Page 19 of Bratva Prince

Sofia pushed herself upright in bed, every muscle instantly tense.The Volkov estate.The realization hit a second later.She was in the Volkov estate, not her old room at the Marino family home.

Even though Dimitri and she had been married for two weeks, she still forgot where she was.Maybe a part of her still yearned for her old home.True, it had felt like a prison on some days, but she had grown up there.

The thought barely formed before shouting erupted somewhere beyond the walls.Men yelled, followed by another volley of gunfire.Adrenaline surged through her bloodstream.

How?That question struck immediately.How had anyone gotten inside?

The estate was practically a fortress.Cameras monitored every approach.Guards patrolled around the clock.Security checkpoints existed at every entrance.During the day, Sofia had privately mocked how paranoid the Volkovs seemed.

Now that paranoia appeared justified.Another crash echoed through the corridor.That sounded too close for her comfort.What was she still doing in bed?

Sofia threw back the blankets and slid out of bed.Her pulse hammered against her ribs.Years of training took over before panic could.

Assess the situation, arm yourself, then move.Sofia slipped her hand beneath her pillow and wrapped her fingers around the grip of the handgun hidden there.

The little gun was a secret she’d kept from Dimitri.It wasn’t because she had any intentions of using it against him.Old habits died hard, that’s all.The familiar weight settled into her palm.

It was loaded and ready.Comforting.Another noise came from beyond the adjoining door connecting her room to Dimitri’s.

A heavy thud, perhaps furniture breaking.It was followed by grunts and angry voices.Two men, struggling.The adjoining room.Dimitri.Her first instinct should have been self-preservation.

She ought to lock her door, stay hidden, and wait for the shooting to stop.Then when the coast was clear, she could reassess the situation. Instead, she found herself moving toward the connecting door.The realization irritated her immediately.

Why was she doing this?Dimitri was a grown man.A Bratva prince.One of the most dangerous people she’d ever met.He could handle himself.Couldn’t he?

Then a harsh choking sound carried through the wood.Everything inside her went cold.Without thinking, Sofia unlocked the door.

The scene beyond nearly stopped her heart.The bedroom looked like a war zone.Glass littered the floor beneath a shattered window.A lamp had been overturned.One of the chairs lay splintered against the wall.

In the middle of the room, Dimitri was losing.The realization struck harder than she expected.A man dressed entirely in black had him pinned against the floor.

The assassin pressed his forearm across Dimitri’s throat while his other hand fought to maintain leverage.Dimitri’s face was bruised.Blood ran from a cut near his temple.His jaw was clenched as he struggled for air.

For one terrible second Sofia saw something she’d never imagined seeing.Helplessness.Well, Dimitri wasn’t completely powerless.He was still fighting, but he was losing.The assassin had the advantage, and if nobody intervened, Dimitri was going to die.

A strange burst of fear exploded inside her chest, sudden and violent.Far stronger than it had any right to be.Dimitri’s eyes found hers.Relief flashed across his face, then fury.

“Why are you just standing there?Run!”The word came out rough from his compressed throat.“Run, Sofia!”

She didn’t move.The assassin looked toward the doorway, at her, and the gun in her hand.That single glance was all the opening she needed.She took her chance while he was distracted and raised the weapon.

Years of training narrowed the world to a single point.Sofia breathed in, then out, aimed carefully, and fired.

The gunshot thundered through the room.The assassin jerked violently.Shock flashed across his face, then he toppled sideways.The bastard was dead before he hit the floor.Silence crashed down.

Sofia stood frozen, the smell of gunpowder filling the room.For a heartbeat neither of them moved.Then Dimitri shoved the body away and surged to his feet.

His chest heaved, blood streaked his cheek, and his shirt was torn.His expression looked absolutely murderous.He crossed the room in seconds.Sofia tightened her grip on the handgun.

She didn’t think he would hurt her.Sofia was still his wife after all, and she undoubtedly saved his life, but she honestly had no idea what he was about to do.Anger blazed across his face.Was he going to strike her?

Then she studied him closer and realized there was something else in his eyes.A raw emotion, she only identified a second later.Fear.Was he afraid for her?No, that couldn’t be.

Then suddenly his arms wrapped around her so hard, the gun nearly slipped from her fingers.Sofia froze.Every thought abandoned her at once.Dimitri held her against him like he was afraid to let go.

Dimitri buried his face against her hair, and the sharp scent of his aftershave hit her nose.He tightened his arms further around her, until her breasts brushed against the thin fabric of his sleeping shirt.So warm, she thought.

To Sofia’s complete shock, she felt him trembling slightly.