Page 27 of Crimson Wrath

“How exactly do you think you could help?” I raise an eyebrow. “You don’t know what the Bratva are capable of.”

“I’m not a child, Anton. I know you’ve done your homework on me by now. I have…skills.”

“Not these kind of skills, Scarlett. This is the fucking Bratva. They will use you to—” I stop myself before I can say the words “use you to get to me.” I draw in a breath. “They will harm you in ways you can’t imagine. You barely saw the tip of the iceberg.”

“I’m not afraid.” She shrugs. “They caught me unprepared last time. I’ve dealt with bad guys before.” She gives a light snort. “I can be slippery as an eel when I need to be.”

“Like you slipped away from me?” I tilt my head. “Yet you are here now. In my bed. I do not see you getting out of this situation.”

“Maybe I just don’t want to.” Her voice is soft. I stare at her for a moment.

What do I say to that?

You tell her you don’t want her to go either, fool.

Of course, I don’t say that. I don’t say anything. Because Iama fool. Or maybe a coward. Or maybe a little bit of both.

Scarlett watches me, her eyes filled with worry. “You can’t do this alone, Anton. Let me help you.”

“Absolutely not.” The words are out of my mouth before I realize it. My instinct shouts at me to keep her safe, far from danger.

“Anton, please. We agreed on a truce, remember? I can help you get Nikolai back.”

A part of me knows she’s right. She would be an asset – her cunning and resourcefulness woud clearly be invaluable. Not to mention her bravery. She already risked her life to save Nikolai by creating that distraction when motherfucking Volkov descended on the estate. But the thought of putting her in harm’s way suddenly bothers me more than anything else. And that revelation unsettles me.

Why should I care so much?

Before I could say anything, there’s a knock at the door. Scarlett’s eyes widen, and she quickly pulls the sheets up to cover her naked body. I reach for my pants and pull them on before standing.

“What?” I snap, my voice firm despite the lingering doubt that gnaws at me.

Luka walks in, his eyebrows shooting up when he notices Scarlett. He tries to hide his surprise but fails miserably. “I didn’t expect to see you here, Scarlett.”

Like hell he didn’t. He knew I was waiting for her. What did he expect to find? The pair of us playing poker?

“Likewise,” she replies, a hint of embarrassment coloring her cheeks. Although aside from that, she masks her mortification well. “You could have waited outside, you jerk!”

“Or maybe you could have—“ he starts to responds.

“Enough,” I interrupt them, impatient for Luka to deliver whatever news has brought him here. “What do you have for me?”

“We got information from someone.” Luka’s eyes dart between Scarlett and me, concern etched on his face. “One of Ivan’s men who infiltrated Volkov’s team.”

“And? Spit it out,mudak!”

Fuck!

Why is he dragging this out?

“He knows where Niko is, boss.” His eyes shift uncomfortably. “You’re not going to like it.”

“Tell me.” I’m not one to hide from ugly realities.

“He did some digging around for us, and learned that Volkov has gathered up some of his best men to head to a specific destination. If my suspicions are correct, Nikolai is at a construction site on the outskirts of the city.” Luka looms within the doorway, arms crossed over his chest, jaw clenched. “You know Volkov’s reputation with those places.”

My heart sinks like a stone at the mention of that cursed location. Images of people trapped, buried alive in concrete, their screams muffled, flash through my mind. It’s a cruel and twisted method of murder that I’ve witnessed firsthand – one that Volkov particularly enjoys.

And he has Niko there.

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