Page 55 of Bratva Daddies for the Single Mom

Not true. The automatic denial rested on the tip of my tongue. I bit it back and tried to look defeated but somehow hopeful. “So, you don’t hurt me and Viktor gives you money to leave Chicago?” It all boiled down to whether I believed both men were telling the truth.

“Exactly. That’s been the goal all along. I didn’t expect this.” He pointed at his face. “I needed to buy a little more time to make sure I grabbed the right woman.”

“You only saw me twice.” I tried to make sense of the whole situation. Miles Kent managed to single-handedly convince me that Viktor would have me killed once they were finished with me. He’d put me in a panic by hiring someone to try and pick up the girls from school, then waited for me at home knowing I’d be in no state to think straight. He hadn’t expected me to fight back. I almost grinned at that, but the tightness in my cheek where he’d struck me prevented it.

Miles continued tucking guns away on his person. He set the AR beside the table and hid a handgun in an ankle holster. He checked the mag on another pistol and returned it to the table. “Their feelings for you were obvious. Ilya gave himself away when he broke Robert’s hand. For a man who shows no emotion, he’s a bleeding heart where you’re concerned.”

I cursed myself inside and out for being the world’s biggest fool. Even if they didn’t rescue me from Miles, I knew deep in myheart that they’d cared for me. They showed me every time we were together. I’d let my mind overrule my heart because I didn’t want to risk getting hurt again. All the nausea and pain I’d felt on waking returned with a vengeance. I deserved every second of it after letting my doubts control me.

I tugged on the ropes binding my feet, hoping something had changed in the few minutes since I’d last checked. They refused to give an inch. The ropes at my wrists were worse, and the constant strain on my back from having my hands forced behind me sent bolts of pain through my shoulders and down my spine. “Can you take these off?” I pressed my back into the chair to alleviate the pressure. “I won’t go anywhere. I won’t even try to escape.”

A snort of laughter answered me. “Nice try.” A manic gleam brightened his eyes. He stalked in front of me. “If it were up to me, you’d already be dead. It’s no less than men like Viktor deserve. Always lording their power over everyone else. It’s despicable. If I could kill youandget the money, I’d do it in a heartbeat.” He pressed the barrel to my temple. “Still. It’s almost worth the risk.”

This was it, then? I’d walked myself right into my own grave. I tried to speak, but anything that I might say risked backfiring. Except… “Viktor asked for proof of life. He said I had to be alive when we met. You can’t kill me.”

“Not. Yet.” He drove the barrel harder against my skin.

My head throbbed with the added pressure, and I gritted my teeth as tears pooled in my eyes. I’d tried so hard to ignore my growing feelings for Ilya, Viktor, and Fyodor. I’d failed them in many ways. I would not fail them in this. I would do my best to live long enough to make things right. Once it was all over, I’d tell them the truth, about how much I loved them and about the baby.

Miles pulled the gun away from my temple. He used the barrel to push hair away from my neck, nudging it over my shoulder. “You’re a beautiful woman, Annie. You should have taken Robert up on his offer. You would be much happier on my side. We could have skipped all this.” He flourished his free hand. “I suppose it’s better this way. I’ll have my money and Viktor will get what’s coming to him.”

“What’s that?”

Every smile I’d seen from Miles caused my skin to crawl. This one was no different, except the maliciousness of it made me wish I’d not woken up. He answered in a cold monotone, “Pain and suffering.”

29

ILYA

The urge to kill settled around me. I breathed it in, languishing in the truth that I’d been created for moments like this. Annie’s safety was my top priority. Once we had her back, I was free to unleash hell. And I planned on making sure Miles Kent received everything he deserved. The old warehouse looked the same as it had all those years ago. A little more rust cut holes in the corrugated walls leading up to an old office. The metal stairs creaked in the slightest breeze that ruffled old newspapers and boxes where they lay scattered from the homeless who found refuge in the abandoned undercity.

Fyodor hefted the bag of cash to his shoulder and took a step to Viktor’s right. “He’s here.”

The office door creaked open, revealing Annie with Miles behind her. He nudged her through the opening, one hand around her throat and the other holding a gun to her temple. “One wrong move and she’s dead.”

I’d almost expected the whole fear and trembling sob story side of Kent. Turned out he’d grown a pair of balls, after all. Too bad it was at the wrong time and he’d pushed his hairy sack too far into our business.

“Annie, are you okay?” Viktor set his jaw and took a step toward the stairs. “Let her speak or you’re dead where you stand. And I’ll know if she’s not telling the truth.”

“You asked for proof of life at the drop. Here she is, alive.” Kent dug the pistol into her temple.

Annie winced and a sharp roar of fury swept away my common sense.

“And if she’s not allowed to answer, I will automatically assume you’ve done something to her, and you’re still dead.” Viktor spoke in such an emotionless, deadpan voice that I tightened my grip on the knife hidden in my pocket.

We’d already agreed Kent died today. It was all a matter of when.

“Fine.” Kent released the hand from Annie’s throat. “Tell them all about the wonderful conversations we had. Tell them I was a perfect host who never laid a finger on you.”

“Her split lip and the bruise on her cheek say otherwise,” I growled.

Kent smirked. “Yes, well. That happened before Viktor’s demands. Little bitch tried to claw my eyes out.”

That explained the new lines scoring Kent’s face.Good girl.Pride swelled in my chest.

“I’m fine. He didn’t hurt me.” Annie spoke with her characteristic softness. “I’m sorry I fell for his trap.”

“It isnotyour fault.” Fyodor moved to stand beside Viktor. “Let’s get this over with, Kent.”

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