Page 102 of The Bratva Stalker's Ruthless Claim
“I…I don’t want to lose you,” I whisper, voice trembling.
“You won’t,” he promises, pressing a kiss to my temple, then my forehead. “I’ll always protect you. I don’t care what it takes. You’re mine, Ellie, and no one—no one—touches what’s mine.”
I bury my face against his chest, letting the warmth of him, the certainty of him, anchor me. In that moment, the world outside ceases to exist. There’s only him, only us, and a fragile, perfect peace.
I know, without a doubt, I’ll never walk away from Mike Rusnak. Not for power, not for freedom, not for anything in the world.
Chapter 22 – Mike
I wake to the soft brush of lips on my face, gentle and deliberate. My eyes flutter open to see Ellie moving carefully, planting kisses along my jaw, my temple, the side of my neck.
I chuckle, stretching my arms around her. “What’s all this?” I ask, amused and cautious.
She tilts her head, eyes bright and serious. “I want to talk to you,” she says softly.
I sit up, alert. Last night’s conversation still lingers in my mind—the tension, the vulnerability, the promises. There’s a thread of apprehension weaving through me.
“I woke up in the middle of the night,” she continues, her fingers tracing the line of my collarbone, “and I thought more about Katerina’s video. I realized…the best thing to do is respond and request a meeting.”
I frown. “What?”
She meets my gaze, steady and determined. “I’ve responded. I’ve requested a meeting with Katerina. She sent an address.”
I run a hand down my face, trying to steady the knot of tension coiling in my chest. Fury wants to rise—hell, it screams—but it’s not the first thing I feel. Fear comes first.
Fear for her. Fear for what could happen if she steps into Katerina’s world alone. Fear for the one variable I cannot control.
“You’ll never go,” I say, my voice low, unyielding. “I won’t let you meet her.”
Ellie tilts her head, eyes sharp and unwavering. “Mike…strategy requires proximity. You can’t fight shadows from afar. She’s not a warlord. She’s a negotiator. Face-to-face is the only way to extract information.”
I swallow hard, my chest tight. Her logic is sound, infuriatingly so. And yet…the idea of her walking into that lion’s den makes my blood run cold.
“I can protect you there,” I say, each word heavy with conviction. “Every step. Every second. I won’t let you go.”
Ellie’s lips curve, a mix of amusement and exasperation. “Mike…I don’t need a bodyguard. I need a partner who trusts me to think.”
Her words cut through the fear, but they don’t erase it. My grip on the edge of the couch tightens. She’s right—she’s brilliant, capable—but the idea of Katerina, that calm, calculating predator, sitting across from her…I shiver despite myself.
“That’s why I told her you must come with me. I won’t go there without you.”
I blink at her, incredulous. “And…she agreed?”
Ellie nods, steady and calm. “Yes.”
I don’t hesitate. I slip out of bed, pacing as adrenaline kicks in. “I need to talk to my brothers. We need a plan. We can’t go in there blind. I don’t trust that woman for a second.”
She watches me, eyes soft but sharp. “What kind of plan?”
I take a deep breath, letting the words fall carefully. “Neutral ground. Layered contingencies. Snipers positioned, escape vehicles mapped, encrypted comms loops established. Every angle covered.”
Ellie frowns, ever the strategist herself. “She may not agree to that.”
I meet her eyes, unflinching. “Then we don’t meet her. I won’t let you walk into that room knowing I can’t protect you.”
Her lips press into a thin line, but she doesn’t argue. The trust in her gaze steels me. Together, we’ll face this. But I make no mistake—Katerina isn’t just a threat. She’s a storm, and we’re about to step right into it. Still, if I don’t let Ellie do this, I risklosing her entirely. This risk…this calculated risk…is the best option.
To my surprise, Katerina agrees to our terms. She even accepts the new neutral address we select, demonstrating a respect for strategy that borders on unsettling.
