Chapter 3

CHAPTER THREE

Isabella

Shit.

Shit.

Something's shifted in here. The chatter's died down, and one of them is heading over here. Lev?

I move as quietly away from the ladder as I can. I can't risk peeking down below, not now. Even as I consider my choices, something inside me thrills at the thought of being caught by a passel of pissed-off, heavily tattooed, dominant Bratva. It's the thrill of the chase, the hit of adrenaline when I put my foot on the gas pedal and watch my speed creep up into three digits. The utter certainty of excitement.

I slide my phone off in case that's how they detected me. As soon as I heard we had a mole in our group, I went to alert Carlos's sister. I don't give a shit if the men know, but she's my friend, and I don't want her falling for a liar. God, how could she? I can't risk sending a text, though, not now, when my message could be intercepted.

I quickly assess my situation.

I'm the one in the loft, which gives me an advantage. I can pretend I'm not here and force them to come get me, obviously, and when they do, I take them down one at a time. All it would take is a swift kick to the neck or head if they come anywhere near me.

I'd have to incapacitate them, though, and the worst part of it is, if I hurt them and don't kill them, it's like wounding a rabid animal. They'd come after me with a thirst for blood. And if I do kill any of them, as soon as they find out who I am, they'll bring war to my family.

That may be an inevitability, but I'd like to time it just right.

A deep, authoritative, decidedly angry voice snaps below. "We know you're up there. Show yourself."

Fuck.

At least my instincts were right.

I flatten myself and peek down below as quietly as I can. Which one is it? I have a better chance with some of them than others. If I get anywhere near Nikko or Viktor, I'll jump out a window.

I concentrate. That isn't Viktor's voice, though, so I look again. I do a double take. Is that… Lev?

Based on my research, Lev Romanov was young, still a teen, but I obviously missed some crucial points. Lev is most decidedly not a child, neither in age nor stature. Though he isn't the size of a small elephant like Viktor, he's not small . Tall and muscular, he prowls like a lithe tiger, ready to pounce, and there's a coldness to his gaze and countenance that sends a shiver down my spine.

What do these guys eat?

He has a commanding presence and sharp, ice-blue eyes that appear cold and calculating. His short, dark hair has a hint of a curl. Wearing a form-fitting black tee, his carved chest and biceps are on display, and his stance suggests he's ready to pounce into a fighting ring.

In other words, I've got my work cut out for me.

?Mierda!

What if I don't show myself? What then?

"You heard something you shouldn't have, and we know it. This doesn't have to end badly for you, but it could." Goddamn liar. I'm not that dumb.

I don't respond. "You have five seconds before I'm coming up. One."

There's no fucking way he's telling the truth. You do not eavesdrop on the Romanov brothers and live to tell about it. I wonder how he'd define "badly."

I look around as if I might've missed an escape route earlier, and looking again might make one magically appear.

"Two."

I close my eyes and grit my teeth. I am not coming, and if they want to come and try me, I'm going to?—

Something hits the floor at my feet, and the air in front of me is instantly filled with burning, acrid smoke. I fall to the ground a few seconds too late before ingesting a toxic gulp of the fumes.

I sputter and cough.

Remember, you're a man. Do not give yourself away.

Jesus. Who the fuck carries smoke bombs with them?

I'm on all fours, trying to crawl away from here and toward the loft ladder, but I've lost my bearings. My knees ache on the cold, hard floor, and when I crawl forward, I stifle a yelp when a splinter shoots into my palm. I'm wheezing, the air in my lungs painful. I'd do anything for cool, fresh air.

I reach blindly for the ladder and force myself to remember to stay strong, to remember that I can't cave now. I'm a fighter, and just because I'm outnumbered by a bunch of boys means shit. I'll let them take me into custody, and then, at the very first opportunity—I'll escape.

I always do.

Always.

Strong hands grip my wrist mercilessly. I stifle a yelp. I can't sound like a woman or act like one in any way.

"Let me go," I growl in the deepest register I can muster. "I'll surrender." I'm seized with a fit of coughing.

When he doesn't let me go, I wrench my wrists away, trying to get free, but I'm dragged toward the ladder. The splinter in my palm aches, and tears from the smoke stream down my face. I turn away so they don't see me. I throw myself bodily down, freeing myself, and shove.

" Jesus. " I see the silhouette of whoever it is fall a few steps but grab onto the bar and hold on tight. He swings his legs back on and starts climbing toward me again.

I can hardly see from the burning smoke, but I take a quick moment to rear back and kick at him. My kick is off the mark, missing by a mile. Jesus. I'm normally so much better than this.

He yanks my arms and pulls me toward the ladder. I throw my body weight at him. He struggles, wobbling, but uses my body weight as leverage. The smoke has compromised me. It's clumsy, fighting with everything I've got, but then I can't see a damn thing and can hardly breathe.

I writhe and scream, and when a hand comes into view, I bend and sink my teeth into flesh. He curses and bellows but doesn't let go.

With a firm arm on me, he pulls me toward him and onto the loft ladder. He shouts below to his brothers. "He's small and fighting like a motherfucker. I'm throwing him down. It'll take forever to wrestle him down this ladder. Catch. "

I stifle a scream when the men quickly form a human net with their arms. I claw at Lev and manage to gain an inch or two but don't scream for fear of giving myself away. With a grunt, he tugs me toward the edge of the loft again. We wobble. He's standing on a ladder, for God's sake, the chances of both of us falling?—

He yanks me and throws me bodily. I go hurtling into the air. I nearly bite my tongue in two to prevent me from screaming myself hoarse. I close my eyes and fall into a pile of arms that only slightly sways with the heft and impact of my fallen weight.

My heart is beating so fast I can't breathe.

This is the worst possible scenario.

I've seen Viktor beat people beyond recognition. I've seen footage of Nikko shooting from an impossible distance, and that man never fucking misses.

I have video evidence of Aleksandr strangling a man who threatened his wife with his bare hands, his face completely devoid of any human emotion as the life drained from his victim. Mikhail once tore through a rival's hideout with nothing but a handgun, decimating everyone in his wake, leaving behind a trail of blood and earning him the nickname The Siberian Tiger.

And Viktor—good God, they call the man the Iron Fist for a reason.

But Lev… Lev is different. By no means is he kinder or gentler. I can tell just by the first look into his eyes that he commands respect like the rest of them do and will lay down his life out of loyalty. I mean, I hope it doesn't come to that, but let's not lie. He seems calculating, though. He's observing before he reacts.

I see a brief flare of surprise before Viktor grabs both of my arms, barely protected from the thick hoodie, and stands me upright. He raises a fist, and the others give him a wide berth.

"You dared to invade our privacy," he says in a growl. I can't run away. If he decks me, I'll… Lev launches himself at me from behind, knocking me to the floor as Viktor's fist flies. He came so close to punching me that I felt the whizz of air as his palm flew by.

"Don't!" Lev shouts. "You didn't see what I did."

Viktor roars and decks the wall, unloading the punch that was meant for me. A puff of dust goes up as drywall piles on the floor. My insides clench.

Lev holds me at arm's length and gives me a teeth-chattering shake.

"This is no boy."

Fuck.

With a sudden movement, he runs his thumb along my jawline, showing a dark smudge of eye makeup left behind on his skin like a fingerprint in ink. "Unless the trending thing to do is to draw stubble with makeup." He shakes his head. "Kids these days."

Grabbing my arm firmly, he pulls me closer.

"No!" I scream, forgetting to use the lower voice, as he reaches for my ball cap and yanks it off my head. He tears the elastic straight down, pain exploding along my scalp. Fuck. Thick, glossy waves tumble down around my shoulders. My stomach plummets, but I keep myself together. I will not cave now.

Lev, still holding me tightly, narrows his eyes. "You're not a boy," he says, more to himself than anyone. I swallow as his grip tightens, and he seems to be processing this new information.

I swallow. "Neither are you."

I'm not sure which of us is more surprised.

"Secure the perimeter," Mikhail snaps, jerking his chin at Ollie and Nikko. They run outside.

I smile at Lev and laugh. "Go on. It'll make it so much easier to fight if a few of you leave. I'm alone. Though honestly, boys, you should fire that useless watchman you hired out front. If he worked for me, I'd put a bullet in his head."

Lev scowls and narrows his eyes. I run my fingers through my hair. Now that they know I'm a woman, I have a reputation to uphold. If only I had a tube of lip gloss.

"Who are you?" he demands, his voice a dangerous whisper.

I lay my hand on his cheek, his hand still cuffed at my wrist. "I'm so disappointed you don't know me, mi querido jefe . I'd bow to greet you, but you are holding too tightly for me to do so." I grin at him. "Though honestly, I'm no one of any importance." I toss my hair.

He narrows his eyes. "We'll see about that."

Viktor shakes his head. "If it isn't the Colombian princess herself. Princesa loca. Lev, meet Isabella Morales."

I clench my teeth. The audacity of him using my brother's pet name for me in front of them. I hate that name.

Mikhail steps forward, his dark eyes sparking at me. "Meet your new prisoner, brother. Thank me later."

Prisoner? Well, I'm still alive, and by all accounts and purposes, that's a positive spin on being captured by the Romanovs.

Lev's jaw tightens as he circles me, drawing my hands behind my back. I wince in pain, but that doesn't stop him. I guess it's better than getting a face full of Viktor's iron fist. I like my nose.

He holds my wrists against my lower back. "Who else came with you?"

"No one," I say honestly, angry that my eyes dance with unshed tears because he's holding me so tightly. My palm throbs with the splinter still stuck beneath the surface of the skin, but my mind is racing.

I can let him take me. I can pretend he's hurting me, and I won't go easily. I'll have to fight, which might even be fun. And then I'll be right there, in their headquarters, and I can find out everything I possibly can.

Oh my God. If they don't kill me, which is still a distinct possibility… This could work out quite well.

Nikko and Ollie come back in. "Coast is clear. She told the truth. She's here alone."

Lev nods. "Ollie, sweep the loft and make sure she has no phone or any other comm devices."

My belly dips. Obviously, they'll have to take my phone. But that doesn't matter. I'll find a way to get in touch.

I must.

"I only have a phone," I tell them. "You'll find it up there. I have nothing else."

"Don't believe a word she says," Viktor growls, his huge arms folded over his chest.

I blow out a belabored sigh. "You don't have to. Go ahead, check me for bugs or whatever." I look at Lev and wink. "You might want to strip me to do that."

Undeterred, he leans in closer to me and holds my gaze. "Oh, believe me, I will absolutely make sure you have nothing on you."

A pang of fear stabs me in the chest.

"I thought you were still a teen," I say to him, my voice a low purr. I let my gaze skate from the strong cut of his jaw down to his neck and the breadth of his powerful shoulders, the line of muscles visible even beneath the fabric of his shirt. His body is tightly coiled and finely tuned, with curved biceps. Strength personified. I lick my lips. "I've never been so happy to be wrong in my life."

His gaze grows menacing as he grips my wrists tighter. "You eavesdropped on my family. You heard intel that has nothing to do with you. You know your life is mine for what you've done, don't you?"

Mikhail chuckles, and the sound makes a shiver skate down my spine. "Fucking love how loyal and hardworking you are, brother. Take her back to your place. Interrogate the shit out of her while Aleks runs intel to see if LSD knows anything about her presence here."

I toss my head. "You call the most powerful cartel in all of Colombia LSD like the stupid drug lowlifes use?" I scoff. "Los Sangre Dorada Cartel deserves more respect than that. And no, they have no idea I'm here. Don't you know that in my family, I'm expected to put out then spit out little brats?" I make a face of disgust. "You men act like you've discovered the Holy Grail. So sorry to say, I'm really no one of importance."

Lev smirks and shakes his head. "Oh, we'll see about that."

I wink at him. "I look forward to it."

Viktor takes a step toward me. "She has no fucking respect for any of us." He grits his teeth and glares at Lev. "You know how this would go if she were in anyone else's custody."

Lev holds himself to his full height, still holding me in an iron grip. "She's more dangerous than she appears, and I intend to find out exactly who she is and what she knows. And believe me, brother." His voice lowers to a menacing pitch. "I don't take this responsibility lightly."

Uh-oh.

Viktor nods, appeased, and shoots his gaze back to me once more. "You sure you don't need help with this? I'm happy to lend a hand."If my hand were free, I'd blow him a kiss just to see that vein throb in his neck.

"How's Lydia, big boy?" I watch with delight as his face turns beet red.

"Thanks so much for the offer," Lev says with dripping sarcasm. "But I promise you, I have everything under control. Including her." Ollie comes down from the loft with my phone in his hand. He gives it to Aleksandr, the tall one.

Fuck.

If my brother knew about this, he would murder me. I swallow hard.

"Scan it," Mikhail says. "We'll meet tomorrow morning after you've had a chance to find everything you can from her phone and Lev's had a chance to interrogate her."

Aleksandr scowls at the phone and in seconds, has managed to bypass the password. My God, what we could do with a brain like that in my family. I stare, half horrified and half awed. "Wow, princess," he says, shaking his head. "They don't love you at all, do they? No location tracker enabled at all."

It's the first thing any of them have said that stings.

Asshole.

He slides my phone in his back pocket.

"Open Snapchat, will you, while you're on my phone? I hate to lose my streak," I say with an exaggerated sigh. "A hundred days. "

None of them bother to reply. I hope Lev lives near Polina, their sister. She's probably the only one in this whole family I'd get along with, though she probably hates my guts because I am an enemy.

"Tomorrow," Mikhail says. "Meeting adjourned. Lev, you need a guard here?"

"Yeah," I say. "Why don't you hire that useless douchebag who let me practically walk right past him? That'll be fun. Maybe he'll take pictures when you strip me."

"Alright, that's it," Lev says, clearly at the end of his rope. He holds both of my wrists in his left hand and, with his right, manages to unfasten his belt and tug it through the loops. I stare in fascination bordering on horror. Is he going to hit me in front of all of them, just like that?

At my response, he has the nerve to chuckle.

"Oh good, the hint of a fear response. I was beginning to worry I'd kidnapped a sociopath. I'll keep that in mind. Sorry to disappoint you, but this time I just want you to shut the fuck up."

He tugs me to his chest and loops the belt around my mouth, forming a gag. The warmed leather bites into my lips. I chomp down on it. I feel like a goddamn horse.

"Here," Aleks says, reaching for his waist. In one quick movement, he unfastens his belt. "In case you need another." He tosses it to Lev, who catches it in his fist midair.

What the fuck would he need another one for? Argh!

"I've got a knife," Viktor says, tossing it to Lev. It's like they're all pitching in for a gift, and the gift is me, served up on a fucking platter.

"Here are some zip ties," Ollie says.

Lev smiles. "Aw, you shouldn't have."

I sigh and roll my eyes. I'd have a deliciously sarcastic response, but sadly, I really can't talk with this damn bit between my teeth. He shoves me toward the door, then seems to think better of it. "Could interrogate you here," he says thoughtfully. "But if I take you home, I have so many more tools at my disposal." He nods. "Yeah, let's get you home, little spy. We need to have a chat."