Page 76 of Captivated By the Bratva

“Again,” I replied calmly, “what is it to you?”

“Our interests might overlap, Maxim. Our goals might align in a mutually beneficial sense.”

“Who the fuck are you?” I asked. He might have been aware that this property belonged to my family, but I couldn’t guess how he’d knowmyname, specifically.

“Is she a sold woman you’ve lost? Oryourwoman?” he asked again. His tone was firm and full of authority, and I knew at once that this was no damn homeless beggar.

“Who’s asking?” Replying with questions was stupid. Those sorts of games were nothing but that, games, playing around where direct conversation could get more done. But I wasn’t stupid. I couldn’t reveal anything until he put out intel first.

“The CIA is asking.”

I smirked, looking away. “Fucking great.”

“You’re running out of time, Maxim,” he warned.

“To answer to you?” I mocked. The Bratva didn’t make a habit of working with the Feds—ever. That was just the nature of our lives. The last time we’d dealt with anyone in law enforcement, it was to take down Steven Murphy. He’d gone too far in trying to attack the Valkov Bratva, and we were all relieved he was now dead, thanks to another rival’s trigger-happy finger.

“To find her.”

I hardened my face. Staring at him with a lethal seriousness, I dared him to play with me. “Start talking.”

“You don’t have the upper hand here.”

That was always the debate. Law versus crime. Officers and agencies against criminals and organizations like the Bratva. This power play would never stop, and it certainly wouldn’t right here, between us. We were mere players in the big scheme of “right” versus “wrong”.

“What’s the difference?” I couldn’t answer him. Ever since Nik helped free the trafficked women from the Ortez Cartel, we weresending the women out where they’d be safe. We’d never dealt with selling humans, and Alek intended to keep it that way. This agent asking whether I had a sold woman would be a tricky question. Technically, Nadia was sold to Lev, via promises.

To answer him that she wasmywoman would be more complicated. That would ensure she would forever be associated with me in any law database. He would share this intel with his agency, and Nadia would have that label—a Mafia wife.

But she already is.The Petrovs were a small family, but Gregory was involved in transporting arms. He was in the Mafia.

“She’s mine,” I answered at last.

“According to you? Or her?”

“Both. Enough with the fucking games.”

“I have to check.” He glanced around, as though he couldn’t snap out of being observant at all times. “I can’t collaborate with you for the purpose of trafficking women, but if this is your woman who was taken…”

“Who said we’re collaborating at all?” To agree to workwithhim, I’d be breaking code.

“We should.” He narrowed his eyes. “I don’t care about anything but getting that fucker. We’ve been after Avilov for decades.”

I shrugged.Not my business.

“Like I said, our goals align. I want to bring that asshole down. I almost did, twelve years ago, and it’s personal now.”

I smirked, too untrusting to jump at any offer of help from the law. “I thought you officers and agents were supposed to stick to protocol, not personal vendettas.”

He deadpanned at me. “Like we both don’t know how corrupted so many are. I’m not. I understand you can only take my word for that, but I’m operating under the duties of my position, of the law, to get that motherfucker before he’s dead. I want him to pay, like he should, for a lifetime of crimes.”

“How do our goals align?”

“They have her.”

I clenched my jaw, furious. “I asked you fucking yesterday…”

“And I didn’t know yesterday. My partner found them up near the lake. They stopped at a warehouse, and he saw her being carried in.”

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