Page 85 of Virgin Bratva Hostage

I look away, unable to maintain control if she is in pain.

Thank fuck he brought her here. Of all the places in the world.

I haven’t used this place in months, but he clearly didn’t know I had a movement trigger system set up and a camera system.

When the beams were triggered I got a notification, and I knew it had to be him. No one else but my people know about this place.

Thank fuck we found them in time.

It looks as though we only just made it.

But she isn’t out of danger yet.

“She’s just one girl,” I say to him. “Why do you care so much about one girl?”.

“All ofyouare here to saveonegirl. One, useless, fucking bitch of a girl. What is wrong with the men today? Don’t you know that they control us? They manipulate us. Women are only good for one thing and we shouldtakeit. It’s time for us to take control of this place again. We can’t let—“

His rant is dragging on but it’s perfect. It’s all the time we need.

Renat comes from behind and swings the hammer at Royce’s head. It connects against his skull with a loud crack and Royce lets go of Ruslana.

I leap forward, running towards her, Royce staggers and pulls a gun out from inside his jeans.

He sways and clutches his head with one hand, but the other hand is lifting towards Ruslana. Even now—even when he’s in pain—his only thought is to kill her.

He aims his gun at her and fires a shot.

I grab her body and spin her, turning my back towards Royce and shielding her—the bullet slams into my back and the air is punched from my lungs.

We both fall to the floor and gunfire erupts in the enclosed space of the basement making it sound like a war zone.

I keep Ruslana tight against me, only lifting my head once the shooting stops.

Her brothers have killed him.

His body is shredded with bullets, lying lifeless and still in a growing pool of his own blood.

His eyes are staring blankly up at the ceiling, empty and cold. But the strange thing is—and I only realize it for the first time when I look at him now—his eyes were always that empty. There was never any heart or soul in his gaze. It is what made me so wary of him.

But not wary enough.

I should have trusted my gut and gotten rid of him ages ago.

“Ruslana?” I whisper her name and she lifts her head, her eyes locking with mine.

I see fear, and relief in her gaze.

“You found me,” she whispers and I swallow hard, fighting tears of relief. “I found you,” I say, hugging her against me again, holding her so tightly—as though I might never get to hold her again.

Rodion’s voice booms through the room.

“Ruslana, are you ok?” he asks, leaning over us.

I feel her being tugged away from me and I let go, knowing I can’t fight this. Knowing her brothers will take her with them.

When I move, I realize I’m in pain. It’s shooting through my side and there is warm, sticky blood running down my hip.

I look towards Ruslana.

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