Chapter 10
Volodya
While Maddie falls asleep, I tell her in Russian that I’ve fallen in love with her, that I could happily get lost in her body again and again for the rest of my life, and that whether she realizes it or not, I’m never letting her go.
I keep talking long after she’s fallen asleep, stroking her hair and the soft skin of her back, until I can’t stay awake any longer and for the first time in my life, I fall asleep with a woman in my arms.
My phone softly vibrating on the nightstand pulls me from my deep sleep.
I don’t know how long it’s been, but it’s still dark and I’m still exhausted.
Maddie’s soft body is curled up next to mine, and she lets out a soft groan of protest when I roll away so I can get my phone.
The text from Vasily has me awake in an instant.
Something’s happened. I’m waiting outside.
I tell him I’m on my way down. Before I get out of bed, I lean over and kiss Maddie’s temple, whispering that I’ll be back soon.
She’s already back in a deep sleep, and I don’t want to wake her since I know how tired she is from last night, so I slip out of bed and step into my closet, closing the door behind me to keep the light from waking her.
Dressing in black tactical gear, I sheathe my knives and holster two guns, shoving extra clips into my pockets just in case.
On my way out, I stop to get my favorite knife from where I’d left it on the bathroom counter, knowing I’ll never be able to look at it again without thinking about fucking my little kiska in the woods.
She’s quickly weaving herself into every part of my life and soon no part of it will be left untouched.
I’m surprised to find the idea doesn’t bother me.
Passing the bed, I give a heavy sigh when she rolls over, showing me the tits I’ll never be able to get enough of.
God, the things I want to do to that body of hers.
Forcing myself to keep walking, I give the dogs a pat goodbye and then run out to where Vasily is waiting in a black SUV.
Valeri is already in the back with Ilya and Andrei.
“This can’t be good,” I say when I’m in the passenger seat and I look over to see my older brother clenching his jaw tightly, looking like he’s about to snap the steering wheel in half. “What the fuck is going on?”
“We got hit last night. Oleg was stabbed but should come through okay. Roman got fucked up pretty good and may not make it.”
“What the fuck happened?” I ask, thinking about the last time I’d seen Roman. He’s one of our newer recruits, only nineteen years old, but the kid’s already showing a lot of promise. He wouldn’t have been easy to take down.
“A group jumped them as they were leaving a bar last night,” Valeri says from the back. “Before Oleg went into surgery, he said they looked like Marcus’s men.”
I let out a sigh because if it’s not one thing, it’s fucking another.
Every time you squash one small-time thug trying to make a name for himself, there’s five more creeping out of the woodwork.
They’re fucking roaches that we’re having to constantly stomp out.
Marcus is a low-level jackass who keeps trying to take over a corner of our city.
We’ve killed several of his men, but this is the first time he’s managed to hurt one of ours. It’ll be the last time he ever does.
“I hope he’s enjoying his small victory,” I say as Vasily turns us towards the northern part of the city. “Everyone meeting us there?”
“Yeah, I sent the message out to the entire Bratva. We’re ending this today. I’m tired of fucking around with it.”
A small smile tugs at my lips. It’s been a long time since we’ve had a good fight, not since we kicked the Irish out, and I’m more than ready to get my hands bloody again.
“If you get a fucking hard-on, Volodya, I’m kicking your ass out of the car,” Vasily growls at me, noticing the grin on my face.
I laugh and smack his arm. “Relax, brother, I don’t get off on killing.”
Valeri gives a disbelieving laugh. “Since when?”
What I’ve said isn’t entirely true, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to orgasm from killing some fucker.
I am going to want to fuck as soon as I’m done, though.
We all will. That’s just how it is. The adrenaline and bloodlust will fuse together, creating a potent cocktail that will leave me rock-fucking-hard.
My smile grows when I think of Maddie naked in my bed.
Poor thing is going to need a couple of days to recoup after I’m done with her.
Turning back to Valeri, I say, “You’re one to talk. Your ass is going to be speed dialing one of your booty calls before you’ve even put your damn gun away.”
He laughs and elbows Ilya. “Who do you think Volodya’s going to run to?”
“Careful, little brother,” I warn him, which only makes him laugh again and smack Vasily’s shoulder.
“Did you hear that, Vasya? He’s getting touchy.”
Vasily laughs and shoots me a look that’s just as smug as Valeri’s. Fucking bastards. I hate it when they team up on me.
“If I were to walk into your house right now, where would I find your pretty new housekeeper? In her bed or yours?”
“Valeri, I’m about to kick your little ass,” I warn him.
He laughs. “That means she’s in his bed.”
“Wow, you mean someone’s actually been invited to sleep in his bed?”
I turn back to look at Ilya. “Don’t you fucking start.”
Andrei laughs but doesn’t add anything.
“The Pope’s seen more action than that damn mattress has,” Vasily jokes.
“You can all go fuck off,” I tell them. “And you,” I say, turning to my older brother, “can’t say a goddamn thing. Nina’s the first woman you spent more than just a few hours with.”
“True enough,” he admits. “I did marry her within the first hour of meeting her, though, so I’ve still got you beat there.”
“Just because you’re the oldest doesn’t mean you have to win at every goddamn thing,” I remind him.
He laughs. “Oh yes it does.”
They continue to tease me until we’re only a few minutes away, then everything turns serious.
All joking stops as we check our weapons and keep our eyes on the dilapidated building at the end of the street—Marcus’s known hangout.
Sunrise is still about an hour away, so still dark enough to offer cover to his men.
We park several streets away and wait until everyone arrives.
I text my men, letting them know where I want them while Vasily and Valeri do the same.
Soon we’ve circled the building, extending out to cover the side streets surrounding it, blocking in Marcus and any man of his who happens to be with him.
Valeri steps up next to me and grins. “I bet I get more than you.”
I laugh and finish screwing the silencer onto my gun. “You’re on, little brother.”
He’s yet to beat me in a body count, but that doesn’t stop him from trying.
The men near us are doing a final weapons check and cracking jokes to ease the tension.
The air is thick with anticipation, and when the sun begins to rise, we fan out and start the hunt.
This area of the city is mostly abandoned, and the few people who are around and not associated with Marcus aren’t going to be calling the cops anytime soon.
We have a large group of men checking out the other buildings while a core group of us heads straight toward Marcus’s hideout.
I run my eyes over the rundown place. Every window has been busted out, and the weeds that grow around the place are up to my thighs.
The place is an absolute shithole. Broken bottles litter the ground, crunching under my black boots as we creep closer.
I keep my gun drawn, slipping through the open doorway on the bottom level.
We fan out, and I know the silence isn’t going to last too much longer.
Searching the building room by room, it doesn’t take long for Marcus’s men to start scampering out like rats during a flood.
Guns go off, ours softer thanks to the silencers.
The others are loud and obnoxious because their equipment isn’t as good as ours.
After taking out three guys with quick head shots, I put my gun away and switch to my knife.
Separating from the group, I slip into the stairwell and quickly find myself on the second floor.
The place reeks of piss, mold, and cigarette smoke.
It’s fucking disgusting, and I’ll probably burn everything I’m wearing after I leave here.
Gunshots ring out from below, and when I take a quick look behind me, I’m not at all surprised to see Valeri and a couple other guys.
He really wants to beat me. He holds up two fingers, and rolls his eyes when I hold up three.
I give him a smirk because I can’t laugh right now.
Stepping close to an open doorway, I peek around and then hold up four fingers to let the others know how many are in the room.
The man close to the doorway has his back turned to me.
I don’t waste any time. Grabbing him, I plunge my knife into his neck while the guys behind me shoot the others.
In seconds, the threat is gone, but we’re far from done here.
Movement catches my eye. I jerk my head just in time to see a man passing across the doorway of another room.
I take off after him, yelling for Valeri to keep checking the other rooms.
Chasing this guy isn’t nearly as much fun as chasing my girl, but it still gives me a nice adrenaline rush.
When I catch him and spin him around, slicing his throat, I can’t lie and say it doesn’t give me a thrill, just not the same kind that Maddie gives me.
I put an end to anyone else I find, but the last guy puts up a fight.
He goes down when I slice across his upper thigh, cutting into the femoral artery and bringing him to his knees.