Page 38 of Her Courage

My hands curled into fists. The familiar burn of rage licked through my veins—the kind I'd spent years learning to control.

"Viktor," I said simply.

Kaleb's eyes widened. "What?"

"He owes me." I pulled out my phone, scrolling to find his name in my contact list. "He has resources. Connections. Can make sure Sierra and her family are protected while we build the case. I'd ask Sergei, but he already sent his best here to back us up."

"Andrei—"

"I know what I'm doing." I met his gaze. "This isn't about reconciliation. This is business. Protection for family. He'll understand that. He knows I'm still not fully ready to forgive him and pretend the past didn't happen. He's trying. He'll help. Even if we hadn't started speaking again, he'd help. Family, remember?"

Lottie stirred between us, a soft sound escaping her lips. We both froze, waiting, but she simply burrowed deeper into Kaleb's chest.

"What about the club?" Kaleb's voice dropped even lower. "Patrice mentioned it specifically. If she has names⁠—"

"She doesn't." I was certain of it. "We keep those records sealed tighter than Fort Knox. But we need to warn the members. Give them a heads up about potential media scrutiny."

Colby snorted in his sleep, his head lolling to the side. Still dead to the world.

Lucky bastard.

"I'll contact the board in the morning," Kaleb said. "Emergency meeting. We'll implement the crisis protocol we established."

"Good."

We sat in silence for a long moment. The TV continued its white noise. Lottie's breathing stayed even.

"She can't come for Lottie again," Kaleb finally said. His eyes were haunted when they met mine. "I'll kill her myself if she tries."

I'd never heard Kaleb speak of killing anyone. Not in all our years together.

"She won't." I squeezed his shoulder. "Marshall has her. The recording is solid. Between the extortion, the threats, the gun⁠—"

"The gun." Kaleb's voice cracked. "She brought a fucking gun to threaten our girl."

"I know."

His hand trembled where it rested on Lottie's back. The careful control he always maintained was fracturing.

"She could have—if Lottie had refused⁠—"

"But she didn't." I gripped his shoulder harder. "Our girl is safe. Right here. Between us where she belongs."

Kaleb sucked in a shuddering breath. Then another. Working to rein himself back in.

"We need a plan," he said finally. "For when Patrice makes bail. Because you know she will."

"Already working on it." I glanced down at my phone, where messages from Sergei were starting to come through. "Mikhail is here. Plus two others. They're watching the house. The office. Lottie's old condo, just in case."

"You called in Bratva soldiers." It wasn't a question.

"I called in family." I met his gaze squarely. "Men I trust with my life. With her life. They owe me nothing, but they'll do this because Sergei asked. Because that's what family does." I'd keep saying it until Kaleb finally believed it. But I didn't blame him. His childhood and family was fucked up.

I'd been away from my family for years. Now that I was back in touch with Sergei, the rest of the family welcomed me back into the fold. In whatever capacity it was. I may not be Bratva anymore, but I had the full weight of them behind me.

Kaleb nodded slowly. The trust in his eyes—the relief—made something in my chest ease.

"Thank you."