Page 99 of Bratva's Vow
But he didn’t. He just looked at me, his eyes full of fear.
And I understood.
“I’ll come home to you,” I said again, this time like a vow.
Then I slipped out, leaving behind the only softness I’d ever let myself have.
Outside, Darius and Dezi stood beside the idling SUV, coat collars upturned against the chill in the air. I gave Dezi a nod, and he entered the house, closing the door behind him. I wanted to trust that Wren would still be there when Ireturned, so I could only focus on Stone if I knew there was no possibility of Wren leaving again.
I climbed into the passenger seat, and Darius shut the door. He got in and pulled away without a word, tires humming against wet pavement.
“Where’d Aistov find him?” I asked.
Darius shifted gears. “Don’t know. He didn’t say.”
I frowned. “He just found him like that? No explanation?”
“Yeah.”
A beat of silence.
“You’re telling me that after weeks of scouring every back channel, stakeout, and contact, Stone lands in our lap like a fucking pizza delivery?”
“I’m not saying I like it either,” Darius muttered.
Something was off. The whole thing stank of a setup, but for now, I shelved the unease. I needed to see him first. Needed to put my hands on the man who nearly killed me. Nearly killed Wren.
Twenty minutes later, we pulled up at the abandoned bathhouse. The walls of the soundproof chamber in the basement still had old hooks where towels used to hang, and the drains in the floor made cleanup convenient. Ironic name. Brutal purpose.
Nik stood outside the lower entrance, flicking ash from his cigarette. “He’s inside.”
“Where’s Aistov?” I asked.
“Gone. Didn’t stay. Said the delivery was enough. He trusts you know where to send his check.”
Of course he didn’t. Fucking shadow ghost.
I stepped inside, Darius following me. The place always smelled like bleach and blood, even when freshly cleaned.
Stone sat slumped in the chair bolted to the center of the floor. His hands were zip-tied, legs shackled at the ankles.One eye was swollen shut. His nose looked like someone had folded it in half.
Sergei leaned against the wall, arms crossed, eyes flat. Nik sealed the door silently behind us.
As I approached, Stone lifted his head. Sweat plastered his hair to his forehead. The smugness that used to ooze off him was long gone. His good eye darted from me to Darius, then to Sergei. Panic had already cracked him open.
I didn’t say a word.
“Wait, let me?—”
I drove my fist into his broken face.
Another bone cracked. His head snapped sideways.
I hit him again.
“That’s for nearly killing me,” I growled between strikes. “And for going after Wren. For thinking you could touch what’s mine.”
Blood gushed from his nose. He coughed, spat out a tooth, and slumped forward in the chair, breathing in frantic little gasps.
