Page 67 of The Bratva Sinner

Mike doesn’t respond. He just keeps pressure on his wound, his jaw clenched.

“Mike. Where’s George?”

“He didn’t make it.”

Mike leans forward and puts one bloody hand on the passenger’s. “Pavel, you with us?”

“Da,” comes the weak response. “I’m okay.”

He’s not okay. He needs a hospital.

The other man driving—where did he come from?

It doesn’t matter. Thinking hurts. I’m going to vomit.

“Almost there,” Mike says. “Just hold on.”

I close my eyes and focus on breathing. In through my nose, out through my mouth. I’m alive. They saved me.

Again.

18

Maksim

I’m in Nikolai’s office going over some of the contracts for his new build when my phone rings. Damien’s name flashes on the screen.

“Yeah.” I continue to scan the paperwork in front of me.

“We have a problem.” It’s the tone he uses when shit has gone very wrong.

The paperwork is forgotten. “What kind of problem?”

“They hit the shopping trip. Ambush in the parking garage.”

The shopping trip I approved yesterday before I left.

“Is she hurt?” My voice sounds funny to my ears.

“Dislocated shoulder. Road rash. Concussion. She jumped from a moving vehicle.”

“Shewhat?”

“They grabbed her. She threw herself out of the car rather than let them take her.” I hear respect in his voice. For Damien, that’sa big deal. “Mike got her back. But Maksim, we lost Georgiy. Pavel’s in surgery. Mike took a round, but it’s a through-and-through.”

Fear and anger war within. My breathing comes too fast. My skin feels too tight.

“I’m on my way.”

I hang up. Nikolai looks up from his paperwork.

“What happened?”

“They went after Lila.” I’m moving toward the door. “I need your plane.”

“It’s yours.” He stands. “Want me to come?”

“No. Stay here. Handle your shit.” I pause at the door. “But I might need backup soon.”