Lyov
I’ve been in many car chases before, but never a plane chase. It’s tense. Filip has been tracking and following Veselov’s plane through the sky for three fucking hours. All I feel is numbness, as I pace the floor of the jet.
Her dad took her from me-the one thing I promised her wouldn’t happen. This is all my fault. I knew something wasn’t right.
Filip is one of the best pilots in North America, thankfully. He knows the flight path they are taking, and they are heading straight to Los Angeles. Georgy Veselov is at war with Luka Romanov, which means him heading there makes no sense. Traveling into enemy territory with his family seems like a pretty dumbass move.
I pace the floor again, tensing when a hand claps my back. “Relax, Lyov. Take a seat.” Andrei says, squeezing my shoulder hard. It’s a warning that he’s not asking but ordering me to sit down. It’s the last thing I want to do right now. I’m going out of my mind. Alexi is fast asleep slumped against the side of the jet. I sit next to him, resting my head in my hands.
Andrei sits opposite. “We will get her back.”
I glance up to meet my pakhan’s gaze. The fire in Andrei’s eyes fills me with confidence. He will do anything to get her back now that Veselov has disrespected him. I give him a nod in response.
“That weasel won’t be getting away with what he pulled.”
A short silence pulses between us as I think about his words. “There’s no way we are going to avoid war now, is there?”
Andrei shakes his head. “No, but it’s about time someone rained down fire on that cocky son of a bitch.”
I smile, rubbing my hand across the back of my neck. Andrei’s words of reassurance help, but the fact is, I failed Milana. She was uncertain about the entire meeting, and I should have pushed harder with Andrei to avoid it.
Veselov had been so sure he was leaving with her. I should have seen the ambush coming-we all should have. We’d been naive to walk into the trap so easily. As always, Andrei’s morality often becomes his weakness as a leader.
Even so, I can’t find it in myself to resent him for it. It’s one of the reasons the brotherhood admires him so much. He commands respect because he is as honorable as a bratva pakhan can be.
“I intend to flay the skin from his flesh and watch him suffer in pain and agony,” Andrei says, staring forward with a far off look.
Honorable and a little bit insane. Andrei’s brutal, vicious, and doesn’t take mercy on his enemies. I guess that’s what happens to you when you’re brought up in the bratva, surrounded by violence.
His mother left him when he was little, forcing his father to raise him. He doesn’t speak of it much. His mother is probably out there somewhere, living her life without giving a thought to where her son is. I know it has haunted him. It would haunt anyone.
Both my parents were caring and decent, but I fled them when Lilliana died. I was too ashamed to face up to what I had done that I left the country and never looked back. I didn’t even have the guts to face her parents. It’s shameful, and I’ve regretted it ever since I made that choice.
Now and then, I send my parents an update via email. I know it’s selfish and wrong to have left them like that, but I was far more broken ten years ago than I am now.
For Andrei, though, ever since he met Vera here’s been a change in him. He’s better. I feel that Vera is helping him heal the wounds he hides from the rest of us. The same way Milana is helping to heal the wounds I’ve hidden. Alexi is like a little brother to him, but as far as I can tell, he doesn’t confide in him either-only Vera.
It’s clear that the importance of finding the person that can help mend you is even more vital for bratva members.
MY HEART POUNDS frantically as we drive up the drive of the Romanov mansion. Flames burst from the windows of the upstairs floor, untamable and wild. No guards were on the gates since they’re at the main house.
My heart is beating out of my chest. Milana is in that building, and it’s on fucking fire. A red rage mists over my whole vision, and I can feel the control slipping. It feels like the car crash all over again.
I can’t lose her. I won’t lose her.
I’m about to run forward when Andrei grabs my shoulder. “Wait,” he orders.
“Milana is in there,” I protest, trying to break free of his firm grip.
“Possibly, but you running in after her through the front door isn’t the best way to save her.” Andrei glances between the house and a parked car sitting at the side entrance of the building. “I’ve got an idea.”
He heads toward the door, and I hesitate. Alexi follows after Andrei, forcing me to go along with Andrei’s plan. The panic that has got a grip of me is making it difficult to think straight. Andrei’s probably thinking with a clearer mind.
Once he makes it to the door, he turns to face the both of us. “The flames are worse on the other side of the building. If we go in this entrance, we’ve got more chance of making it out alive.”
Alexi nods in agreement. I can’t even find it in me to say or do anything. I’m numb. A flashback image of Lillian’s lifeless body, bloodied and yards away from the car, takes over my mind.
“Are you alright, Lyov?” Andrei asks.
I shake my head, trying to shake away the images. Milana can’t die. I’ve got to save her. “Yes. Let’s do this.”
Andrei looks less than convinced, as he turns his attention back to the entryway. He opens the door and almost walks straight into one of Veselov’s men. I recognize him instantly from the club – Milana’s bodyguard.
Andrei draws his gun, but so does he. They stand staring at each other, and my heart almost stops beating when I see Milana appear behind him. “Lyov,” she cries, rushing forward between her bodyguard and Andrei to launch herself into my arms.
I hold her tight, hardly able to believe she’s here. She’s safe and in my arms.
She pulls away and turns her attention to Andrei. “Please, stand down. Pavel was trying to help me escape. He set the fire and has a vehicle ready to take me away.” She places her hand gently on Andrei’s arm.
He glances at her with narrowed eyes and back at Pavel. Pavel puts his gun away, holding his hands up.
Andrei backs down and puts his gun away too. “They’ll never stop hunting you for this,” he says to Pavel.
Pavel swallows hard and nods.
“Can’t we offer him sanctuary?” Milana asks.
I squeeze her hand in warning. We can’t keep asking for more from Andrei. He has done enough for us.
“If you want him to remain as your bodyguard, I have no qualms against that,” he says, surprising me.
Milana’s face lights up.
Andrei turns to Pavel. “Take Milana to this address.” He places a piece of paper in his hand. “Wait for us there.” He then turns to me and Alexi. “It’s time for me to end this once and for all.”
I shake my head. “They have us outnumbered, Andrei.”
His jaw tightens. “Don’t question me, Lyov. We have to make them believe we were responsible for the fire. Even if we only show our faces, they will know that this is what happens when you fuck with the New York brotherhood.”
Alexi joins in. “Let’s do this. Pavel will keep her safe.”
I give him a reluctant nod, and Milana steps toward me, pressing her lips to mine. “Be careful, and I’ll see you soon,” she says.
I kiss her back, hard and fast, before allowing Pavel to take her away. Allowing Milana to escape without me goes against every instinct that drives me. I feel torn. My pakhan has afforded me too many leniencies as it is up to now. If I were to defy him, I can’t be sure that he would stand by it not again.
“Come on,” Andrei says, moving deeper into the blazing house.
We make it into the main hallway to find Romanov and Veselov, attempting to break down the front door. Pavel made sure they wouldn’t have a quick and easy exit. “Don’t fucking move,” Andrei calls out, as the three of us aim out guns at the two men.
There’s no sign of either of their sons.
“Petrov, I should have known you had a hand in this,” Luka growls.
We had no intention of entering into a war with the Los Angeles brotherhood, but this has forced our hand. A full scale countrywide war could erupt because of this. All the northern brotherhoods will side with Andrei, but the Miami and Los Angeles outfits are more extensive than any of them.
“That’s what you get when you fuck with us,” Andrei shouts.
Veselov moves forward, and Andrei cocks his gun. “I said, don’t move.” Georgy shakes his head. “You won’t be getting Milana, though. She is upstairs under her bodyguard’s protection. His lips curve into a wicked smirk. “The fire would have already killed her.”
The hatred I feel for this man is so intense it overwhelms me. He is talking about his own daughter’s death. I can hardly contain my rage. “You’re wrong,” I shout, narrowing my eyes at him and cocking my gun too. “She’s already out. We’re not fucking stupid, Veselov.”
His smirk drops. “Lying bastard,” he growls, launching forward.
It’s Alexi that moves first, shooting him in the chest and stopping him dead. A part of me worries what Milana will make of this. She may hate her dad, but he was still her family.
Romanov’s expression turns to one of fear, as he regards Georgy’s dead and lifeless body. He holds his hands up and clears his throat. “Look, the disagreement was between you and him. I’ve got nothing to do with this.” He glances around his home, which is quickly filling with smoke. “Although, I’d expect some compensation for the damage you’ve done to my home.”
Andrei stares at Luka, unmoving. “It can be discussed at another time.”
Luka grits his teeth as Andrei turns his back on him. “There’s nothing to discuss. You damaged my home, and I’d expect you to have the decency to pay for the damage.”
“Fine, send me a bill,” Andrei says, waving his hands in the air.
They both know that this is pointless. The cost of the damage will be nothing to either of them, so it makes sense for Andrei to agree in an attempt to avoid war over it.
“Andrei,” Luka shouts.
Andrei turns to face him again.
“If you see Miron, tell him I’m out for blood.”
Andrei stares at Luka for a moment, before nodding his head. “Will do.”
It makes no sense since Miron is Luka’s sovietnik. Why would he issue a warning to him? Clearly, something else has happened. Miron has been Luka’s sovietnik for years. They knew each other back in Russia.
Luka manages to free the front door with one more push, and he escapes through it. The three of us walk back the way we came.
Filip is waiting in the SUV outside to take us back to the airstrip we landed at. We weren’t able to land at the same airstrip as the Veselov, as it would have been too obvious.
The journey from the strip we landed at is about an hour. I grit my teeth, wishing that Milana could have waited. We may not have been apart for long, but I need to see her. There are so many things left unsaid, particularly the fact I love her.
I’ve known it ever since we first met, but I’ve been too scared to admit it. The thought of telling Milana I love her and stripping myself bare frightens me more than anything-other than losing her. My heart will be at risk, but I realize it’s worth it.
Andrei leads us out of the exit only to be confronted with more conflict. Pavel, Milana’s bodyguard, is standing with his gun aimed at Yerik, while Dima, her brother, has his gun pointed at Milana-his sister.
It looks like this isn’t over yet, It’s just beginning.