door and found these, I was finished. There would be no getting out of this. No bail. No plea deals. Nothing.

My vision blurred as I turned to Andrei. “What do we do?” My voice cracked, barely above a whisper.

The police pounded again. “This is your final warning! Open the door, or we’re coming in!”

Andrei contemplated for a minute. When his gaze met mine again, his eyes were dark, and something lingered inside. It was the same look I’d seen the night Gavril kidnapped me—that need to protect me against all odds. “Burn it.”

I blinked, my jaw falling open with shock. “What?”

Dobryn’s head snapped up. “Andrei….”

It was the first time I’d heard him call Andrei by his first name. The first time I’d seen him question his orders. This was serious, freaking serious.

Andrei gave Dobryn a sharp stare. “Do I need to repeat myself a second time? Burn everything and make sure there are no traces.”

The room fell into stunned silence.

I stared between the two men, my own mind racing with a million thoughts.

The shipment was worth millions, at the very least. Burning it meant all that money would be gone just like that. Coming here, my father’s death—everything would have been for nothing.

His men hesitated, looking at each other, waiting for him to take back the order.

Andrei’s expression remained stone cold. He wasn’t taking back his order; he wasn’t even going to allow anyone to convince him to.

I thought of what it would mean for the Bratva, if that would put him at odds with thePakhanand the other members. The last thing I wanted was for him to sacrifice something important just to keep me safe.

He’d risked everything to save me; maybe I could try to make him change his mind.

“Andrei,” I breathed. “You can’t—”

He turned to me, his blue eyes locking onto mine. “Don’t even think about it,solnishko,” he said, cutting me off. “I’m not letting them take you.”

My throat tightened, my breathing louder.

Dobryn swallowed hard before pulling out a lighter. “Yes, sir.” He flicked it open, the small flame dancing in the dim light. Then, with a nod from Andrei, he tossed it onto the nearest crate. The fire caught instantly, spreading like a hungry beast.

The smell of burning chemicals filled the air as smoke began to rise. The flames licked at the wood, devouring the Tyfun-1.

The police outside grew impatient. “Open the door!”

Andrei grabbed my wrist, pulling me close. “We have to go. Now.”

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