If she’s with me.
The only way to keep her safe is to leave … or to kill Nikolai.
But he’s holed up in his headquarters. I haven’t found a way in that doesn’t mean all-out war.
I’m tough, always have been. But can I take on the Bratva’s army single-handled?
I climb into the car. Start the engine.
But there’s a mental block inside of me. Like one more mile, hell, one more inch away from Rose will destroy me forever.
I close my eyes for a moment and foresee two futures.
In one I’m with Rose. She’s wearing some hip-hugging jeans with a pencil tucked behind her ear, giving directions to her assistants as she transforms a house into a home.
In the other, she’s with another man. His hand wrapped around her.
Maybe she could be happy. Maybe she could forget about me.
But I’ll never forget about her.
And deep in the recesses of my soul, a place that was bleak and dark before her, I know she’d be happier with me. That I’d work my ass off to give her the life she deserves.
I grip the steering wheel so hard my knuckles turn white.
I’m not running.
Which means I have to fight.
I was worried about storming the headquarters before.
But that was before I had Rose as my motivation.
I parkup two blocks from The Iron Cellar. I’ve already put my bulletproof vest on. I’m wearing a thick jacket packed with weapons. Guns, knives, a pair of gloves with knuckle dusters woven into the fabric.
Any time doubt tries to grip me, I think of Rose. I think about giving her the chance to pursue her dreams without the shadow of the Bratva hanging over us.
I think of the way she moans and smiles and the confidence that flooded into her last night… confidence I want to see again.
Climbing from the car, I stalk down alleyways, hands twitching.
This could be the last thing I ever do.
Two guards flank the doors, tattoos crawling all over their bodies. A little shorter than me, but still ready for a fight.
I walk directly up to them. Sergei tilts his head.
“I thought you were in hiding,” he says.
“I’m here for blood,” I growl, glancing at Viktor. “I’m here for Nikolai. I’m giving you a fair warning. Get out of here before the shooting starts or you’ll lie in the ground with the Pakhan.”
Sergei spits. “And if we don’t?”
I straighten up. For almost a minute, the men study me in silence. Weigh up how serious I am. Weigh up if I have what it takes to do this.
Only a madman would storm the Cellar alone.
“Fuck this,” Viktor grunts, ducking his head and walking away.
