Page 172 of The Bratva King

He stares at me for another long moment. “Can you carry me?”

I nod because I don’t trust my voice.

“I wet my pants.” His whisper is broken.

I’ll kill every motherfucker.

“Buddy, I don’t blame you. I’ve done it before, too. It’s okay. We’ll go home and get a bath. Use those new bubbles.”

He stands slowly, with the blanket still wrapped around his shoulders.

I scoop him up carefully. He’s so light. Too light. I settle him against my chest, and he buries his face in my neck.

“I’ve got you,” I tell him. “You’re safe now.”

His arms come up around my neck, holding on tight.

I stand, keeping one hand on his back, the other supporting his weight. He’s trembling.

“Close your eyes,” I tell him quietly. “We’re going to walk out of here, and you don’t have to look at anything. Just hold on to me.”

I feel him nod against my shoulder.

Pasha leads the way, with Maksim and Sergei following us.

My men have cleared the building. Bodies are scattered across the floor. I put the blanket over his head to shield his eyes.

Pasha puts up his hand and makes a fist. I stop and wait.

“Clear,” he says.

I keep moving.

The night air hits us as we step outside. Luke makes a small sound.

“Almost there,” I murmur.

43

Gabby

Lila pats my leg to get my attention. She points to the left.

Nikolai is running toward me, with Luke in his arms.

Luke.

My baby.

I throw open the door and run to them.

“He’s okay,” Nikolai says before he passes him to me.

I crush him against my chest, sobbing into his hair.

“Mom.” His voice is so small.

Nikolai is behind me, pressing his body against my back as he propels us forward and into the SUV. I ignore all safety rules and hold Luke in my arms, cradling him against my body as I sit in the back seat.