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“You make one move,onefucking move and I will end you.” The authority in Bishop’s voice has even me wanting to obey him. Not wanting to let this get out of hand considering we have no idea how many men they have surrounding us, I cut in before Vor can speak.
“What exactly is it that you want my help with? Vlad has tasked me with bringing you in. I have lost my leverage here, Gage.” It pains me to admit that shit out loud, if I’m being honest, I’m also embarrassed to admit my own father doesn’t care if I live or die. I know Vlad, if I’m not back within five days I’m as good as dead. He never has to say it or give me a timeframe, I just know how he works.
“You may have but we haven’t.” That piques my curiosity. “Invite us in and we’ll explain more.” Tension ripples through me. He must see the uneasy look on my face because he sighs and continues to say. “We’re not here to fight, Anya, we’re here to put an end to the Bratva. I promised you that I would help you takeover and I intend to try keep my word!” I’m taken back by the angry tone of his voice, he almost seems annoyed that I want to takeover.
* * *
We are all gathered in the tiny living area. Turns out they only had his two brothers and Vincent Murelo with them. I can’t help but stare at Vincent. He is a legend in the underground world. The only way to better explain who he is and what he does is to compare him toJohn Wick.
“Stop fucking staring at him!” The curt tone of Gage’s voice pulls my attention to him, his eyes narrowed and his mouth set in a firm line. He’s pissed off… why? A condescending snort comes from behind him. King and Knight both stand there trying to hide their smiles. Gage is sitting between Vin and Bishop. The sight of the three of them crammed on the small sofa makes me want to laugh. Krill and I sit in the recliners while Vor stands on my other side.
“I wasn’t staring, I was… admiring?” It comes out sounding more like a question. Vin stiffens and Gage glowers.
“Admire all you like.” My focus is pulled to King as he speaks. “But, just know that if you touch him or try anything, our sister is fucking crazy and will kill you for touchingherman.” Vin tries to hide his amusement but fails. I glare at the five of them, stupid men always think with their dicks.
“I was admiring him because of his reputation, not because of his looks.” The smile drops from Vin’s face as I look directly at him. “You may all think I am a whore because I am Bratva, but I would never encroach on another woman’s territory.” A growl tumbles from Gage.
“No one said you were a fucking whore!” I furrow my brow confused by Gage’s outburst.
“And why would you care if they did?” Krill challenges. I tune out his and Gage’s conversation when I feel Knight’s gaze on me. I’ve tried to avoid looking at him at all costs. They are identical twins and seeing him will cause all the guilt to come rushing back about what happened to Rook.
“Shut the fuck up!” I flinch back in my seat and it’s only due to his outburst that I realize everyone was shouting. Knight moves around the sofa toward me. Vor moves to intercept him but I quickly stand and step around him. Gage is by my side the same second Knight stops in front of me. I feel the others surrounding us but don’t dare look away. His haunted gaze searches mine. I make sure to keep my face blank but it falters the second I feel Gage’s hand on the small of my back. “Where the fuck is he?” He doesn’t shout or even raise his voice, but the venom that laces each of his words makes it seem like he screamed right in my face. Tension pollutes the air. Gage’s hand grips the back of my shirt tightly alerting me to the fact he kept his word and hasn’t told his brothers.
“I don’t know what you are –” Knight cuts me off before I can finish speaking.
“See, I would have believed you except for the fact that you have done everything in your power to avoid looking at me. The moment you did finally give in, I saw it in your eyes, I saw the anguish. Now, I will ask you one more fucking time, you Russian bitch, where the fuck is Rook?” Within a second Gage shoves me behind him and is now standing face to face with his brother.
“Don’t fucking speak to her like that.” Gage sticking up for me is not what I ever expected but I would be a liar if I said it didn’t have me feeling… I don’t know how I’m feeling but I’ve never felt like this before. I have watched him for weeks but we don’t even really know each other, yet here he stands, defending me against his own blood.
Gage
Guilt is gnawing away at me the longer I stand here staring into Knight’s eyes. He won’t find the answers he seeks in my gaze. I have a fucking good poker face, I learned from an early age that I had to learn to mask my emotions or this world would swallow me whole. I hate that I can’t tell them about Rook. I’m fucking pissed that she has put me in a position where I have to lie to my brothers, but if it means getting Rook back alive, I’ll do whatever I have to. I plan on giving Anya a time frame before I loop the others in on what I know about Rook.
“I’ll speak to her however I see fit. She is lying, Gage, and you know it.” The accusation is clear in Knight’s tone. I implore him with a look hoping he will understand.
“Trust me, please.” He stands there for a long tense moment searching my gaze, after a beat he reluctantly nods and steps back.
“Anything happens to him because ofher, I’m coming after you,brother.” He spits the last word like it burns his mouth. I don’t blame him though.
“Can we all have a seat and get this chit chat over with? I don’t know about you lot but I want to get the fuck out of Russia and get back to my girl.” Bishop, Knight and King all agree to what Vin said. Instead of reclaiming my original seat, I choose to claim Anya’s recliner. Before she can move away, I grip her hips and pull her onto my lap. The gasp that slips free from her sinful lips has me fighting not to smile. She tries to get free but I tighten my hold.
“You do know I am a trained fighter, right?” At her angry tone a small chuckle slips free.
“You do know I train fighters and fight every week against gangsters, right?” She stills in my hold only to peer over her shoulder and shoot me a scathing look that promises pain.
“Pity none of them brought a gun to a fist fight,” she snarls.
“Ouch, you wound me, killer.”
“Your mother should have swallowed you!” she snaps before focusing forward and causing my brothers to laugh at her stupid remark. “What is it that you all want from me?” she asks no one in particular. Bishop shifts forward in his seat and rests his forearms on top of his thighs, while eyeing Anya with utter contempt.
“I want names, dates, locations and a time and place of when Vlad and Ivan will be together. I want this shit wrapped up within six weeks.” Anya doesn’t falter in her reply.
“And what is it that I get out of this?”
“Your father not knowing you are arata?” Bishop sounds like a smug prick.
“You can try. The thing is, my father may hate me but he hates you more. All I need to do is make a single call and all airports and private airfields will be shut down within minutes and you will be stuck here in Russia. There is not a place you would be able to hide without him finding you.” Bishop grits his teeth in frustration, I on the other hand lean forward and rest my chin on her shoulder ignoring the shudder that rolls through her.
