Chapter 22Jenny
CHAPTER 22
JENNY
T he SUV screeches to a halt in front of a warehouse, which looks to be well-kept and bustling. It’s hardly what I would have imagined for a hostage scenario. My heart pounds as Stephen yanks me from the vehicle, digging his fingers painfully into my arm while he shoves me through a side door into the cavernous space.
“You stupid bitch,” he says when we’re inside, and his face is contorted with rage. “Did you really think you could just walk away from me?”
I stumble, my heels catching on the uneven concrete floor. Shadows dance across stacks of crates and abandoned machinery, creating a maze of potential hiding spots. I look around, desperately seeking an escape route. “Stephen, please,” I say, trying to keep my voice steady. “You don’t have to do this. Let me go, and we can forget this ever happened.”
He laughs, a harsh, grating sound that reverberates off the metal walls. “Forget? Oh, no, Jenny. I’ve spent a year planning this moment while I was sitting through those stupid anger management classes and then banished to London. You were on my mind every second. I don’t know if I love your or hate you more. You’re going to pay for every second you made me wait.”
His grip tightens, and I wince at the bruising pressure. He drags me deeper into the warehouse, ranting about my betrayal, his words becoming increasingly unhinged.
“Alexei has big plans for you. You’re the perfect bait to lure that bastard Ivan out of hiding, and when he comes for you...” A cruel smile twists his lips. “It won’t be the happy reunion you’re hoping for, because you’re mine.”
Fear coils in my stomach, threatening to overwhelm me. When Ivan said, “Mine,” even in the beginning, I was never terrified like this. Hearing it from Stephen is chilling. I think of the baby growing inside me, of Ivan, and of the life we could have had. I can’t let it end like this.
He yanks me to a stop, digging his fingers into my jaw as he forces me to look at him. “You’re going to regret ever thinking you could leave me.” His breath is hot on my face. He seems poised to kiss me.
Something inside me snaps. I remember Ivan’s lessons, his voice calm and steady in my ear as he taught me how to defend myself the dishonorable way, bless him. Use their strength against them, he’d said. Wait for the right moment, then strike hard and fast. Don’t be afraid to break the so-called rules of engagement. You want to win by any means necessary.
I meet Stephen’s gaze, summoning every ounce of defiance I possess. “You’re right about one thing,” I say quietly. “I do regret something.”
Confusion flickers across his face. “What?”
“I regret not doing this sooner.” I drive my knee up with all the force I can muster, aiming for his balls. Stephen howls in agony, doubling over and releasing his grip on me. I stumble backward, grinning savagely while I watch him struggle to regain his composure.
“You little—” He wheezes, his face contorted in pain and fury.
I don’t stick around to hear more. I’m turning to flee when a cruel laugh cuts through the air, freezing me in place. My gaze darts to the source, and I see a man stepping from the shadows. He’s tall, with sharp features that bear a striking resemblance to the boy in the photo with Ivan from the orphanage. This must be Alexei.
“You call this handling a woman?” Alexei sneers, his disdain for Stephen evident in every syllable. Before I can process what’s happening, he motions to his men. Rough hands grab my arms, restraining me.
I struggle against their grip, but it’s useless. They’re too strong. “Let me go.” I twist in their grasp, but I’m not match for their brute strength.
Alexei approaches, raking his gaze over me with cold calculation. He reaches out, brushing my hair aside in a mocking caress. “So, this is Ivan’s weakness,” he says, his voice dripping with contempt. “How...disappointing.”
I glare at him, channeling all my fear into anger. “I’m not anyone’s weakness.”
He laughs again, but the sound is devoid of any real mirth. “Oh, but you are, my dear, and how easily you were caught. Ivan must be slipping.”
His arrogance ignites something in me. I draw myself up as much as I can in the men’s grip. “You have no idea what you’re dealing with.”
He opens his mouth to retort, but his words are drowned out by a sudden eruption of gunfire. The warehouse explodes into chaos. Glass shatters, bullets ricochet off metal, and shouts fill the air.
I react on instinct, dropping to the ground and rolling away from Alexei’s men in their moment of distraction. My heart pounds while I crawl behind a stack of crates, trying to make sense of what’s happening.
Through the haze of gun smoke, I see figures moving. Alexei’s men are engaged in a firefight with...Ivan’s people? Hope surges through me, quickly tempered by the realization that I’m caught in the middle of a war zone.
A hand clamps down on my shoulder, and I whirl around, ready to fight, but it’s Stephen, his face pale with fear.
“We have to get out of here,” he says, tugging at my arm.
I jerk away from him. “Don’t touch me.”
His eyes narrow. “Don’t be stupid, Jenny. This is our chance to?—”
His words cut off as Alexei appears, pointing his gun at me. “Get up.”
Reluctantly, I get to my feet as Stephen follows suit. When we’re standing, Stephen steps between us, but it’s merely to grab me roughly. “I’m taking her. You said I could have her,” he says, sounding petulant.
Alexei hesitates for a moment before lowering the gun. “Do what you wish with her, but it has to be here. There can be no loose ends,” he says coldly, his gaze locked with mine. “There will be a body to show Ivan and completely destroy him.”
Stephen grumbles but grabs my arm, dragging me into a nearby room. It’s cooled, and there are stacks of boxes and supplies. I shiver as he closes the door. The frigid air of the refrigerated room seeps through my thin dress as he advances on me, his eyes wild with a mixture of desire and rage. My heart flutters rapidly as adrenaline surges through my veins.
“He promised I could keep you.” Stephen backs me against a stack of crates. “I won’t give you back.”
He lunges forward, trying to pin me with his body. I twist away, my heels making me skid on the slick floor. “Stephen, stop this,” I shout, my voice echoing in the confined space.
He grabs for me again, managing to snag my wrist. I cry out as he yanks me toward him while tangling his other hand in my hair. “I’m going to fuck you until you forget that piece of shit’s name.”
“Impossible. There’s nothing you could do to me that would make me forget Ivan.” I struggle against his grip, desperately trying to keep my lower body away from his. Ivan’s self-defense lessons flash through my mind once more. Use their momentum against them.
As Stephen tries to force his lips on mine, I suddenly go limp. He stumbles forward, caught off-guard by the sudden lack of resistance. In that split second, I drive up my knee—not between his legs this time, but into his solar plexus.
The air whooshes out of him, and his grip loosens. I wrench free, but my victory is short-lived. My heel catches on an uneven patch of floor, and I go down hard on my side, landing mostly on my hip and not my stomach, since I manage to twist at the last moment. The impact knocks the wind out of me.
Before I can scramble to my feet, he’s on me. We grapple on the cold floor, rolling and thrashing. His weight pins me down, and panic claws at my throat. I can’t let him win. I can’t.
My fingers scrabble for purchase, finding his face. Without hesitation, I dig my nails in, aiming for his eyes. Stephen howls in pain and rears back. I push up, trying to throw him off, but he’s too heavy.
Suddenly, the door flies open with a resounding crash. A familiar silhouette fills the doorway, and my heart leaps. “Ivan,” I cry out, relief and terror warring within me.
Stephen’s head whips around, his face contorted with fury and fear. For an instant, he freezes, caught between fight and flight. Then, with a snarl of desperation, he lunges at me again.
“No,” I scream, clawing at his face as he bears down on me.
A deafening crack splits the air. Stephen’s body jerks, then goes limp, collapsing on top of me. Warm liquid seeps through my dress, and the metallic scent of blood fills my nostrils.
I lie there, paralyzed, as Stephen’s dead weight crushes me. My ears ring from the gunshot, and I can’t seem to catch my breath. Then strong hands are pulling away his body, and I’m being lifted into familiar arms.
“Jenny?” Ivan’s voice cuts through the fog in my mind. “Jenny, look at me. Are you hurt?”
I blink, focusing on his face. Concern etches deep lines around his eyes and mouth. “I... I don’t think so,” I manage to say.
He looks me over, checking for injuries. His jaw clenches when he sees the bruises forming on my wrists and arms. “I’m going to kill them all,” he says with a growl.
“You already killed Stephen,” I say with gratitude before giving him a passionate kiss. “Just like you promised.” The reality of the situation finally sinks in. I glance at the crumpled form on the floor, and the pool of blood spreading beneath him. My stomach lurches, but I’m also filled with dark glee. He’ll never touch me again.
“ Da . I don’t make promises lightly.” He kisses me again before holding my hand. “We have to get out of here.” Stay behind me.
I nod and follow him. He leaves cautiously, and then I ease out of the refrigerated room, my mouth dry. The chill from the room clings to my skin in contrast to the warmth of Ivan’s body beside me. We step into the warehouse, and I hold my breath.
Alexei stands before us, flanked by a group of men in tactical gear. Their weapons gleam in the dim light. I glance at Ivan. He’s coiled tightly, like a predator ready to strike.
“You made it, old friend,” says Alexei his voice dripping with false cheer. “And you found your weakness. How touching.”
Ivan clenches his jaw while flexing his fingers at his sides. I want to reach out, to grab his hand and run, but it’s futile. There’s no escape from this.
“Let her go, Alexei,” says Ivan quietly. “This is between us.”
Alexei’s lips curl into a cruel smile. “Oh, I don’t think so. You need to see her death before I grant you the mercy of your own.”
My skin crawls at his words. I’m not an asset. I’m not a bargaining chip. I’m a person, dammit. “You won’t touch me,” I say harshly, surprised by my own bravery but not my faith in Ivan.
His eyes narrow, focusing on me. “Feisty little thing, isn’t she? I can see why you like her, Ivan.”
Ivan takes a step forward, positioning himself slightly in front of me. “This ends now, Alexei. You and me. Leave her out of it.”
For a moment, the warehouse is silent save for the hum of distant machinery. Then, without warning, Ivan moves.
It happens so fast I can barely process it. One second, Ivan’s beside me, and the next, he’s taking down Alexei’s men with brutal efficiency. His movements are fluid and precise, like a deadly dance. I watch, frozen, as he disarms one guard and uses him as a human shield against another’s gunfire.
Alexei’s smug expression falters, replaced by something closer to wariness. He barks orders at his remaining men, but they’re no match for Ivan’s rage-fueled assault, especially when Marcus and the others join the fracas, quickly subduing Alexei’s small army.
I press myself against the wall, trying to make myself as small as possible. The sounds of the fight echo through the warehouse—grunts of pain, the crack of bones, and the dull thud of bodies hitting the concrete floor.
When it’s over, Ivan and his men stand amid a sea of groaning, dead, and unconscious men. His chest heaves with exertion, and his knuckles are bloodied. He turns to Alexei, who’s backed himself into a corner and still looks fresh, since he hasn’t deigned to fight.
“It’s over,” he says as he stares at Alexei. “You’ve proven once again that you were never meant for this life by hiding behind others to do your dirty work.” He spits on the floor, leaving behind bloody saliva. “I didn’t betray you to gain more power. I was trying to save you from your own weakness when I told Vyacheslav to give you an administrative role.”
“Liar.” Alexei looks enraged as he rushes forward.
I watch in horror as Ivan and Alexei circle each other, their gazes locked in a deadly stare. The warehouse air feels thick with tension, and I can barely breathe. Ivan’s face is a mask of cold fury, while Alexei’s lips curl into a sneer.
“You should have stayed in Moscow, Alexei,” says Ivan with a hint of regret. “Now, I’ll have to kill you.”
Alexei laughs, a harsh sound that echoes off the metal walls. “And miss this reunion? Never. I’ll be the one walking away, old friend .”
They move with lightning speed, fists flying and bodies twisting. I press myself against the wall, trying to stay out of the way. Marcus and the others hang back, watching but not interfering. I infer this must be some kind of Bratva code thing. The sound of flesh hitting flesh makes me wince.
Ivan lands a solid punch to Alexei’s jaw, sending him stumbling backward, but Alexei recovers quickly, lunging forward with a vicious uppercut. Ivan dodges, barely, and counters with a knee to Alexei’s stomach.
They grapple, crashing into crates and machinery. I see flashes of silver—knives, I realize with a jolt of fear. The fight becomes a deadly dance, blades glinting in the dim light. Alexei manages to slice Ivan’s arm, drawing a thin line of blood. Ivan hisses in pain but doesn’t slow down. He retaliates with a series of lightning-fast strikes that leave Alexei reeling.
“You were always second best,” says Ivan, his eyes glittering with cold rage. “Always in my shadow.”
Alexei snarls, launching himself at Ivan with renewed fury. They crash to the ground, rolling and thrashing. I lose sight of who has the upper hand, and my heart is galloping so hard I think it might burst from my chest.
Suddenly, Ivan gains the advantage. He pins Alexei to the ground, one hand gripping his throat while the other raises a knife. Time seems to slow while I watch the blade descend.
Alexei’s eyes widen in shock and fear. He opens his mouth, perhaps to beg or curse, but no sound comes out. The knife enters his throat, spraying an arc of blood, and accompanied by a sickening gurgle. Ivan doesn’t hesitate. He twists the blade, ensuring the wound is fatal. Alexei’s body jerks twice, then goes still.
The warehouse falls silent except for Ivan’s heavy breathing. He stands slowly, never looking away from Alexei’s lifeless form. Blood drips from the knife in his hand, forming a small puddle on the concrete floor.
I stare at the scene before me, unable to process what I’ve just witnessed. Ivan turns to face me, his expression unreadable. For a moment, I see a flicker of something in his eyes—regret? Sorrow? It’s gone so quickly I might have imagined it.
“It’s over,” he says, his voice hoarse.
I nod, unable to find my voice. Ivan wipes the blade clean on Alexei’s shirt before tucking it away. He then turns to address his men.
“Clean this up,” he says, his tone cold and efficient. “No traces left behind.”
The men nod and move forward, their faces impassive as they begin the grim task of disposing of Alexei’s body and dealing with the others, all under Marcus’s watchful command. I observe in stunned silence as they work with practiced efficiency.
Ivan approaches me, his steps measured and careful, as if he’s afraid I might bolt. “Are you hurt?” he asks, scanning me for injuries.
I shake my head, finding my voice at last. “No, I’m... I’m okay.”
He nods, looking relieved. “Good. We need to leave now.” He pulls me against him, wincing when I touch his side.
“What’s wrong?”
“Cracked ribs. Maybe worse by now.” He waves a hand. “I’ll send for Dr. Olsen later.”
As he leads me toward the exit, I glance back at where Alexei’s body had been. The concrete is already being scrubbed clean, erasing all evidence of the brutal fight that had just taken place. Other men are dragging away the corpses of Alexei’s men, while yet another group herds the survivors into a huddle. I don’t ask what will happen to them.
Outside, the cool night air hits my face, and I inhale deeply before exhaling slowly, trying to clear my head. He guides me to a waiting car, his hand on the small of my back. As we slide into the backseat, I finally allow myself to relax slightly. “Are Andre and Daniil dead?”
“ Nyet . They were wearing body armor. They’re bruised, and Daniil took a bullet to the arm, but they’ll live and will soon be guarding you again.”
I let out a sigh of relief. I’ve accepted having a guard will be a fact of life with Ivan, and with the baby on the way, I’m glad to have the extra safety. “They didn’t fail you,” I say suddenly, remembering him telling me he sent the first men who failed me back to Russia to face outstanding warrants from the FSB. “We were ambushed?—”
He smiles. “I know. As I said, they’ll be back to work soon. They took bullets for you, kotik . I couldn’t ask for more than that.”
I let out a long exhalation, relieved on their behalf. “Where are we going?” I ask as the SUV pulls away from the warehouse.
Ivan’s eyes meet mine in the dim light. “Home,” he says. “We have a lot to discuss.”
I nod, suddenly exhausted. The adrenaline is wearing off, leaving me feeling drained and shaky. As the city lights blur past the window, I lean my head against the cool glass and close my eyes.
The events of the night replay in my mind—Stephen’s attack, Alexei’s threats, and finally, Ivan’s deadly efficiency in eliminating the threat. I shudder, remembering the cold look in Ivan’s eyes as he delivered the fatal blow.
“Jenny?” Ivan’s voice breaks through my thoughts. I open my eyes to find him watching me intently. “I know what you saw tonight was...difficult, but you have to understand, it was necessary.”
I swallow hard, trying to find the right words. “I know. I just... I’ve never seen anything like that before.”
He tightens his arm around my shoulders, pulling me closer to him. The warmth of his body seeps through my thin dress. I’m shaking, but not from cold. The events of the night replay in my mind like a horror movie on loop.
“Jenny?” His voice is low, meant only for my ears. “Look at me.”
I lift my gaze to meet his, struck by the intensity burning in his eyes. There’s something fierce there, something primal and possessive that should terrify me. Instead, it sends a shiver of excitement through me.
“You’re safe now,” he says, his thumb tracing soothing circles on my arm. “I won’t let anyone hurt you again.”
I want to believe him. God, how I want to, but the memory of Stephen’s hands on me, of Alexei’s cold, calculating gaze, is still too fresh. “How can you be sure?” I whisper, hating how small my voice sounds.
His jaw tightens, and a muscle ticks in his cheek. “Because I’ll kill anyone who tries.”
The words should shock me. They should send me running for the hills. Instead, I lean into him. “I saw what you did to Stephen and Alexei. You didn’t hesitate.”
“No.” His tone matter-of-fact. “I didn’t.”
I swallow hard, forcing myself to ask the question that’s been burning in my mind since we left the warehouse. “Have you...have you done that before?”
Ivan is silent for a long moment, his gaze fixed on the city lights blurring past the window. When he finally speaks, his voice is controlled. “Yes.”
The single word hangs between us. I should be horrified. I should be scrambling to get as far away from this man as possible. Instead, I’m comforted by his honesty.
“Does that scare you?” he asks.
I consider lying, but something in his gaze compels me to tell the truth. “Not as much as it probably should.”
A ghost of a smile touches his lips. “Good.”
We lapse into silence as the car weaves through the late-night traffic. I’m hyper-aware of every point of contact between us—his arm around my shoulders, the press of his thigh against mine, and the warmth of his breath on my skin when he leans close. It feels good to be with him like this, and I try not to overthink it while savoring the moment.