If my instincts were correct, the gunfire came from the side of the house. How the fuckers had gotten in when the front was gated and patrolled by my men was beyond me and something I’d figure out later.
“What the fuck is going on?” Alexsey yelled as he raced toward me.
Something caught my attention at the corner of my eye and I shoved Alexsey, pitching him to the ground a split second before I fired off two quick shots.
A man dressed in black with a mask covering his face fell to the ground.
“Shit,” Alexsey huffed, jumping to his feet.
I spun around in another circle, glancing up at the windows of Nina’s bedroom and playroom. There was nothing. Maybe they hadn’t been disturbed.
“I’ll get the women inside. Where’s Lainey and the kids?” Alexsey continued to scan the outside.
Alexsey was as unnerved as I was. His Emily was missing.
“Upstairs.”
“My baby. My baby!” Halle flew toward us, Alexsey grabbing her.
“Breathe, baby. Emily is upstairs with Lainey. Go inside. Don’t argue with me. Stay low.” Alexsey pushed her gently, kissing the top of her head.
“I need my little girl. I’m not stopping,” Halle insisted.
“No, Halle. Do as Alexsey says,” I threw out. Just then, another round of gunfire shattered the air.
“Go!” Alexsey snarled, pushing her away. “I’ll get our baby back.”
“Come on. Come on!” Jaxon was shouting, trying to round up the women. I even noticed my father had a weapon in his hand.
No one dared challenge the Dmitriyev Bratva.
At least and live.
The melee continued, but I was able to lose focus on everything that didn’t matter. The only thing I cared about was whether my family, including the woman who’d jarred me awake, was safe.
I noticed Mikhail and Vissarian to the left and I took off running. Another assassin popped up. Mikhail must have seen the look on my face. He dropped and rolled, firing off three rounds.
There was still more gunfire and we made a human shield while the women were being rushed to the house.
One assailant came out of nowhere, clocking me on the side of the head. Pain exploded, the taste of blood forming in my mouth.
My reactions were swift. Ignoring the anguish, I threw a brutal punch, but he’d been prepared, the blow minimal.
Now my rage was kicking in. With no ability to get a clean shot, I slammed my weapon against the side of his head. He went down.
That’s when I pulled the trigger, catching him right between the eyes.
Caterers were running away from the house on the other side from where our women had been taken. Oh, fuck me. There was one inside.
DiAngelo was suddenly right beside me, managing to grab one of the perpetrators before he could fire off a shot. From what little I’d been able to decipher about the assailants, they were highly trained and organized. The fact they were dressed in all black meant they were trying to hide their identities.
A number of organizations could have sent them.
The other Russian group we’d faced.
The Irish who were our constant irritation.
Or members of our own family still in Moscow. That was my bet since word on the street provided a more comprehensive picture on what the war with Ukraine was doing to criminal elements inside Russia.
