Page 62 of Plus-Size Curves for the Bratva

The cry comes again, louder this time. I push forward, ignoring the searing heat against my skin. The smoke thickens, and I pull my shirt over my nose, squinting through the haze.

"Keep yelling!" I command, my eyes darting around frantically. "I'm coming for you!"

A beam crashes down nearby, showering me with sparks. I flinch but don't stop. I clamber over fallen debris, my muscles burning from pain, but I grit my teeth and push on.

"Please," a weak voice calls out. "I'm here!"

I spot a figure huddled in the corner, trapped behind a fallen shelf. Relief floods through me, but there’s no time to rest.

"I've got you," I say, my voice softer now. "Just hold on."

As I navigate the treacherous path toward the worker, I think of Natalia again. Her face flashes in my mind, a beacon of hope in this hellish landscape. I imagine her voice, urging me on. 'You've got this, Denis. You're stronger than you know.'

I reach the trapped worker, a young man barely out of his teens. His eyes are wide with fear, and I force a reassuring smile. "Let's get you out of here, kid."

I assess the situation quickly, my heart pounding in my chest. The fallen shelf is heavy, but I can't afford to hesitate. "I'm going to lift this," I tell the young worker, locking eyes with him. "When I do, I need you to crawl out fast. Can you do that?"

He nods, his face pale but determined. "Y-yes, Sir."

I take a deep breath, ignoring the smoke burning my lungs. With a grunt, I grip the edge of the shelf and heave. The metal groans, and for a moment, I fear it won't budge. Then, with a sudden shift, it lifts.

"Now!" I yell, my muscles straining. "Go!"

The kid scrambles out, and I let the shelf crash back down. Relief floods through me, but there's no time to celebrate. The fire is spreading rapidly, licking at the walls around us.

"We need to move," I say, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Stay close to me."

We turn to leave, but a searing pain shoots through my back. I stumble, biting back a curse. The kid looks at me, worried. "Are you okay?"

I force a smile, straightening up despite the agony. "I'm fine. Go on ahead," I urge the worker, my voice strained as I gesture toward the exit. "Run as fast as you can. Don't look back."

The kid hesitates, his eyes wide with concern. "But sir, you're hurt—"

"That's an order," I growl, softer than I intend. This pain god damn it, it’s threatening to bring me to my knees. I can’t tell the kid or he’ll try to help. I’ll only slow him down. I could risk both our lives. “I’ll be right behind you. Now, run!"

As he sprints away, I allow myself a moment of vulnerability. My back feels like it's on fire, matching the inferno around me. I grit my teeth, forcing one foot in front of the other.

"Come on, Zolotov," I mutter to myself. "You've been through worse."

But have I? The heat is oppressive, the smoke thick. Each step is a battle against my own body's desire to collapse. What would Natalia feel if I didn't make it out?

Just as I reach the exit, a deafening boom rocks the building. The storage area. My heart leaps into my throat as I realize what's happening.

"Blyad'!" I curse, adrenaline surging through me.

The explosion propels me forward, debris raining down around me. The world becomes a chaotic blur of heat, noise, and flying rubble. I stumble, nearly losing my footing as the ground shakes beneath me.

"Keep moving," I command myself, my survival instinct overriding the pain. "For Natalia. For your family. It can’t end like this.”

At last, I burst through the exit and am greeted by a scene of utter chaos. But I'm out. I'm alive.

The relief of escape is short-lived. My knees buckle, no longer able to support my weight. I collapse onto the hard ground, gravel biting into my palms as I struggle to stay upright. The world around me blurs, faces and flames melding into a dizzying kaleidoscope.

Some men rush toward me.

"Status report," I rasp, trying to focus on the figures rushing around me. My vision swims, but I force myself to scan the area, searching for familiar faces. "Is everyone accounted for?"

My own voice sounds distant, drowned out by the cacophony of sirens and shouts. I blink hard, fighting against the darkness creeping at the edges of my consciousness.

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