Page 82 of Scarred Bratva King

“For Veronica,” I say, my voice firm. “And the child.”

Ivan leans against the doorframe, crossing his arms. “How much are we talking?”

“Every penny I have,” I reply, leaning back in my chair. “Enough that she never has to worry. Cover everything—medical bills, education, her bookstore. Whatever she needs.”

He studies me for a moment, his gaze sharp but unreadable. “You planning to die soon?”

I don’t answer directly. Instead, I tap the pen against the desk, my thoughts racing. “If something happens to me during this attack on Vito, I want her to have everything.”

Ivan stares at me, his lips pressed into a thin line. “Are you sure about this?”

“She’s the only thing that matters now,” I admit, the words slipping out before I can stop them. “If I don’t come back, I need to know she’s cared for. That they’re both set for life.”

There’s a pause, heavy with unspoken understanding. He nods, his usual smirk replaced by something more serious. “I’ll handle it.”

“Good.”

He moves to leave but stops at the door, glancing back at me. “You know, you could just tell her how you feel. Might be easier than whatever this is.”

I shake my head, the corners of my mouth pulling into a bitter smile. “She doesn’t want me, Ivan. Not like this. She made that clear.”

“Or you’re so certain you’ll hurt her that you’re not willing to take a risk.” He gives me one last nod. “Life’s about risk, boss. Know who taught me that?”

“Me.”

“Exactly.”

38

MAXIM

The room is cold, dimly lit by the overhead fluorescent lights.

A large table stretches before me, covered in maps, blueprints, and photos of Vito Lombardi’s compound. The tension is palpable, the air heavy with the gravity of what’s to come.

Dmitri leans over the table, his finger tracing the perimeter of the compound on the map. Ivan stands to his left, flipping through a dossier filled with detailed intelligence.

“Before he died, we got a lot of intel from Lombardi’s man,” I say. “Dmitri, what’s the entry point?”

“Here,” Dmitri says, tapping the blueprint. “The west gate. It’s the least guarded. Won’t be easy though. Lot of alarms.”

“Doesn’t have to be easy,” I reply, my voice flat. “It just has to work.”

Ivan smirks, leaning back against the wall. “That’s the spirit. Go in hard, make some noise, and let the message spread. Everyone in our world will know who’s in charge now.”

Dmitri nods, his expression grim. “Are you sure about this? Taking him on at his compound. It’ll be secure.”

“It’ll also send a message to anyone else who thinks they can take us on in the future. Hit his home. Burn it to the ground.” I smile coldly. “Ideally with him inside it.”

Ivan chuckles darkly. “Well, I’d hate to be in his shoes right now. Not with you coming for him.”

Dmitri hands me a file, his tone turning sharp and professional. “We’ve got three teams. One for the perimeter, one for extraction, and ours for the main assault. If anyone gets in our way, they’re gone.”

“We?” I reply. “You’re retired.”

“Who’ll bail you out when you fuck up,” he says with a wink. “I’m coming. But what are we doing about the security system?”

“Leave that to me.”

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