Captured by the Bratva (Sharov Bratva #3)

Chapter Twenty-Two - Kirill

As we cruise through the city streets, headed towards my family gathering, I steal a glance at Violet sitting beside me. She’s wearing a pretty dress that hugs her curves in all the right places, her hair falling in soft waves around her shoulders. The way the fabric clings to her body, the elegance she exudes—it’s enough to make me hard just looking at her.

I shift in my seat, trying to focus on the road ahead. The gathering is important, a chance for her to meet my family, to understand more about where I come from. My mind keeps wandering back to her, to the way her dress rides up slightly when she crosses her legs, to the way she’s driving me absolutely insane without even trying.

Suddenly, her phone rings, breaking the silence. She glances at the screen, her face going pale. “Hello?” she answers, her voice tight with anxiety.

I watch as her jaw drops, her eyes widening in shock. “I’ll be there,” she says urgently, ending the call and turning to me. “Kirill, we need to change directions. Head to the hospital. Now.”

I don’t hesitate. Her concern is physical, her expression fearful, and whatever it is, it’s serious. I turn the car around, my mind racing with possibilities. “Who’s in trouble?” I ask, my voice low and controlled, but my mind already forming worst-case scenarios.

“Caleb got hurt,” she says, her voice breaking.

The words hit me like a punch to the gut. My grip tightens on the steering wheel, my knuckles turning white. Caleb. The man who’s always been close to her, who’s always been a part of her life.

I might not care about Caleb, but I know Violet does.

I glance over at her, seeing the worry etched on her face. She’s scared, and that fear cuts through me like a knife. I press the accelerator harder, weaving through traffic with precision and speed. I need to get her to the hospital, to find out what happened to Caleb, and to ensure that whoever is responsible pays dearly.

“Tell me everything you know,” I demand, my voice edged with tension.

She takes a deep breath, trying to steady herself. “I don’t know much. The call was from a nurse. They said he was in an accident, that he’s hurt badly. I don’t know any more than that.”

My mind races with thoughts of revenge, of protecting what’s mine. Caleb may have his faults, but he’s important to Violet, and that makes him important to me. “We’ll be there soon,” I say, my voice a promise. “I won’t let anything happen to him. Or to you.”

Violet nods, her eyes filled with gratitude and fear. She reaches over, placing a hand on my arm. “Thank you, Kirill. I just… I just need to know he’s okay.”

“We’ll find out soon,” I assure her, my jaw set with determination.

As we speed towards the hospital, the city blurring past us, I can’t help but feel a surge of protectiveness for the woman beside me. She’s been through so much already, and I’ll be damned if I let anything else hurt her. Caleb’s injury is a blow, but we’ll handle it together.

If someone is responsible, they’ll answer to me.

We pull up to the hospital fifteen minutes later. I park as close to the entrance as possible, and we hurry inside. Violet’s pace is quick, her face etched with worry. We navigate the sterile hallways, following the signs to Caleb’s room.

When we finally reach the room, Violet pushes the door open and rushes inside. Caleb is lying on the hospital bed, a bandage around his head, but otherwise looking surprisingly well. He glances up as we enter, a tired but relieved smile spreading across his face.

“Violet,” he says, his voice warm.

She rushes to his side, throwing her arms around him in a tight hug. “Caleb, I was so worried!” she exclaims, her voice choked with relief.

I stand back, watching the scene with narrowed eyes. Seeing her so concerned about another man stirs something dark and possessive inside me. As I step forward, I place my hand on Violet’s waist, a clear signal to both of them. She’s mine. I can see the flicker of annoyance in Caleb’s eyes as he notices my possessive gesture.

“You made it sound like his injuries were serious,” I say, my tone flat and edged with barely concealed irritation. “Not just a few stitches and a mild concussion.”

Caleb’s jaw tightens, and he pulls back slightly from Violet, looking directly at me. “It was serious enough,” he replies, his voice steady but with an undercurrent of defensiveness.

Violet pulls back from the hug, glancing between us. “I didn’t know how bad it was,” she says, her voice softer now. “I was just scared when I got the call.”

I keep my hand firmly on her waist, my gaze locked on Caleb. “Well, it looks like you’ll be fine. That’s what matters.”

Caleb’s eyes flick to my hand on Violet’s waist and then back to my face. “Yeah, I’ll be okay. Just need to rest up for a few days.”

I nod, but I don’t move my hand. “Good. Violet has enough to worry about without you adding to it.”

Violet glances up at me, sensing the tension. “Kirill, he’s my friend. My brother, even. Of course, I’m going to worry about him.”

I meet her gaze, my expression softening slightly. “I know, but it doesn’t mean we all have to fawn over him until he’s better.”

Caleb shifts slightly, trying to sit up more in bed. “Thanks for the concern.”

I give him a tight smile, still not entirely convinced. “Just making sure. You know how important Violet’s well-being is to me.”

The room falls into an uneasy silence, the tension between us almost tangible. Violet looks back at Caleb, her concern still evident. “Do you need anything? Is there anything I can do?”

Caleb shakes his head. “Just having you here is enough. I’ll be fine.”

I squeeze Violet’s waist gently, a reminder of my presence and my claim. “We should let him rest,” I say.

Violet looks torn but finally nods. “Can’t we stay a while longer?”

I suppress a sigh, seeing the worry in her eyes. “Alright, but just for a little while.”

We move closer to Caleb’s bedside, and Violet takes a seat next to him, her hand reaching out to grasp his. “What exactly happened, Caleb?” she asks, her voice filled with concern.

Caleb sighs, adjusting himself in the bed. “It was a crash. I was heading into the city center when another car came out of nowhere and slammed into mine.”

Violet’s eyes widen in horror. “Oh my God, Caleb. Are you sure you’re okay?”

He nods, but I can’t help but notice the slight dramatization in his voice. “Yeah, I’ll be fine. The impact was pretty bad, though. My car spun out and hit a barrier. It’s going to cost a fortune to fix.”

I listen, my eyes narrowing slightly. Something about his tone feels off, like he’s playing up the severity for effect. “Did you see who hit you?” I ask, my voice sharp.

Caleb shakes his head. “No, it all happened so fast. I didn’t get a good look at the other car.”

Violet’s grip on his hand tightens. “I’m so glad you’re okay. It could have been so much worse.”

Caleb nods, giving her a reassuring smile. “They’re just keeping me here tonight out of precaution because of the concussion. They want to make sure there’s no serious damage.”

I watch them interact. There’s something about the way Caleb is speaking that doesn’t sit right with me, but I keep my suspicions to myself for now. “You’re lucky it wasn’t worse,” I say, my tone neutral.

“Yeah, I guess I am,” Caleb replies, glancing at me briefly before turning his attention back to Violet. “I’ll be out of here by tomorrow, I’m sure.”

Violet sighs, relief washing over her features. “I’m just glad you’re okay, Caleb. Please be more careful.”

He gives her hand a gentle squeeze. “I will, I promise. Thanks for coming, Violet. It means a lot.”

She smiles at him, her eyes soft with affection. “Of course. You’re important to me, Caleb.”

I watch the exchange, feeling a surge of possessiveness rise within me. The way Caleb looks at her, the way she responds to him—it stirs something dark and primal inside me. My hand tightens on her waist, a silent claim.

“Maybe Caleb should get some sleep,” I suggest, my tone edged with a hint of annoyance.

Violet’s head snaps up, her eyes wide with horror. “Kirill, he has a concussion! He shouldn’t sleep!”

I force a smile, though it doesn’t reach my eyes. “It was a joke, Violet. Just a joke.”

She looks relieved, but I can see the concern still lingering in her eyes. “It’s not funny,” she mutters, turning back to Caleb.

Caleb, catching the tension between us, tries to lighten the mood. “Don’t worry, Violet. The nurse will keep an eye on me. I’ll be fine.”

Violet nods, but then a thought seems to strike her. “Caleb, do you think… could Uncle Joe be behind the crash?”

Caleb’s expression shifts, a flicker of uncertainty crossing his face. “I don’t know, Violet. It could be a coincidence, but with everything going on… it’s possible.”

Her grip on his hand tightens, her face pale with worry. “We need to find out the truth.”

I nod, my jaw set. “We will. We’ll get to the bottom of this.”

Nobody argues with me.