Page 99 of Alexei (Belles & Mobsters 4)

I found Ivan’s eyes already on me, leering at me, and a disgusted shiver ran down my spine. Though I claimed the M.O. to kidnapping matched my brother’s, I never really believed I’d come face-to-face with him again.

“Miss Ashford.” He knew my name.

So much for being undercover, I thought to myself wryly.

His eyes zeroed in on me. Taunting and cruel eyes. An even crueler smile. He looked just as disgusting as I remembered him. Terror clawed its way through me as his eyes roamed over my exposed body.

“Are you enjoying yourself, Miss Ashford?” Something about this didn’t feelright. A warning raced up my spine and every single hair on me stood up. “You’ve grown into a beautiful woman.”

My heartbeat whooshed through my ears. This man took my brother. Destroyed my family. Took so much from us. Enjoyment was the furthest thing on my mind.

“Where is my brother?” I spat out, anger boiling inside me.

His eyes darted to Alexei, whose one hand was wrapped around my waist and Ivan’s smile twisted into something ugly. A warning tingle turned into a full blown alarm. Suddenly, I wasn’t so sure our plan was that great. I should have asked my brothers for help. Alexei and I alone were too vulnerable here. Ivan had too many men and Alexei was just one man. I could shoot but hand-to-hand combat wasn’t my forte.

Ivan uttered something in Russian, his gaze locked on me. Alexei’s expression turned to frost and a cold shiver erupted at the base of my spine. Dread settled in my stomach and internally I cursed myself for not knowing Russian.

“Nyet.” Alexei’s negative response in his cold voice was the only word I understood.No.

Ivan’s laughter followed, and it was the first time I’d ever thought a laugh actually sounded evil. I instinctively shifted closer to Alexei.

“This will be fun.” Ivan switched to English. “Just like the good old times. Da, Alexei?”

My heart went ice cold. This didn’t bode well. Before I could inhale my next breath, all the hell broke loose. While Alexei and I were focused on Ivan, his men circled us. A hand landed on my shoulder, but before I could shake it off, Alexei’s inked fingers snatched the arm and broke it in one move.

Igor showed up behind Alexei with a knife, ready to stab him. Before he could do that, I launched at him and threw a hook to his cheekbone. Then immediately after, I landed a blow to his ribs and his blade flew through the air. Alexei caught it and lunged forward at the guard closest to Ivan. The blade pressed against the guard's throat, and in one swift move, his neck was filleted open.

“Stupid to come back, Alexei,” Ivan laughed, taking two steps backwards. The woman stood there, motionless, her eyes locked on the sliced neck and blood gushing out of it. It was like she was in a trance.

While Ivan took a step back with two guards, two guards remained with the old woman who seemed mesmerized by the man gurgling in his own blood on the floor. If I had time to absorb it, I’d certainly be freaked out.

All the while Alexei was making his way from one man to another. And he wasn’t just cracking their bones. Dead bodies were piling up.

He was magnificent.

So sue me for taking a moment to admire his handiwork. I went for the weakest amongst the men, ensuring I didn’t get in Alexei’s way.

Teamwork.

Alexei’s movements were calm and precise. It was eerie how a man that size could move almost gracefully across the room, killing men along the way. My brothers would be impressed by Alexei’s efficiency.

All three of them were ex-special forces, but I was certain Alexei’s skill matched theirs. Might even supersede them.

Alexei attacked the next guard, while Igor tried to run away. I refused to let him. He deserved to die just as much as Ivan. So I tripped him and then twisted his right hand behind his back, the way Royce taught me it would hurt the shoulder most. Using all my strength, I pulled on it and heard his shoulder crack.

“Fucking bitch,” Igor hissed as I twisted his arm further behind him.

Ignoring him, I kept an eye on Alexei. It was stupid, I know, but I didn’t want anything happening to him. He kept trying to get the guards closer to us. I was guessing, but I thought he didn’t want to leave too much space between us. The man just killed seven men and he hadn’t even broken a sweat.

I noticed too late Ivan and his bodyguards approaching from the opposite side.

Jumping up onto my feet, and leaving Igor with his broken shoulder on the floor where he belonged, I took a fighting stance. Mentally I took note to thank my brothers for teaching me all these tricks.

“Let’s see how you fight now, you dumb bitch,” Igor taunted from his spot on the floor, though his voice sounded whimpery. He should really learn when to keep his mouth shut.

Ivan’s bodyguard came at me. Going with the momentum, I launched a hook right to his eye, just the way my brothers had taught me, and I watched his face plant the floor.

“Who’s the bitch now?” I gloated, but it was short lived as I felt the cold, metal barrel of the gun pressed against my skull and I instantly stilled. Ivan had gotten to me.

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