31. Ivan

31

IVAN

M axim called with Becca’s location as soon as Alek met up with me.

He jumped in the passenger seat, confused when the address led to an art gallery. “What the fuck?”

I wasn’t questioning it. I pressed the pedal down and sped in that direction.

“Send backup,” Alek ordered. “But have them keep their distance.”

I smirked at my oldest brother, grateful for his help but wondering why he personally came with me. Since he’d taken over as the Pakhan , he’d struggled with stepping back and not being in action. This had to be another one of those times, and I’d roll with it.

“Why an art gallery?” he asked.

“Because she’s an artist,” I guessed.

“But it’s closed,” Alek said.

I shook my head as we neared it. “And normal operating business hours have stopped us before?”

I parked further from the building so I wouldn’t tip anyone off inside. She had to be here. I resisted the thought of her necklace being here, but not the woman I loved.

My desperation to save her scaled higher with every step I took jogging closer. Caught in a mix of anger and calm, I tried to bank on the anticipation of killing the motherfuckers who took her and letting that bloodshed wash away this hellacious agony of worrying about losing her. Only when they ceased to live would my world be tilted back on its axis like it should be.

Alek hadn’t lost his street smarts since taking over the Bratva leadership. He crept along with me in the shadows, still just as much of an expert at sneaking and spying on the enemy.

Side by side, we peered through the windows and watched.

Becca!

She was alive, if scared. Standing in the center of the gallery space, she wrung her hands together and flinched each time a tall man smashed a sculpture.

“Dominic,” Alek said, glancing around to see our Bratva men killing Rossini guards stationed out front. We worked as a team, and I would never forget that.

“That’s Dominic?” I asked, seeing the man in the flesh for the first time. Laying my eyes on Becca’s rapist had me itching to wrench these locked doors open and kill him with my bare hands.

“Yes. What the fuck is he doing?”

We watched as the man smashed and sliced all the artwork. I had no clue why, but I kept my focus on Becca more than anything. She was terrified, but standing strong. Nervous, but not hiding.

My sweetheart. So strong and determined to survive.

“Are you going to be okay with stepping in as a father to another man’s child?” Alek asked.

The question seemed ridiculous, given what we were doing. This wasn’t an idle time to chat. He had to be plotting and scoping the surroundings for how we could best get in there and save Becca.

But he asked me that, of all things? Right now?

“What?” I snapped.

“I see how you look at her.”

“With determination to get her out of there and kill that fucker?”

He nodded, still watching through the windows. “You are in love with her.”

I grunted. “Didn’t I just say that?”

“You love her?”

I wouldn’t deny it. I couldn’t. After the deep intimacy we shared earlier tonight, I had no doubt in my mind that Becca was the one woman for me, the perfect partner I hadn’t realized I’d been waiting for.

“Of course, I’d be a father to Emily.” I glanced at him, annoyed that he wanted to have this sentimental, let’s-talk-about-feelings crap right now. “It doesn’t matter whose sperm made her. She’s a baby. Innocent.”

Alek nodded. “Good. I just wanted to check.”

Shitty timing, though.

“So, how do you want to do this?”

There was no chance of breaking in from the front. The wide windows would give us away too soon.

I tipped my head to the side, indicating that we should go around to the back.

I’m coming for you, sweetheart.

I hated to lose sight of her, but it was only temporary. As soon as we rounded to the back and snuck in, I’d see her again and save her. Dominic was a dead man.

Leaving Alek out front might have been a good idea, to maintain a view of her, but he wouldn’t have been able to break in himself if things turned for the worse. Besides, he was my boss, the Bratva’s Pakhan , and my beloved brother. I couldn’t leave him out here unprotected.

Together, we snuck to the back of the building. Bratva men were just finishing killing the Rossini guards out there, but it didn’t seem like they’d snuck in the back door yet.

Alek and I did, finding the enemy who’d started this all.

I held up my hand to stop Alek from shooting at Murphy.

After all the bullshit he’d put us through, hiding and staying untouchable while out of sight.

After all the abuse and neglect he’d done to Becca over her whole life.

Here he was, a pathetic piece of shit tearing through paintings, just like Dominic had been doing in the gallery space out front.

I’d been waiting for this moment, the sweet mark of time where I could end his life.

But he spun, noticing us and sneering. “Fuck off.”

Alek and I rushed at him together, stopping him from firing his gun at us. We were younger, fitter, and faster, and he’d never have a chance to overpower us up close. I hadn’t wanted him to fire his gun yet. The sound would’ve alerted Dominic and his men in the other, bigger gallery, and I didn’t want them to react and fire around Becca.

As Alek and I secured the crooked cop who thrashed and fought to get free, we were joined by Dom and Becca.

“You motherfucker!” Dom pushed Becca further into the room. His gun was aimed at her head, but when he spotted Murphy, he switched to aiming at him.

I grabbed Alek to pull him back, and Murphy lifted his gun to point at Dom.

Becca stared at me, hands up and eyes wide as she started to angle away from Dom.

He noticed, not taking his eyes off Murphy. “Stop. Stop right where you are,” he ordered her.

She stiffened, stopping in her tracks.

I licked my lips, staring at her and willing her to understand that I would not let her down. With all the weapons in here, all the anger directed every which way, I would not fail her.

Because I love you. So fucking much. The suspense killed me, squeezing my heart and making my head ache. I was overwhelmed with the urge to run to her and bring her to safety.

Alek’s grip on my sleeve stopped me from moving as we waited to see who’d shoot first.

“You lying motherfucker,” Dom repeated, lashing out at Murphy. “You changed the plans for the drugs.”

“I didn’t change anything,” Murphy scowled. “I just decided to start acting on the plan. You were taking too long, so I started selling what I had on hand from the first batch.”

Dom locked his arm, growling as he held the gun higher. “That’s bullshit!”

“You weren’t moving fast enough,” Murphy argued. “There was money to be made, and if you wanted to be lazy and not go for it, I was. Besides.” He scowled at me and Alek. “I was sick and tired of trying to bring their fucking Bratva down.”

“You idiot!” Dom thrust his gun out again, reclaiming Murphy’s attention.

I looked at Becca again, wishing she could see the desperate hope in my eyes. That she could understand that we just had to see how this would play out. If Alek or I reached for our guns, they’d shoot us first.

Patience, sweetheart. Please. Trust me and be patient.

“My mistress died from that shit,” Dom shouted. “My favorite mistress, a lover like no other. That crap killed her!”

“Not my problem.” Murphy shook his head. “I just want my half of the drugs and we’ll call it even.”

“No!” Dom stepped forward, closer to Becca, but stared at Murphy. “I want to wash my hands of it all. I want that shit secured—on my property and under my control. I need to concentrate on building up my family and focusing on the Rossini name and power before going after any rivals.” He spared us a disdainful glance.

“You’re not getting anything from me,” Murphy yelled as he lifted his gun higher.

A well-honed instinct was all the premonition I needed.

I lunged, diving for Becca just as they fired at each other. I crashed to the cement floor, rolling to take the brunt of the impact and move her to safety, out of the range of gunfire.

She gripped me, holding me close as we slammed to a stop against the wall. I braced my hand on the back of her head, cushioning the blow, and once we hit the surface, I breathed through the hard hit.

She lay in my arms, patting at me frantically. “Were you—Are you—Were you hit?”

I shook my head, looking her over and also checking for any blood or wounds.

“He was,” Alek answered from the middle of the room. He kicked Dom’s shoe, proving that the Mafia Don was indeed dead. A bullet clean through the head would do that, a clean shot right between his eyes.

Becca gagged, scrambling to stand and get away from her rapist, now a body to be disposed of. I held her hands, helping her up and keeping myself between her and Murphy.

Alek had his gun trained on him as he walked closer, and as I shielded Becca, I raised my gun as well.

“You stupid bitch!” he roared. Struggling to sit up, he showed us his blood-stained shirt, soaking from Dom’s shot.

As soon as Murphy pointed his gun at his daughter, at the woman I loved, I lifted my firearm and shot once.

Becca gasped, clutching me and burying her face against my chest.

Murphy slumped back to the ground, lifeless and finally dead.

No longer a problem.

I’d done what I originally promised my brothers that I would do.

Take out this asshole.

Murphy was dead. So was Dom. My hit list was getting damned short, but as I hugged Becca and rubbed her back, I caught Alek smiling at us together.

If there were ever a time to scratch off the names of my enemies and lessen my workload in terms of keeping the Bratva safe, it was now.

Because I intended to give this woman and our future my all.

“Is it over?” Becca asked, timid and nervous as she fisted the front of my shirt and hid from looking at the dead men.

I nodded, turning her and tipping her chin up. “They’re done.” I lowered my lips to hers, demanding and gruff in needing her sweet taste. She hesitated at first, perhaps so stunned by what just happened. Within a moment, though, she replied in kind, pushing up to me and kissing me back hungrily.

Her heart raced with mine.

Her soft curves molded and fit against me.

And I opened my mouth wider, insisting on a deeper kiss to match the intensity of relief that I could feel now.

But you and I are just starting.