Page 83 of Bought By the Ruthless Pakhan

When the car burst through the gate, it sealed shut behind me with a low metallic clang.

The doctor was waiting in the living room.

He worked on my arm without much talk, cutting away the blood-soaked sleeve. When the antiseptic hit the wound, I ground my back teeth.

The bullet had only grazed me, missing bone. Five stitches, wrapped in thick white gauze.

"Ivan, whoever did this means business," the doctor said, packing up his tools. "Watch yourself."

I nodded and lit a cigarette. The nicotine sank into my lungs but couldn't suppress the fire in my chest.

Didn't need to guess. Sergei's people.

They'd finally made their move.

After the last purge, we'd cut their forces in half. The survivors crawled into corners to lick their wounds. Now the wounds were healed, and their teeth were sharp again.

I wasn't afraid of dying. The moment I entered this life, I'd strapped my life to my belt.

But losing Anna and the kids—that would destroy me.

I crushed out the cigarette, grinding the butt into the ashtray.

One thought kept circling—bring her here. My security was top-tier. Round-the-clock patrols, infrared surveillance covering every inch of the grounds. Sergei's people would have an easier time flying to the moon than breaking in here.

If Anna stayed here, she'd be a hell of a lot safer than in that cramped little apartment.

That apartment had an old spring lock on the door. Anyone with half a brain could pick it.

And Alex was with her—a four-year-old kid. If something happened, how would they escape?

Thinking about it made my blood boil. I wanted to drive over there right now and bring them back, lock them somewhere I could see them.

But...

Anna still pushed me away. She wouldn't come with me.

I sighed, feeling helpless.

Finally, I called Dmitri and told him to send the best men he had. Twenty-four-hour surveillance on Anna, not a second of slack.

Cameras in the apartment. Eyes on the street. Real-time tracking of her phone and location. Wherever she went, whatever she did, I needed eyes on her. No mistakes.

Long silence on the line.

Then Dmitri's voice came through.

"Boss, you sound like a goddamn stalker."

That bastard was actually calling me out.

I took a deep breath. Didn't argue.

A stalker? Fine. As long as Anna and Alex were safe, I'd be a stalker for the rest of my life.

Chapter Twenty-One

Anna