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CHAPTER 6
Anastasia
“Maxim, it’s Anastasia. I need your help.”
“Miss Kozlov, what’s wrong?”
Maxim’s voice, usually calm and controlled, held a hint of concern, just like I had known it would. I’d only interacted with him on a few brief occasions, but he’d always looked at me with respect and kindness, which was a rarity in the world of the bratva.
My father had undervalued his alliance, but I wasn’t about to make that mistake. As the only surviving member of my family, I had to put us in the best position possible against the cartel, and making powerful alliances was the best way to accomplish that.
I planned to start with Maxim.
“I don’t have time to explain everything now,” I said, my words rushed. “We need to rescue Connor. He’s in danger.”
Maxim’s silence hung heavily in the air before he finally responded. “Connor Murphy? Your betrothed?”
“Yes. The cartel attacked us today at our wedding before our vows could take place. They took Connor, and I’m pretty sure they have Caden now too,” I explained, careful not to show too much of my desperation. Without the Murphys, my family would fall apart. We needed their power.
At least, that’s what I kept telling myself. It definitely wasn’t because I wanted Caden… or Connor…
What the fuck?
Maxim hesitated, and I shook my head, trying to put away my confusing emotions and focus on what was important. I knew I had to play my trump card.
“I put a tracker in Caden Murphy’s shoe. It hasn’t moved for at least an hour now. If you help us, you can save him and ensure our alliance remains intact.”
There was a long pause on the other end of the line, and I held my breath, my heart pounding in my chest.
“I’ll help you. Send me the location information, and my men will meet yours there,” he finally said.
“Thank you, Maxim. I won’t forget this,” I exclaimed. I hung up the phone and immediately dialed my father’s senior adviser, Ivan Sokolov.
“Ivan, gather our men,” I commanded, my tone unwavering. “They need to be at the coordinates I’m sending you in the North End within the hour.”
Ivan’s voice, loyal and unyielding, replied promptly. “Of course, Miss Kozlov. But what’s going on? What’s the urgency?”
I took a deep breath, bracing myself for what I had to say next. “At my wedding, the Cartel attacked, and my father is… he’s gone. He’s dead.”
A heavy silence followed my words, and my heart ached, but I couldn’t allow it to show. Ivan’s voice eventually broke the stillness, filled with somber understanding. “I’ll make the necessary arrangements. We’ll be there as soon as we can, Your Highness.”
“Thank you,” I said, lifting my chin and swallowing back my sadness over my father’s loss. There would be time for me to grieve, but now was not it. “Now track the location of this burner phone and send a car for me immediately. I want to be there to lead my men,” I added before I hung up the phone.
It was time for me to rise up as queen.
Within an hour, I was sitting outside an abandoned factory in the dead of night. The streets were deserted, with not a soul in sight. My men were gathered in the shadows, as were Maxim’s. Between the two of us, we had nearly one hundred fully armed men ready to infiltrate the building. We’d already taken out nearly a dozen guards along the perimeter with ease, and thus far, our presence had gone undetected.
It wasn’t going to stay that way for long.
With a silent nod, I initiated the assault. A roar of gunfire erupted as our combined forces stormed the building. Bullets flew through the shattered windows, breaking the silence of the night. I led my men through the back door and burst inside, my own gun held up and at the ready.
At the first sign of movement, I locked onto the target and pulled the trigger. I heard the quiet thunk of my bullet sinking into flesh and a strangled scream. I squeezed the trigger a second time and the screaming stopped.
I moved forward, swiftly and efficiently, advancing through the dark corridors. My men tailed me, taking down any opposition in our path. When a man jumped out from the right side, my instincts were quick, and I shot him right between the eyes.
The element of surprise was on our side. The cartel members inside had barely a moment to react as we overran them. Panic and chaos filled the factory as they tried to defend their positions, but the numbers and precision of our assault were overwhelming.
The echo of gunfire reverberated through the factory, and the acrid smell of gunpowder and blood hung in the air.
