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Scar-face was trying to clear his vision when I approached. Flipping the switch on, I removed the protective covering over the probes and said a prayer to anyone who was listening.

“Have you done this before?” Daria asked.

“Nope. First time for everything.”

It all happened in a span of seconds. In order to dodge his flailing arms, I jabbed the twin metal prongs into his lower back, while simultaneously pressing the button to release the electric current. A sickening crackle filled the air.

He screamed.

So did I.

His entire body seized.

I panicked and dropped the taser at my feet. “Shit.”

Then his knees buckled. Daria and I quickly stepped back to avoid getting bumped. Scar-face hit the ground so hard it felt like the earth moved, or maybe that was the lingering effect of my accelerated heart rate. Whichever it was, I watched, with a combination of rapture and repulsion, as he continued to twitch from the electrical pulses.

Daria bounced on her toes next to me. I didn’t know if she was nervous or excited. Not until she spoke. “Oh my freaking god, that was awesome. Can I try?”

Before I could ask if she’d lost her mind, I heard the unmistakable sound of my man on a warpath. His curses flew. He shouted orders. And he bellowed my name.

I smiled.

Zakhar

“PRUDENCE!”

“Back here,” she answered.

I broke into a jog, my brothers keeping pace beside me. Hearing her voice, I took my first full breath since Dimi found two of our men—Kent being one of them—unconscious in the bathroom. To top it all off, we’d stormed into the kitchen and Pru, Daria, and Lennon weren’t there. I completely lost my shit. In hindsight, it wasn't my finest moment.

“What the hell do they think they’re doing?” Kas grumbled.

“Tan her ass,” Mak suggested.

But when we rounded the corner of the church, I almost stumbled over my feet at the scene laid out in front of me. Pru and Daria stood over a large figure who was convulsing on the ground, with Lennon a few steps away holding what appeared to be a silver tube. It wasn’t until we slid to a stop in front of them that I realized who was on the ground. My brothers recognized him, too, and flew into action, securing Isaak Sorokino while I yanked Pru into my arms. My ears were ringing so loudly I barely heard Mak call over two of his men and order them to take the scarred man to the basement. I didn’t speak until they’d removed him from my sight.

“Fuck. Tell me you’re okay.”

“I’m okay.” Her warm breath soaked into my chest. “We’re all okay.”

This time. She’d been in danger on three separate occasions because of me. There would not be a fourth. I’d make sure of it. Victor couldn’t hide behind his minions anymore. He thought if he kept his hands clean, he’d be safe. Wrong. It was no secret that he was the brains behind everything Machail and Isaak planned. Every bruise, every cut, and every second of fear Pru suffered was caused by his treachery, and he’d answer for them all.

Eventually, I calmed down enough to let her go. I laced my fingers through hers and asked, “What happened?”

My calm spiraled into rage while we listened to the three women explain the altercation with Victor’s goon. Lastly, a sense of pride filled my chest. They hadn’t cowered in the face of danger. They played it smart, and when they had no other choice, they fought back.

“Quick question.” Daria looked mostly at me when she spoke. “Where would someone buy a taser anyway?”

“Why?”

“No reason really. I’m asking for a friend.”

“You’re not getting a taser,” Dimi interjected.

“Slow your roll, Slick. You don’t get to tell me what I can and cannot buy.”

“Thought you said it was for a friend?” He smirked.