Page 92 of Wicked Vows (Suvorov Bratva 2)

I growl. “No, you won’t.”

“You take Kiril and Zoya to the yacht,” she instructs. “Once I get rid of Sharp, I can head to the yacht and help you move them to New Jersey. NYPD jurisdiction doesn’t extend there.”

I squeeze her hand. “Absolutely not.”

“What do you suggest then? Another shootout?” Her eyes burn with a feverish passion. “It’s our only chance, Pavel. We have to take it.”

“Sharp won’t leave empty-handed. He’ll take you as leverage. I can’t do that. I won’t.”

I’ll have no choice but to save you.

She holds my gaze for a long time and finally nods as she mulls over what I just said.

“I’ll hold off Sharp,” I explain while pulling out my gun. I check the chamber and then cock it, keeping the nose pointed at the ground. “You’ll take Zoya to the docks.”

She crosses her arms over her chest. “I’m not leaving you.”

“Don’t argue with me,rodnaya. Or have you forgotten why that’s a bad idea?”

It’s a bad time to tease, but an even worse time to start bantering. Fear sparks in her eyes, and I cup her face in response.

“I can’t risk either of you falling into Cardona’s hands,” I tell her. “Be a good little fox and slip away before it’s too late.”

She pushes my hand away from her face, clutching it in both her hands. “Sharp probably has men waiting downstairs. Zoya and I won’t make it alone, Pavel.”

I glance at Kostya, who blinks once.

“Kostya will accompany you,” I say while turning her toward the door. “We can’t waste any time, Liya.”

“You can’t stay here, Pavel,” she argues while digging her heels into the carpet. “Sharp won’t hesitate to kill everyone in here.Youof all people should know that!”

Of all the fucking times for this woman to get stubborn.

I grab her upper arm and start dragging her to the door. “Kostya, take them. Now.”

Kostya grunts in the affirmative and reaches for the doorknob. Liya’s face reddens as she swats my hand. Zoya seems frozen behind us. I can’t see her, but I imagine she’s staring off into space while the plan swings between fully realized and slightly outlined.

“Noneof us can stay here,” Liya says firmly while wiggling out of my grip. “We need a distraction. A big one.”

“A fire,” Zoya whispers.

So, she’s not frozen after all.

I glance at Kostya.

He blinks and says, “I can destroy documents in the office.”

I stare at him for a long time. I don’t want to let him do this. I don’t want him to be the brigadier who gets left behind. To lose another brother will do nothing but fuel my anger.

Even if he’s more than willing to be bait.

When I glance at Kostya’s weapon, he checks it for good measure and pats his right pocket, where more ammunition sits.

I take a deep breath and sigh.

“Carefully,” I warn him.

He blinks. “Always, Pavel Sergeyevich.”

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