Page 5 of Plus-Size Bratva Bride

She is crouched low and crying now. Too scared to run and looking frozen in place. Another bullet smacks into the wall just above her head.

“I have to get her!” I shout to my brothers.

“Go, we’ll cover you!” Renat yells.

I rush forward, darting between cars and using whatever I can to shield myself from their continuous fire.

My brothers keep up a steady wall of bullets to make sure the Enzo’s are occupied and distracted.

I reach the side of the restaurant and duck as I run along the wall towards where she is huddled against the bricks.

Crouching low, I wrap my arm around her.

“Are you hit?” I ask.

She looks at me and screams, her eyes wide with terror. Realizing I am wearing full Kevlar gear and a face mask, I don’t blame her for screaming. But there is no time to explain right now.

I quickly clasp my hand over her mouth and lift her in my arms.

I can’t have her causing them to look this way.

With her held against my chest, I bolt back around to the side of the building.

She is starting to kick and fight a bit.

“Stop,” I say, grabbing her wrists. “I’m trying to get you out of here.”

She stops and stares at me with a blank expression. She’s in shock. I can see it in her eyes.

I glance towards my brothers.

Signaling to Ruvim, I indicate that I’m going to take his car and they should retreat and take mine.

He signals back, confirming he understood.

I run towards Ruvim’s SUV and pull the door open, throwing her across the driver’s seat and into the passenger seat. She huffs and whimpers loudly, huddling against the seat with her legs pulled against her chest. I yank my face mask off and toss it onto the back seat. Her eyes go wide for a second when she sees my face, but then she quickly looks away, almost appearing embarrassed.

The engine revs as I pull away, going around the back of the building to make sure we don’t get caught in any additional cross fire.

Glancing over towards her, I see she is still crying. But I can’t do anything about that right now. My priority is getting her out of here.

The tires skid around corners while I drive through the city towards my property. I don’t know where else to go with her. My mansion is going to be the safest place for her, at least for tonight.

She turns her head towards me, and I catch a glimpse of just how bright green her eyes are. Hazel, almost yellow. It’s the first time I’ve really noticed her features, how beautiful she is.

Even through the fear in her expression.

I reach out and gently touch her leg. “We are almost somewhere safe. I promise you it’s going to be ok,” I say as gently as I can.

She shifts in the passenger seat and bites at her lower lip. The sight of her distracting me from my driving for a second. I quickly turn away.

I need to focus.

“Why—why was everyone shooting?” she stammers.

“We can talk when we get somewhere safe, ok, let me just get us there,” I reassure her, honestly not even sure who she is and what I am supposed to tell her.

Thank goodness no one follows us from the restaurant.

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