Page 15 of Plus-Size Bratva Bride

With a subtle nod, we burst through the door simultaneously. The room erupted into chaos—shouts, the scraping of chairs, the telltale click of weapons being drawn. My body moved on autopilot, muscle memory taking over as I disarmed the first assailant with a swift strike.

"Left!" Vlad called out, and I ducked instinctively as a fist sailed over my head.

We moved in perfect synchronicity, covering each other's blind spots and taking down threats with ruthless efficiency. It was like a deadly dance, and despite the danger, I felt a surge of adrenaline coursing through my veins.

As the dust settled, Vlad and I stood back-to-back, surveying the scene. A dozen men lay groaning or unconscious at our feet.

"Just like old times, eh?" Vlad chuckled, slightly out of breath.

I couldn't help but grin. "You're getting slow in your old age, little brother. I counted seven to your five."

Vlad rolled his eyes. "Quality over quantity, Abe. Besides, I was distracted trying to keep your ass out of trouble."

As we began securing the prisoners, Vlad's tone shifted. "Speaking of distractions," he said casually, "you seemed a bit off your game earlier. Something on your mind?"

I tensed, memories of soft skin and interrupted kisses flashing unbidden through my mind. "Just focused on the job," I grunted, hoping he'd drop it.

Vlad's knowing smirk told me he wasn't buying it. "Uh-huh. And I'm the Pope. Come on, Abe. I know that look. Who is she?"

I felt my jaw clench, a familiar tension creeping up my neck. "There's no 'she,' Vlad," I snapped, my voice harsher than I intended. "Drop it."

Vlad raised an eyebrow, that infuriating smirk still playing on his lips. "Touchy, aren't we? Must be someone special to get under your skin like that."

I turned away, busying myself with zip-tying one of the unconscious goons. "I said drop it," I growled, fighting to keepmy composure. The last thing I needed was Vlad poking around in my personal life, especially when I couldn't make sense of it myself.

Thankfully, Vlad seemed to get the message. He held up his hands in mock surrender. "Alright, alright. Consider it dropped. For now."

I exhaled slowly, forcing myself to refocus on the task at hand. "What did you find in their communication logs?"

Vlad's expression turned serious as he pulled out his phone. "Looks like they're planning a major shipment next week. Weapons, mostly. Big enough to cause some serious trouble if it goes through."

I nodded, my mind already racing through potential strategies. "We'll need to set up surveillance on the docks. Ivan's got some contacts in customs that might be useful."

"Already on it," Vlad replied. "I've got a team ready to move in 48 hours."

As we continued to discuss the details of our plan, I felt my earlier distraction fading. This was what I was good at—strategy, action, the thrill of outsmarting our enemies. It was familiar territory, unlike the confusing mess of emotions I'd been grappling with earlier.

Yet, despite throwing myself into the planning, a small part of my mind kept drifting back to Pippa. I pushed the thoughts aside. There would be time to deal with… whatever this was… later.

***

As I left the scene, the cool night air hit my face. I loosened my tie, feeling the weight of what nearly happened settle on my shoulders once again.

"Fuck," I muttered under my breath, running a hand through my hair. Despite my best efforts, thoughts of Pippa kept creeping in, like an unwelcome guest at a private party.

I pulled out my phone, thumb hovering over her contact. What would I even say? “Sorry, I almost took your virginity in a moment of weakness?” Christ, I was losing my edge.

"Get it together, Abe," I growled to myself, shoving the phone back into my pocket. She and I were like oil and water. I don’t do well with innocence. Had I taken her virginity, she would have been scarred by who I was.

But as I climbed into my car, I couldn't shake the image of her flushed face, those full lips parted in surprise. The way her body had fit against mine, soft yet unyielding.

I gripped the steering wheel tightly, knuckles turning white. I tried to think of other things. But even as I pulled away, heading toward the compound to brief Ivan, I knew I was fighting a losing battle.

Chapter 7 - Pippa

I found myself staring at the vacant spot where Abe typically lingered to survey the scene on the casino floor. By then, on a usual day, he would have walked right up to me and picked on something I could have done differently. The uninterrupted workflow reminded me of old times before Abe ever entered my life, and I hated to admit it, but I missed our verbal sparring matches.

From the corner of my eye, I noticed an employee motion at me. I walked over, briskly. His eyes shifted around and he murmured under his breath, “We believe someone tried to tamper with the ATMs.”

---