Page 5 of Bratva Hostage

At that, her eyes widen. She rises on shaky legs. “You found me?”

“We did.” I beckon her forward. “Can you walk?”

She swallows. “Yes… I think so.” She edges closer. I notice more bruises on her wrists. That only increases my resolve to see Thorne pay for this.

One of my men checks the hallway. “All clear,” he informs us.

I set a steady hand on Cecily’s elbow. “Stay behind us. We’re leaving.

She nods. “Where’s my father?”

“Upstairs. My brothers have him cornered.” I pause, searching her face. “Don’t worry. You’re our priority.”

We guide Cecily out of the basement, stepping past the guard I shot. She doesn’t flinch at the sight. Doesn’t slow down. The girl has been in the thick of this world long enough to know what survival looks like.

Upstairs, more of our men sweep the halls. Aleksei steps out from a side room, and I note the irritation carved deep into every line on his face.

“Thorne slipped through a hidden exit,” he grumbles. “Breach in the wall. Must’ve had it set up for a quick escape.”

I let out a sharp exhale. Not unexpected for a worm like him, but still infuriating. “Doesn’t matter. We have her.”

She stands between me and Viktor, and Aleksei meets her eyes. “You’ll be safe now.”

She doesn’t look convinced. “Safe,” she snickers.

“Your father’s on the run again,” I point out. “Without you. No leverage. He’ll be desperate.”

Her posture loosens a bit, but she nods. She understands what that means.

“He won’t stop,” she fills in the gaps. “Not until I’m back under his control.”

She’s right. Evan Thorne doesn’t let go of what’s his, not unless he’s forced to. If I let her walk out of here now, she won’t get far before he finds her again.

I can’t allow that.

I glance at Aleksei, and in one look, we settle the matter. This isn’t just about Cecily anymore. Keeping her close is the only way to neutralize Thorne’s power. She’s the last chain he has to this war. We take her out of play, and his grip weakens.

I look back at her now. “We’ll protect you.”

“Oh, really?” she scoffs. “And how do you plan to do that?”

“You’re coming with me,” I declare.

A beat of silence. Then she lifts her chin and opens her mouth to say something. No doubt to refuse and make this difficult, if the look on her face is any indication. But I don’t give her time to argue. I turn and nod toward the door. “Let’s go.”

Chapter 2 - Cecily

I jolt awake, disoriented by the lavish bed and velvet linens wrapped around me. This isn’t one of my father’s grimy hideouts, where worn sofas double as mattresses and guards hover outside every door. It takes me a minute, but once the memory returns, my heart plummets into my stomach. Dimitri Barkov and his men stormed the warehouse. Gunshots. Shouts. Then the moment he told me in that icy voice, I was coming with him.

I sit up and rest my back against a tufted headboard. Everything in this room screams wealth: gilded frames on the walls, an ornate chest of drawers, and a thick rug underfoot to complete the opulent picture. I’ve spent so long on the move, never comfortable, never safe, and certainly never surrounded by anything this pristine, and it makes me want to tear the room apart to find its hidden rot. There must be rot. Nothing so beautiful can be genuine.

A rap on the door startles me, making me flinch. “Who is it?”

No immediate reply. Then a muffled voice says, “Breakfast is here. May I enter?”

I consider refusing, but my growling stomach betrays me. “Fine.”

A bodyguard enters, holding a tray with a covered plate and a glass. He places it on a small table and then steps back. ”Is there anything else you need?”

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