Page 62 of Plus-Size Bratva Bride

I paced the roof, my body thrumming with pent-up energy. "How long ago?"

"Twenty minutes, maybe?" Emory offered.

Twenty minutes. An eternity. My fists clenched.

Ivan's fingers flew across the keyboard. "Accessing traffic cams… Got it. Three vans heading east on 42nd."

I leaned over his shoulder, eyes scanning the grainy footage.

Vlad joined us, his face grim. "I've got our guys tracking the van's route. We're closing in, Abe."

I nodded, a cold determination settling over me. "Good. Because when we find them…" I trailed off, the threat implicit.

Ivan glanced up, his eyes mirroring my own resolve. "We'll get her back, Brother."

"Damn right we will," I growled. I turned back to the city skyline, my voice dropping to a whisper.

“Look, look here,” Vlad said excitedly.

I watched as the laptop screen flickered during a download that revealed a grainy image of the vans pulling into an abandoned warehouse. Ivan's voice cut through my racing thoughts.

"Abe, we've got them. It's the Amatos. The warehouse is theirs"

"The fucking Amatos?" I snarled, my blood boiling. I thought the new Italian mob had learned their lesson, but kidnapping Pippa? That was a death wish.

Vlad's eyes narrowed. "Looks like they're trying to make a statement."

"Oh, I'll give them a statement," I growled, cracking my knuckles. "Written in their blood."

***

The abandoned warehouse loomed before us, a decrepit monument to rust and neglect. My heart pounded, not from fear, but from the raw anticipation of what lay ahead. Pippa was in there, and nothing would stop me from getting her back.

Besides, the revenge would be sweet.

"Ivan, you're up," I whispered into my comm.

A moment later, his voice crackled back. "Security's down. You're clear. They won’t see your team approaching.”

I nodded to Vlad, who melted into the shadows. When my unit entered, men would come as backup. Vlad and his guys would handle that.

As we approached the main entrance, I couldn't help but smirk. These Amato idiots had no idea what was coming. I motioned at my men to crouch low.

The door gave way with a satisfying crunch under my boot. Inside, chaos erupted instantly. A dozen men rose, weapons raised right at me. I kicked out and fell to the ground, my hand outstretched, and shot at the first leg I saw. My men entered and chaos erupted. Screams and shouting filled the echoing warehouse, bodies colliding with one another.

I broke free from my roll on the floor, intent on measuring the distance between me and my target. I sprang up and dove forward, tackling a man to the ground as my unit dealt with the others. This was our territory now—no fear, just determination.

The Amato men were not prepared for our surprise attack; it showed in their faces.

On reaching my target, I jumped back to my feet and kicked out till he spun to hit his head against the wall, holding it for support. I pinned the man in place, his panting breaths hot against my cheek. "Tell me your boss's name," I growled, cold and merciless. "And where I can find him."

He hesitated for a fraction of a second before answering. "Leo Amato. He… he’s upstairs with the girl.”

“Why?” I hissed.

“He…he said he wanted her to show our strength. He didn't mean to hurt her."

“I thought we killed you all,” I said, coldly.

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