Page 137 of Bratva Menace

Like a fucking idiot, I believed him.

I’d been halfway through clearing the house—which had turned out to be pretty useless because everyone inside was dead anyway—when I caught a glimpse of them through the window. Lev, holding Lukyan at gunpoint.

I’d never run so fast in my fucking life. I made it outside just in time to fire a warning shot over my brother’s head before he pulled the trigger.

“Lev! Stop!” I yelled out again, trying to keep the tremor out of my voice.

The gun didn’t move, still aiming unwaveringly at Lukyan. I had to remind myself to stay strong, despite the fear almost smothering me.

“Turn away, Lyla,” Lev said, voice rough.

I shook my head. “No. Lev, don’t do this. Put the gun down.”

“Turn. Away. Lyla!” he roared, moving forward quickly to shove the gun right up against Lukyan’s temple, making him wince. Lukyan didn’t move otherwise, his hands remaining in the air, palms facing outward, showing he wasn’t a threat.

Panic gripped me tightly in its claws. One wrong move, one wrong word, and Lukyan would be dead.

Behind them, I could see Dimitri and Autumn. Dimitri was lying flat on his back, unconscious or dead, I wasn’t sure. The front of his shirt was drenched in blood. Tears streamed down Autumn’s face as she tried to stem the blood pouring out of Dimitri’s chest like a free-flowing river.

He’d done it.

He’d fucking done it.

He’d shot Dimitri. Most likely killed him. And it still wasn’t enough for him. Lev wanted more.

“You promised me,” I cried.

That seemed to be the wrong thing to say. It only angered him further.

“You promised me!” he snarled, the gun almost shaking with fury. “You promised me you would always have my back. That you would help me⁠—”

“I did help you! Even when I didn’t agree with your plan, I helped you, Lev. I helped you more than anyone because you don’t have anyone else. I’m it. All you have. And if you do this⁠—”

“What?!” he roared. “You’ll what?!”

I moved my gun an inch downward, letting my movement speak for itself.

His eyes widened. Realization snaked into his features, making his face drop slightly. “You’d…kill me?” he breathed out in shock.

I said nothing, unable to even voice the words. The truth of it was, I wasn’t even sure if I was capable of killing him. He was my brother. I loved him. But I loved Lukyan too.

Lev shook his head. “You’d choose this lying sack of shit over me? Your own fucking brother?!”

“Don’t make me choose,” I whispered softly. Begged. Tears stung behind my eyes. I was powerless not to let them fall. The whole thing was tearing me apart from the inside out. I hated the position Lev was putting me in. The choice he was forcing me to make. To save someone I love by killing another person I love.

It was an unimaginable choice, an impossible task, and he was asking it of me regardless.

It wasn’t fair.

Lukyan’s eyes were on me. I could feel them, even if I wasn’t looking directly at them. I always knew when his eyes were on me. It was a feeling I got, deep in my soul. In my heart. I moved my gaze to him, and he smiled sadly. “It’s okay, baby. It’s okay. Just go. Get out of here. Quickly. I don’t want anything to happen to you.”

He wanted me to go? To just leave him? To die? I couldn’t do that.

Lukyan didn’t move. Didn’t attempt to get away. Whether that was because he knew there would be no escape, I wasn’t sure. He just stared at me, eyes sad and filled with unshed tears. The smile was still on his face, almost as if he had accepted his fate, and was resigned to it.

The pain of seeing that look from him hurt more than words could ever describe.

“It shouldn’t even be a choice, Lyla!” Lev blasted. “I’m your brother. I’m your family.”