Page 63 of Plus-Size Bratva Bride

“There were another s…small group we j…joined forces with,” he cried as my gun reached for his temple. “Please…forgive me. My boss told me I had to do this for Leo. I didn’t know what we were doing.”

I let my hand fall, taking in this new information. “You’re not one of the Amatos?”

He gulped and shook his head. “I’m from the small group. We’re the… the Rossis. Please, Amato forced us. Said he’d take us all out if we didn’t.”

I looked around and saw a dozen dead bodies on the floor. Some of which had it coming. Some, I realized, did what they had to in order to survive. I let the man go.

“Run,” I glared at him. “Get the Rossi guys out of here. Anyone still here will be killed. Mess with us again, you’ll be killed. Stay in your fucking lane, you hear me?”

“Th…thank you,” he gushed in relief and scattered. I watched him run right out with four other men at his heels.

"Abe!" Vlad's voice rang in my ear. "Second floor, east wing. That's where they're holding her."

“Done. Vlad, listen. Some of these guys belong to a smaller group. Let the survivors off with a warning. Kill any of Leo’s men.”

“Why?”

“I’ll explain later.”

“Done. I’ll pass the orders,” he barked.

I moved swiftly, my body on autopilot as I dispatched anyone foolish enough to get in my way. The sound of gunfire echoed from other parts of the building—Ivan and Vlad doing their part.

As I reached the top of the stairs, a burly man with a thick Italian accent bellowed, "Stop right there, you Russian piece of shit!"

I turned slowly, sizing him up. “You are?”

“The man who brought you down.” He laughed in my face.

"You must be Leo Amato. Gotta say, I'm not impressed. Why ever did you think we were down?"

His face contorted with rage as he lunged at me. But I was ready. I sidestepped and let him pass, then grabbed his lapels to hold him in place.

"You took something that belongs to me," I growled, landing a vicious uppercut that sent Leo staggering.

He spat blood, glaring at me. "The girl? She's nothing. This is about territory, you fool."

Something snapped inside me. In a blur of motion, I had him pinned against the wall, my forearm crushing his windpipe. "She's everything," I snarled.

The light faded from Leo's eyes as I applied more pressure. Part of me wanted to drag it out, to make him suffer for daring to touch Pippa. But I had more important things to do.

With a final, sickening crack, Leo Amato slumped to the floor. I didn't spare him another glance as I raced down the hall.

"Pippa!" I called out, my voice echoing through the empty corridors. "Pippa, where are you?"

A muffled sound caught my attention. I kicked down the door, my heart in my throat.

And there she was. Bound to a chair, her light brown curls in disarray, but alive. Those bottle-green eyes I'd been dreaming about widened as they met mine. I quickly strode over and pulled the rag out of her mouth.

"Abe," she whispered, her voice hoarse but filled with relief. "You came."

My hands shook as I worked to untie her bonds. "Of course I came," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "I'llalwayscome for you."

As the ropes fell away, I noticed a small, wiry man cowering in the corner without a weapon in sight. Howjuvenile.I now needed to explain to him what I needed to tell my brother.

"You," I barked, pointing at him. "Stand up."

He scrambled to his feet, trembling. I could smell the fear radiating off him.

---