Captured by the Bratva (Sharov Bratva #3)

Chapter Twenty-Six - Kirill

Caleb’s words hang in the air, a bitter echo of betrayal and resentment. I grip my gun tighter, my mind racing through every possible move. The men around us are tense, their guns unwavering as they wait for Caleb’s next command.

“I had my eyes on Jeff’s wealth for a long time,” Caleb says, his voice cold and calculating. “Years ago, Jeff wrote in his will that after his direct family, I would get all the rights to his property. That was my aim. I killed Jeff to make sure that would happen.”

Violet gasps beside him, her eyes wide with horror and disbelief. I see her world crumbling around her, the pain of betrayal cutting deep. There’s no time for comfort, no time to reassure her.

“Violet was my next target,” Caleb continues, his eyes flicking to her with a cruel smirk. “And then Joe. One by one, I would eliminate anyone who stood in my way.”

I feel a cold fury building inside me, the need to protect Violet and end Caleb’s madness growing stronger. But I have to be smart, calculated. Any wrong move could mean death for all of us.

“Today,” Caleb says, his tone almost casual, “I planned your visit to the hospital. Once you and Violet left, you were supposed to be attacked and killed. Now, there’s a change in the plan. You’ll all be killed here.”

I can see the fear in Violet’s eyes, her body trembling beside Caleb. She stands her ground, her chin lifted in defiance. My brave, stubborn Violet.

“Caleb, you bastard,” I growl, stepping forward despite the guns aimed at me. “You think you can get away with this? You think we’ll just roll over and die for you?”

Caleb laughs, a hollow, chilling sound. “Well, yes. Even you can’t fight your way out of this.”

I take a deep breath, my mind racing through every possible scenario. I need to buy us time, find a way to turn the tables. “What’s your endgame, Caleb? Even if you kill us, do you really think you’ll be able to hold on to Jeff’s empire? The Bratva will never let you have it.”

Caleb’s eyes narrow, a flicker of uncertainty crossing his face. “I have connections, Kirill. More than you know. I’ll make sure no one stands in my way.”

“Connections?” I scoff, taking another step forward. “Do you really think your so-called allies will back you up once they know you’ve betrayed the Harrisons and the Bratva? You’re playing a dangerous game, Caleb.”

His jaw clenches, but he doesn’t respond. I can see the doubt beginning to creep in, the cracks in his confidence. I tighten my grip on my gun.

“Let her go, Caleb. This isn’t worth it.”

Caleb’s eyes flash with anger, but he shakes his head. “No. She’s part of this now. She’s always been part of this.”

I take a deep breath, preparing myself for whatever comes next, every second stretching into an eternity. I need to find a way to neutralize Caleb and his men, to protect Violet and bring this nightmare to an end.

As I look into Caleb’s cold, calculating eyes, I know it won’t be easy. He’s prepared for this, and he’s not going to back down without a fight.

I glance over at Dimitri, who catches my eye and gives a barely perceptible nod. I know that look. Dimitri’s hand is already in his pocket, and I see the slight movement as he presses a button on his phone, silently declaring an emergency to our backup. There’s a moment of tense silence, then all hell breaks loose.

Caleb’s men start firing, the deafening sound of gunshots reverberating through the room. I act on pure instinct, grabbing Violet and pushing her behind the nearest cover. My heart pounds with adrenaline, my only thought to protect her at all costs.

“Stay down!” I shout over the chaos, my voice barely audible above the gunfire.

Violet’s eyes are wide with fear, her body trembling as she crouches low. “Kirill—” she starts, but I cut her off.

“Don’t move! I’ll take care of this.”

I peek around the corner of our cover, my gun raised. Caleb’s men are scattered around the room, their guns trained on us. I fire off a few shots, taking out the closest threat, and move to a better position, keeping myself between Violet and the danger.

Dimitri is in action too, his gun blazing as he takes down enemy after enemy. Blood pools at his feet as a man drops, and Dimitri kicks him aside.

There are too many of them, and I can see the strain on his face. We need to hold out until our reinforcements arrive.

“Dimitri!” I shout, making sure he knows where I am. “Hold the line!”

He nods, his focus unwavering as he continues to fire. Bullets ricochet off the walls, and the room is filled with the acrid smell of gunpowder. I feel a sharp sting in my arm but push the pain aside. I can’t afford to be distracted.

Violet is huddled behind a heavy wooden table, her eyes filled with terror as she watches the chaos unfold. “Kirill, be careful!” she cries, her voice breaking.

I look back at her, my heart aching at the fear in her eyes. “I will. Just stay hidden.”

I take another shot, hitting one of Caleb’s men square in the chest. He drops, his gun clattering to the floor as crimson blood pours from the wound. More keep coming, their determination relentless.

Suddenly, I see Caleb moving through the fray, his gun raised. He’s trying to get a clear shot at me, and I know I need to act fast. I duck behind a pillar, firing at the men closest to him. One by one, they fall, but it’s not enough. Caleb is getting closer.

“Kirill, behind you!” Violet’s voice rings out, and I spin just in time to see a man lunging at me with a knife. I block his attack with my arm, the blade slicing into my flesh, but I manage to kick him away and fire, dropping him to the ground.

The pain in my arm is intense, but I grit my teeth and focus. Caleb is still advancing, his eyes locked on me with deadly intent. I take aim, but before I can fire, a burst of gunfire erupts from the entrance.

Our reinforcements have arrived.

A flood of my men pours into the room, their guns blazing as they engage Caleb’s forces. The tide turns almost immediately, and I seize the opportunity. I push forward, determined to end this once and for all.

Caleb sees the shift and knows his time is running out. He turns to flee, but I’m faster. I tackle him to the floor, my gun pressed to his temple.

“Give up, Caleb!” I growl, my voice filled with rage. “It’s over.”

He struggles beneath me, his eyes wild with desperation. “You think you’ve won, Kirill? This isn’t the end!”

“It is for you,” I say coldly, tightening my grip.

The room is finally quieting down, the sounds of gunfire fading as my men secure the area. I look up to see Dimitri standing over us, his gun trained on Caleb, ensuring he can’t escape.

I rise, dragging Caleb to his feet and pushing him toward Dimitri. “Take him. Make sure he doesn’t get away.”

Dimitri nods, a grim smile on his face. “With pleasure.”

I turn back to Violet, who is still crouched behind the table, her face pale and her eyes wide with shock. I rush to her side, pulling her into my arms. “It’s okay,” I whisper, holding her close. “It’s almost over.”

She clings to me, her body shaking. “I was so scared, Kirill. I thought… I thought we were going to die.”

The sounds of gunfire still echo around us, and I keep a vigilant eye on our surroundings, ready to protect her from any lingering threats. Despite the chaos, I try to comfort her, my arms strong and steady around her.

Suddenly, a man emerges from the shadows, his gun aimed directly at us. The bullet hits the table with a loud thud, splinters flying. Without flinching, I raise my gun and fire. Blood splatters as he collapses, brain matter spraying across the floor.

Violet looks like she might throw up.

“It’s okay,” I repeat, my voice firm and reassuring. “I won’t let anyone hurt you.”

Finally, the gunfire dies down, and the room falls into an eerie silence. The only sounds are the heavy breathing of those who fought and the occasional groan from the injured. I help Violet to her feet, steadying her as she stands on shaky legs.

She hugs me tightly, her face buried in my chest. I hold her close for a moment, feeling her warmth and the rapid beat of her heart. “You did great,” I murmur, pressing a kiss to her hair.

Violet pulls back slightly, looking up at me with tears in her eyes. “If you say so. Thank you for saving me.”

I nod, giving her a small, reassuring smile. “It’s my duty. More than that, it’s what I want to do.”

She turns her head, and her eyes widen as she spots Joe across the room. He’s on his feet, looking dazed but unharmed. “Uncle Joe!” she cries, breaking away from me and running towards him.

Joe opens his arms, and Violet crashes into him, holding him tightly. They embrace, their relief palpable. I watch them, my heart heavy with the weight of what we’ve been through but also lightened by the sight of their reunion.

Joe looks over Violet’s shoulder at me, his eyes filled with gratitude. “Thank you, Kirill. You saved us.”

I nod, my expression somber. “We still have a lot to sort out. For now, you’re safe.”

Violet pulls back slightly, looking up at Joe with tear-filled eyes. “We’ll get through this together, Uncle Joe. We’ll find a way to rebuild.”

Joe nods, his face etched with determination. “We will.”

As they hold each other, I stand guard, my eyes scanning the room for any remaining threats. But for the first time in what feels like forever, there’s a sense of peace, however fragile it may be. We survived, and together, we’ll face whatever comes next.

As Violet and Joe embrace, I scan the room, my gaze landing on Dimitri holding Caleb at gunpoint. Caleb’s smug grin is gone, replaced by a look of defeat and fury. I stride over, my eyes locked on Caleb, determination fueling my every step.

Dimitri looks up as I approach, his grip on Caleb unyielding. “Kirill, what do you want to do with him?”

I stop in front of Caleb, my gun still in my hand. “Would you like any last words, Caleb?” I ask, my voice cold and devoid of mercy.

Caleb’s eyes flash with anger, and before I can react, he slips from Dimitri’s grasp, lunging at me. The force of his tackle knocks the gun from my hand, sending it skidding across the floor. We crash to the floor, grappling for control.

Caleb’s hands are around my throat, squeezing hard. I struggle to breathe, the world narrowing to the fierce struggle between us. Summoning my strength, I slam my elbow into his side, loosening his grip just enough to shove him off.

We both scramble to our feet, circling each other like predators. Caleb’s face is twisted with rage, and he lunges again, but this time I’m ready. I sidestep his attack, reaching into my jacket and pulling out a knife. The blade glints in the dim light as I hold it steady, my eyes never leaving Caleb.

“Fuck you!”

I’m not sure which one of us says it. Maybe both.

He rushes at me, and I duck, driving the knife into his side. Caleb cries out, his hands flying to the wound as blood begins to seep through his fingers. He stumbles, his strength waning, and collapses to the floor, writhing in pain.

I stand over him, breathing heavily, the knife still clenched in my hand. “This is the end, Caleb,” I say, my voice cold and final.

Caleb looks up at me, his eyes wide with pain and fear. “You… you won’t get away with this….”

I crouch down, meeting his gaze. “I already have.”

I turn away from him, my heart pounding with adrenaline. I look over at Violet and Joe, their faces pale and eyes wide with horror. “Don’t look,” I say, my voice softer now. “It will be fast.”

Violet clings to Joe, her body trembling, but she nods, understanding the necessity of what must be done. Joe’s face is grim, but he holds Violet close, shielding her from the sight of Caleb’s final moments.

I take a deep breath, steeling myself. This is the part of the job I don’t enjoy, but it has to be done. Caleb made his choices, and now he has to face the consequences.

I turn back to Caleb, who is gasping for breath, his life slipping away with every second. I raise the knife one last time, my hand steady, and end it quickly, ensuring he feels no more pain.

Standing, I wipe the blade clean and slip it back into my jacket. The room is eerily quiet now, the chaos of the fight replaced by a heavy stillness. I walk back to Violet and Joe, my expression serious but calm.

“It’s over,” I say, my voice firm. “Caleb won’t hurt anyone ever again.”

Violet looks up at me, her eyes filled with a mix of relief and sorrow. “Thank you, Kirill.”

I offer her a reassuring nod.

Without warning, she throws herself into my arms, embracing me tightly. Her lips find mine in a desperate, messy kiss, full of all the emotions she’s been holding back. I kiss her back, making me forget where we are, even who we are for a moment.

The world fades away, and it’s just the two of us, clinging to each other as if our lives depend on it.

The sound of Dimitri clearing his throat pulls me back to reality. “What should we do with the bodies?” he asks, his tone professional despite the carnage around us.

I pull away from Violet, our breaths mingling as we stand close. “Call our men to deal with it. Make sure it’s thorough. I don’t want any loose ends.”

Dimitri nods, already reaching for his phone. “I’ll handle it. Take your time.”

I turn back to Violet, my hand gently brushing a strand of hair from her face. “Come on,” I say softly. “Let’s get out of here.”

She nods, her eyes still shining with unshed tears. Together, we step out of the chaos, leaving Dimitri and the others to handle the aftermath.

We find a quiet room, away from the blood and violence. I sit her down on a worn-out couch and kneel in front of her, taking her hands in mine. “Are you okay?” I ask, my voice gentle.

Violet takes a shaky breath, trying to steady herself. “I think so. It’s just… everything happened so fast.”

I squeeze her hands, my eyes locked on hers. “I know. It’s over now. You’re safe.”

She nods, but I can see the turmoil in her eyes. “I never thought… I never imagined Caleb could do something like this.”

“Betrayal can make people do terrible things, even if it’s only perceived betrayal,” I say, my voice tinged with bitterness. “He’s gone now. He can’t hurt you or anyone else anymore.”

Violet leans forward, resting her forehead against mine. “I don’t know what I would have done without you, Kirill.”

I close my eyes, savoring the closeness between us. “You’re stronger than you think, Violet; but I’ll always be here to protect you.”

We stay like that for a moment, finding solace in each other’s presence. The weight of what she’s been through hangs heavy in the air, but there’s also a sense of relief, of a new beginning.

“I can’t believe it’s over,” she whispers, her voice barely audible.

I lift her chin, making her look at me. “It’s not over, Violet. This is just the beginning. We have a lot to rebuild, a lot to fight for. You’ll be chairman now, I imagine.”

She nods, a small smile breaking through the sadness. “Small win, really.”

I kiss her again, this time slow and tender, a promise of better days to come. When we finally pull apart, I see the determination in her eyes, the fire that Caleb tried to extinguish but couldn’t.

“Let’s get out of here,” I say, standing and offering her my hand. “There’s a whole world waiting for us.”

Violet takes my hand, standing by my side. “Lead the way, Kirill.”

As we walk out of the room, I feel a sense of purpose, of resolve. Caleb’s betrayal has scarred us, but it hasn’t broken us. And together, we’ll face whatever comes next, ready to fight for the future we deserve.