Page 80 of Forced Bratva Bride

“I might have...” Gastone cleared his throat. “When I found out about you and Larissa, I was furious. I made some calls, put out some feelers about potential retaliation against the Lebedevs.”

My vision blurred with rage. I acted before I could think, pinning Gastone against the wall with my forearm pressed to his throat. “You put a target on your own sister's back because you couldn't stand the thought of her being with me?”

Dom and the other brothers moved to intervene, but Gastone waved them off, his face reddening under the pressure of my arm.

“I never thought they'd go after her,” he choked out. “I was aiming for you or your brothers.”

I released him with a disgusted shove. “And now the Casellis have her to get to both our families. You know what they're capable of.”

The room fell silent as the implications sank in. The Casellis were notorious for their brutality, especially toward women.

“We need to move now,” I said, already pulling out my phone. “I'm calling my brothers.”

“We don't need Bratva help—” Carlo began, but Dino cut him off.

“Yes, we do. This is Larissa's life we're talking about.”

Without wasting a second, I was on a call with Caspian.

“Larissa’s missing,” I said, giving him the background of all that happened. “The Casellis have her. I need-”

“I’m gathering our brothers and our men,” Caspian said, without wasting a second. I felt instant relief, his support so unconditional in that moment, that I felt as though my brother was carrying me in my pain. He knew how much she meant to me. Not once did he reprimand me for getting involved, for trying to meet her.

“Keep us informed,” Caspian said with urgency as he ended the call.

“The Casellis have a warehouse by the harbor,” Gastone said when I hung up. “It's their most likely holding spot.”

“My brothers will meet us there,” I told them as I sent Caspian the location.

“We leave in five minutes,” said Dom. “The convoy’s coming up front.”

In that moment, a strange sense of calm washed over me. It wasn’t because I thought all was well. It was because Larissa had us all rallying for her, and I knew that her brothers and my family would do whatever it took to get her back.

***

The sun hadn’t risen yet, and it was still quite dark when we arrived at the warehouse. Our convoy had only pulled up outside when another arrived. We piled out of the Ajello cars as my brothers followed from theirs. Caspian, Federico, Dante, and Achille—they had all shown up with their own little army in place.

“We sent some men on surveillance up ahead. East and west entrances covered,” Caspian informed us when he walked up to us, his voice barely above a whisper. “At least eight guards visible from our vantage points.”

“Any sign of Larissa?” I asked, filling up the chamber on my second gun.

Federico shook his head. “Not from the outside. But there's light coming from a room on the second floor.”

We divided quickly, Dante and Achille taking point with Carlo and Dom, while Caspian paired with Dino. I found myself with Gastone, a partnership neither of us was comfortable with.

“If anything happens to her because of your stupidity,” I told him as we moved toward our entry point, “I will make sure you live long enough to regret it.”

His jaw tightened, but he said nothing, acknowledging the truth of my words. I could sense the guilt spreading through him. He had riled up the other families and, for revenge against me, had unwittingly sacrificed his own sister.

Yet, at the same time, I knew I had crossed a line. I knew Gastone loved her, in his own way. Just before we took our positions, I felt the need to give him a nod. “She’ll be okay.”

“By god,” he nodded back.

And just like that, a small understanding formed. Despite our differences, we shared a common interest: Larissa’s well-being.

The first shots rang out near the east entrance, which meant Caspian had engaged. Gastone and I moved fast, taking advantage of the distraction. We kicked open the door and entered. Two guards came rushing toward us, and we each took one down with a single bullet.

Crew members entered through other entrances. Gunfire erupted everywhere. Crates tumbled in confusion, and containers were used as weapons.

---