Bratvas vow, p.4
Bratva's Vow, page 4
Viktor nodded and hauled the man’s unconscious body toward the back, leaving a smeared red trail where his shoes dragged across the tile.
I turned back to the others, every inch of me thrumming with the need for more blood, more justice, more something to offset the image in my head of what could have happened. I exhaled slowly, letting the rage settle into its usual, manageable boil.
I faced the remaining workers, calm again.
“If any of you are still confused about how serious this is,” I said quietly, “let me make it clear. A bullet was fired in this building. Not a prop. Not a laser. A real bullet meant to kill me. But more importantly, it could have killed the one person I care about more than anyone.”
Silence settled over the room, heavy and charged. From the facial expressions they understood where I was going.
“You may not understand who I am. Some of you may think you’ve met dangerous men before. Gangsters. Thugs. Thieves. But I am not one of them.”
I took a step forward, and they shrank back instinctively.
“I am not just a man with money or power. I am a Bratva Pakhan, and there is no corner of this country where my reach does not extend. If I want someone found, they are found. If I want someone gone, they vanish.”
Casey’s hand flew to her mouth, her eyes wide.
“I do not harm the innocent. You do not need to fear me if you return to your lives and pretend this day never happened. If you don’t get involved in my business, I will never set foot in this building again.”
My voice was soft now, almost conversational.
“But if you so much as whisper about what happened here, if a single word reaches the wrong ear, if I get picked up by the police, even for a second, none of you will live long enough to regret it.”
I gave them a thin, cold smile.
“Not because I’ll send someone. But because they’ll already be watching. And they’ll be very eager to clean up the mess.”
Casey was shaking. I almost felt bad for her. Almost. But men who were afraid kept their mouths shut. Those who tried to be brave? I buried them.
Bravery wasn’t worth the cost. Some learned only too late that the philosophy of truth sounded noble until your tongue was in a box and your body nowhere to be found.
I looked at each of them, then exhaled, my shoulders settling a little.
“This was supposed to be a nice, relaxing afternoon.” I sighed. “A chance to have fun. To give the man I love a good memory. Instead, I have to go home and lie to him about why our day ended early. Because a coworker of yours decided to entertain a bit of fun at the expense of my life.”
I gave one final glance around the room.
“Be smart. Stay silent. And this can end here.”
Then I turned and walked away, the slap of my shoes against the floor the only sound in the quiet room. Behind me, no one moved.
No one dared.
CHAPTER FIVE
MAXIM
It was after midnight when Darius pulled the car up to the curb in front of Wren and Jess’s building. The city outside was quiet for once, streetlights bleeding into puddles, everything washed in silver and shadows.
We didn’t get out. Neither of us moved. I stared at the dash, listening to the engine tick as it cooled, feeling wired and hollow all at once. The taste of adrenaline still lingered at the back of my throat, bitter and electric.
The hours after the shooting had blurred together: the clipboard man’s cries, the cold snap of bone under my knuckles, the long hours as we combed through the rest of the security footage of TagX to identify the shooter, fruitlessly chasing a ghost until we caught him. Finally finding out who was behind the murder attempt.
The chief of police.
Two people dead to finally get the truth, and we still hadn’t caught the bastard. He was on vacation. A coincidence? Absolutely not. He’d used the cover of vacation to send his family out of town while organizing a scheme to murder me. He didn’t even have the balls to do it himself but had paid an amateur whose dismembered body was stacked neatly in his closet at his home.
I didn’t believe for a second the chief had left the city. No way he would miss the opportunity to take a front-row seat to my murder if they’d succeeded. He was still in this city, waiting, watching, and I wouldn’t stop until I found him.
The fucking bastard thought he could profit off me for years, then get rid of me because he didn’t like me showing up at the station and threatening him? The biggest mistake he made was not finishing the job.
We’d had emergency meetings, calls to men I trusted, the other families who’d joined forces within my Bratva organization, and then more calls to those I didn’t trust. Security doubled, tripled. Every one of my people on alert.
And now this.
I had to face Wren and explain why I’d been gone all day. Why I’d ignored his text messages and attempts to call me while I was “working.” Why I could only give him half truths and lies.
“You sure you want to stay here tonight?” Darius asked. “You could rest and tackle everything in the morning.”
“No, it’s better to do it now.” I rubbed a hand over my jaw, then pressed my knuckles to my temple. “I just need a minute.”
He nodded but didn’t move to open his door. Silence stretched between us, not uncomfortable, just weighted.
I glanced over at him, the shadowed car making it difficult to see his features clearly. “How trustworthy is Jess?”
He huffed out a tired breath and stiffened beside me. “Why?”
“I’m thinking she needs to know the truth.” My voice sounded flat, even to my own ears. “If something happens… If Wren starts to get suspicious, I need someone close to him who understands the real risk. Who understands that my lies are only because I want to keep him safe. Someone who can help me do that.”
Darius fell silent, but I liked that he understood how serious the question was and deserved consideration. “Jess is solid. I believe in her. I don’t think she’ll freak out if we tell her, but she’ll not be fond of lying to Wren.”
“You’re not concerned I’m dragging her into this?”
“Sure, I’m concerned, but she’s already involved by her association with Wren and being involved with me and Nik. Honestly, I’d rather she knows so she doesn’t get blindsided and can watch her back when we’re not around.”
I glanced up at the apartment building. “Jess deserves her own security detail. I’d hate for anything to happen to her because she’s close to Wren.”
“She’s going to love that. Nik and I will make sure she gets the best.”
Guilt slid beneath my ribs. I could trust Jess with the truth, trust her to stand strong and adapt. But I couldn’t offer Wren the same. I couldn’t risk it. The thought of Wren’s fear, of him looking at me with horror or disgust, made my stomach twist.
“He can’t know,” I said quietly, almost to myself. “Not yet.”
Darius inclined his head toward me. “For what it’s worth, I think that’s best for now. Wren’s…soft. Unpredictable.”
Or maybe way too predictable.
I pressed my eyes shut for a second. “It’s decided, then. We’ll tell Jess.”
Darius and I rode the elevator up in silence. The dim light from the ceiling bulb did little to soften the growing tension between us. We both knew that telling Jess could make or break Wren’s safety, and it was a gamble we had no choice but to take.
When we reached the door, Darius knocked lightly. The door swung open almost immediately, revealing Jess, barefoot, wearing a short purple silk kimono wrap. Her face was fresh with not a hint of makeup—the first time I was seeing her without it. She looked way younger barefaced, and I felt a twinge of hesitation.
What if Darius was wrong about her ability to keep a secret from Wren? What if she didn’t keep it from Wren?
“Finally, you’re here.” She stepped aside to let me in, then cupped Darius’s face and kissed him. “You okay?”
“Yeah, I’m good. Just had a lot to do.”
She nodded. “Nik’s here in the kitchen. I got tea, or if you want something stronger, I have that too. Wren’s out cold.”
Her tone was light, but her eyes flicked between us like a scanner. She knew something was off. Maybe it was for the best that we’d decided to tell her the truth. She wasn’t as gullible as Wren. A simple lie wouldn’t work with her.
Nik was leaning against the kitchen counter, arms crossed like he and Jess had been waiting up for us. When we entered, he straightened slightly and gave a nod.
“Just a bottle of water,” I said. “Room temperature.”
We gathered around the kitchen table, the faint scent of chamomile tea hanging in the air. Nik handed me a bottle of water, his movements measured and calm. I thanked him with a brisk nod, took a long sip, and set it down on the table.
“How’s Sergei?” he asked.
“At home, resting. Not as bad as I’d feared.”
“Good. I tried calling him, but no one was answering.”
“Lost his phone in the whole mess. We’ve had the contents erased.”
Jess took a seat next to Darius, handing him a cup of tea. Nik stood behind them both, rubbing his thumb over a pressure point at the back of Jess’s neck.
“Was Sergei hurt that badly?” She glanced between Darius and me. “Here I thought it was a minor incident, but you two are back past midnight, looking like you lost a fight with the devil.”
Darius let out a tired laugh and pressed a kiss to her temple. Nik kissed the top of her head. “Let’s not pry, babe. I’m sure Maxim has a good explanation.”
His look said I better had one because Jess wouldn’t be so easily persuaded like Wren. I frowned. How to begin? It wasn’t every day I had to share with someone that I was a Pakhan. She probably wouldn’t even know what that meant.
Jess tilted her head at me. “Okay, enough with the suspense. You’re all killing me. Spill it. What’s going on? And I mean the real story. I can tell you’re hiding something from me.”
I hesitated. Only for a breath. “Sergei was shot while we were playing laser tag earlier. That’s why we had to get you and Wren out of there.”
The words hit the room like a dropped glass. Jess blinked. Slowly. “Wait, what? Who would want to shoot Sergei? Did the police catch them?”
“Not exactly. They’re not involved.”
“Not involved? Someone was shot. Why wouldn’t you want the police involved to find the culprit? What are you? In the mob? Are you going to handle it yourself?”
Silence closed around us. Jess’s face paled. She looked at each of us in turn.
“Oh my god, are you in the mob?”
“Yes.” My voice was steady. “And the chief of police is the person who ordered the hit.”
“You’re joking, right?”
“Maxim’s not only in the mob, babe.” Darius reached across and take Jess’s hand, squeezed. “He’s the Pakhan. That’s the leader of our Bratva.”
“Bratva? Then that means you two…?”
“Work for the Bratva.”
“You’re serious? Like Mafia serious?”
“Yes,” I said.
Jess got up slowly from her chair, backing up until she walked into the refrigerator. Had we been wrong about her? Because she looked like she was about to freak out.
“What the actual fuck.” She covered her mouth with her hands, dropped them, then inhaled deeply. “You can’t be in the Bratva. Wren’s going to fucking flip when he finds out.”
I blinked once. Then blinked again. That was it? Her concern was for Wren? Not that, given what we told her, she had three dangerous killers in her apartment?
Darius wore a huge smile on his face that screamed, “That’s my girl.”
And for a split second, I envied him being able to get this reaction out of Jess. But Wren, being the way he was—which I loved about him—would overreact and cause more damage. Still, I wouldn’t change his sweet, innocent nature for all the world. Even if it meant I had to lie to him.
“That’s why Wren can’t find out,” I said. “At least not yet.”
“You expect me to keep this from him? I’m his best friend. The only family he’s got.”
I stared at Darius. Narrowed my eyes, giving him that “talk to your woman” look.
“Sweetheart, we’re telling you because we don’t think it’s wise for both you and Wren to be left in the dark.” He got up from his seat, walked over to her, and cupped her shoulders. “We want you both to be safe, and we’ll provide you with your own bodyguard.”
“A bodyguard for me?” She tugged at Darius’s shirt. “Will he be as hot as you and Nik?”
Darius scowled, but Nik was laughing. “Jess.”
“I’m joking, babe.” Jess rolled her eyes, even as she leaned back into Darius’s touch. “I figure surviving a mob confession, harboring two Mafia boyfriends, and being the proud roommate of an oblivious potential target of a hit that I’ve earned at least one inappropriate joke.”
“You were right, Darius.” I linked my fingers. “She handled that well. But, Jess, like you said, Wren won’t react the same way you did. I need time to explain this to him when it’s right, but in the meantime, our priority is to keep you both safe. Tomorrow I’ll take Wren out, and we’ll have a team come in during that time to beef up security. Unfortunately, regarding the hotness of your new bodyguard, Nik and Darius have to sign off on that one.”
“If Wren finds out I knew about this when he didn’t—”
“He’ll appreciate you looking out for him.”
“Will he?” She narrowed her eyes. “He’s already suspicious. You think he won’t notice when you start breathing down his neck twenty-four seven?”
“I know it won’t be easy,” I admitted. “But I’m not ready to lose him. And telling him would risk exactly that.”
“I don’t know, Maxim. I don’t want to betray Wren. Fucking hell. I can’t believe you’re in the mob.”
“It’s a shock, but listen to me, Jess. My only intention here is to protect you and Wren from being touched by my world. I can’t have anything happening to that boy in there. All I’m asking is you give me time to explain the situation to him. If he finds out now, he’ll—there’s a possibility he will want to end our relationship, but that’s not an option right now.” It would never be an option. “The people who are after me won’t care how he feels. All that matters is that I care deeply for him and they won’t hesitate to hurt him because of me.”
Jess tilted her head, reading me with that razor-sharp insight that made her both maddening and invaluable.
“You really love him, huh?”
I didn’t answer. Didn’t need to.
Everything I was doing was all for Wren.
“I know it’s not fair to ask this of you, but can I count on you?”
“Fine, but you have to tell him as soon as possible.”
“You’re an amazing friend. Thank you.”
“One more question.” Jess’s hand shot up like she was in a classroom. “As long as I am being roped into this, what’s the price for silence on the black market these days? Because there are these new Louboutins I’ve been eyeing…”
I grinned, climbing to my feet. “Done, but so you know, you could have bargained for more. Way much more.”
“Wait, I’ve changed my mind—”
“Too late, Jess.”
“Fucking hell, babe.” Nik groaned. “It’s not professional to hit up our boss like that. If you wanted Loubotins we’d have pooled our salary together so we could put them on layaway.”
I left them laughing softly in the kitchen, Jess standing between her men like a queen with two fiercely loyal knights. Nik was being modest. With what I paid him and Darius, they could more than afford Louboutins. They might not be Morozov rich but they were Morozov-associate rich. Darius was my third in command after Archie and Sergei. And I’d cut Nik a hefty severance package when I let him go. On top of that, Wren paid him an obscene amount for being his driver and bodyguard.
As much as my brain refused to acknowledge another person sharing Wren, I was happy for them. Jess deserved them and they deserved her—her beauty, her wit, her bravery.
Now to convince Wren he can love a Pakhan.
The door to Wren’s bedroom was ajar, soft moonlight spilling through the blinds and striping the floor like silver bars. I slipped inside without a sound, closing the door gently behind me.
Wren was tangled in the sheets, his face half-buried in the pillow, lips parted in sleep. He looked so young like this. Soft. Untroubled. Like the world hadn’t tried to hurt him yet.
God, I love him.
Quietly, I kicked off my shoes and unbuttoned my shirt, then tossed it over the chair by the window. I crawled into his small bed next to him and barely got the covers over us before Wren shifted in his sleep and rolled right into me. Like a magnet to metal. Like he knew.
He mumbled something I didn’t catch and pressed his face against my chest. One of his hands slid up, fisting the fabric of my undershirt like he needed to make sure I wouldn’t disappear.
I wrapped both arms around him and stroked the back of his head, slow and rhythmic. “I’m here,” I whispered, my lips against his temple. “I’ve got you.”
He settled, his breathing evening out. The weight of his body, the heat of him, the trust in that unguarded movement—it broke something open in my chest.
I didn’t deserve this.
But there was no rule, no oath, no moral line I wouldn’t shatter to hold on to this. I’d soak the world in gasoline, torch every bridge, and smile while everything suffocated on smoke if it meant he was safe in my arms.
I was on the brink of sleep, lulled by the steady rhythm of his breath, when he shifted again. This time with a low, distressed sound. A whimper, barely audible. Then a soft groan. His legs twitched under the blanket. A choked gasp slipped from his lips, his body going rigid for a moment before he started to tremble.
I snapped on the bedside lamp, then reached for him. “Wren—”
His body jerked, his arms twitching as if he were trying to push something—or someone—away. His fingers dug into my side, hard enough to sting.
