Dmitriy frowned and turned to look at Nikolai.“You think I didn’t have a plan in place?The only problem was, they needed proof of life, and I needed you to go to the right person to initiate it.We’re going to make it out of here alive.That, I guarantee.”
He grabbed Anastasia’s hand, and he was not going to let her go.He had vowed he would protect her, always.
Keeping a grip on her hand, they made their way up and out of the basement.Dmitriy didn’t know what they were going to find, but seeing Gnesin Bratva soldiers was a huge sigh of relief.
Chapter Twelve
Three Weeks Later
Dmitriy stood in front of Nikolai Gnesin’s desk, where just three weeks ago sat the head of operations for the Gambino Mafia.They had gotten to Babkin, along with a couple of other families, promising wealth and power, but it had all been a trick.They had been able to take Nikolai captive, kill his staff, his family, and kill the soldiers that had been close to him.
Of course, they hadn’t realized that Nikolai always had a backup plan.The only snag in that plan was the soldiers in waiting, needed proof of life.Dmitriy didn’t know Nikolai had also contacted Jack over the years and put the paranoid genius at the head of his survival.The moment he and Anastasia went to Jack, they had helped initiate the backup plan.
The soldiers had proof of life, which was all they needed to move in, take back Gnesin’s mansion, and kill the Gambinos.The past three weeks had been busy.The Gambinos had attempted to flee but didn’t stand a chance.
The Babkins had turned on Nikolai Gnesin, but the leader of the Bratva had spared Anastasia Babkin.She hadn’t run.She had attempted to risk her own life to protect and save Nikolai, and for that, he had granted her freedom.
Dmitriy hadn’t stopped her, but he knew where she was and what she was doing.He knew she was safe.That was all that mattered.Although he didn’t say anything, he did miss her.
“Ask me?”Nikolai asked.
Dmitriy frowned.“I don’t know what you mean.”
Nikolai smiled.“You have done everything you needed to do.I am safe and, well, you have seen to that.”He got to his feet and rounded the desk.
“Everything is back to the way it should be.”
“Within reason.Trust me, it is going to take some time before everything is back to where it needs to be.Which is why I am wondering why you are here and not with your girl.”Nikolai leaned on the front of his desk, and Dmitriy looked at him with a raised brow.“I’m not a stupid man, Dmitriy.I know the Babkin girl is the one you want, and yet you sit here and you do what?Wait?Hide?”
“I don’t hide.”
“I gave Anastasia freedom, and now I am giving you yours.”
Dmitriy looked toward Nikolai.
“I know, it makes no sense to free the one man who figured out I was being held captive, but Anastasia does not want this life, and I feel that, in time, neither will you.You need to go and be with your woman.Trust me on this.The love of a good woman is hard to find.Look at me, I have no wife, no children, and a lot of enemies.I am giving you what you deserve, Dmitriy.You have fought for the last time.”
