Chapter 47
Alina
For the first time in weeks, the three of us are in a room together without handcuffs or prison bars.
We’re here together facing the same precarious situation, and we’re going to get out of it together too.
At least I hope we do.
Now more than ever, I know I won’t choose between Dominik and Gavriil.
I can’t.
I want them both, even if that makes me selfish or reckless or whatever else. I don’t care because what I feel for them is beyond anything I’ve ever felt before.
They’re both ingrained in my soul at this point, and the only thing that can rip us away from each other is death itself.
“The prison doors have been modified to automatically lock when closed,” Matvei tells Dominik as everyone in the bunker gathers around the war table, ready to formulate a plan that’ll turn the tide.
“We entered the bunker through the hatch in the prison,” Gavriil says. “None of the doors were shut, and I only saw two bodies. Not much combat happened down there.”
“Any other helpful details I should know about?” Dom asks as he stands at the head of the table with me on his left and Gavriil to his right.
“There are weapons planted throughout the house,” Eduard replies. “Under couches. Under tables. In cabinets and drawers. There are night vision goggles too, but they’re still in a crate in the meeting room.”
Dom nods as he soaks in every bit of information thrown at him. “We could have our men sneak from place to place to try and pick off men, but if they’re patrolling in groups, our numbers are so small that they’ll likely hit us from behind or report our location.”
I chew on my bottom lip as I listen, my eyes roaming over the group around the table. All of them are sporting some sort of injury, and the smell of blood is nauseating. There’s only Yelena down here treating people, and Gavriil has waved her off multiple times.
Even now, he’s being stubborn.
“We have to overwhelm them,” Matvei says. “We have to hit them so hard and fast that they don’t have time to realize what’s happening. If we can stun them, we have a chance, but we need to hurry.”
“Hurry with what numbers? We don’t have enough men for that kind of assault,” Dom replies as he shakes his head.
Matvei sighs in frustration, but he nods. He knows Dominik is right.
“If they’re all in or around the house, why don’t we just destroy it?” Valentin suggests. “It would kill most of them, and we can pick off the ones who survive.”
Gavriil glares at him. “I’d rather not blow my house into pieces, even if it were empty. We have too many dead men left behind, possibly some trapped alive if they made it to the roof. Are you willing to sacrifice them for a quick resolution?”
Valentin’s shoulders drop as he shakes his head.
Dom rubs his jaw, his eyes narrowing in thought. “We’re too limited because we don’t have enough men.”
“What about contacting the Bratva Council and asking for reinforcements?” Petrov suggests.
Both Dom and Gavriil immediately shake their heads.
“We don’t get along on the best of days with the Volkovs, and the other Bratva organizations are too far away. Besides, if we asked for help, they’d probably assign new leadership. That’s not an option,” Dom states.
They need reinforcements regardless. If they don’t have enough men to do anything, we’ll eventually be killed in this bunker.
They need men from somewhere. They need allies.
“What about the Italians?” I ask. My question is met with silence.
Maybe it was a dumb suggestion.
“The Italians?” Dom replies as he tilts his head at me.
“Gavriil talked with them before. They don’t like the Irish or the Armenians either and don’t want them coming after their territory next.”
“I told you that fell through,” Gavriil replies. “They wanted the warehouse near the harbor. I refused, and they walked.”
“What good is having that warehouse if no one is alive to use it?” I question him, hearing a few people draw in sharp breaths.
I’m not afraid of Gavriil like they are, and someone needs to talk some sense into him.
“Asking for help doesn’t make you look weak, Gavriil.
It’s the smart move. What good is holding on to your pride if you’re dead? ”
Gavriil stares back at me silently, his jaw tightening. He then exhales slowly. “What do you think, Dominik?”
“We’re at risk of losing the entire territory,” Dom says, crossing his arms. “Losing the harbor warehouse would hurt our operations, but we could find other warehouses. We could survive without it, but I don’t know if we can survive this war without help from the Italians.”
Gavriil nods his agreement. “Your call.”
It’s down to Dom to make the final decision.
Dominik glances over at me and nods. “We’ll contact the Italians for support. They can give us the numbers that we need for a quick ambush from behind.”
People around the table nod and murmur in agreement. Some look hesitant, but we’re backed into a corner right now. We don’t have the luxury to be picky about who our allies are and what assets we keep.
“Get Maximo Luciani on the phone,” Gavriil tells Matvei.
“Yes, sir.”
A few minutes later, the sound of ringing fills the bunker as a secure phone rests on the table in front of Dom.
There’s a crackle before a man with a smooth, deep voice speaks.
“Who the fuck is suicidal enough to call me this late?”
“Dominik Morozov,” he says, his voice firm and unwavering.
A chuckle sounds. “What happened to the Pakhan? Did you finally kill him?”
Gavriil’s jaw tenses before he speaks. “I’m right here.”
“Ah, Gavriil,” Maximo says. “You made it clear that you didn’t need my help. Why are you and your brother calling me in the middle of the night?”
Gavriil looks over at Dominik, nodding for him to take the lead. It’s the first time I’ve ever seen Gavriil step aside instead of standing in front.
“Our estate has been attacked by the Irish, the Armenians, and a group that we haven’t been able to identify,” Dom tells him. “We’ve regrouped in a safe location, and the estate is still swarming with enemies.”
“And?”
“And we need your help,” Dom says, slightly gritting out the words. “I know you wanted our warehouse by the harbor. We’re willing to give it to you if you help us.”
“Do remember that these are your enemies too,” Gavriil adds. “If they claim our territory and equipment, what makes you think they won’t try to take yours next?”
“You expect me to send my men into a possible deathtrap in the middle of the night just for a warehouse? After you already denied my generosity to my face?”
Nervousness twists in my stomach. This might not work out. We might be stranded to handle this ourselves, and we all know how that’s going to play out.
“Consider this a longstanding partnership. If you need us in the future, which you know may happen, you’ll have an ally to support you,” Dom explains. “With your help, we have a good shot at beating them. Show them Italian brute force. Ensure that they don’t come after you next.”
The silence stretches long enough that I start counting heartbeats.
Everyone is holding their breath, waiting for his answer. The one that decides our fate.
“How many men do you need?”
Everyone breathes at the same time.
“As many as you can spare,” Dominik answers.
“Give me thirty minutes and your location. We’ll pull a group together to come to your rescue.”
A smirk tugs at Dom’s lips before he looks at me, giving me a proud nod. Maybe things will work out in our favor.
Dominik relays all the information that the Italians need to Maximo before ending the call.
“Take this time to rest up, stock up on the ammo kept in the lockers over there, and patch yourselves up. When the Italians arrive, we need to get into position. We have one chance to hit these guys back. We can’t fuck it up. ”
Everyone nods before splitting apart to do what they need to do. Matvei remains.
“I know something that could help give us an advantage,” Matvei says before grabbing a large, black case from under the table. He sets it down on the surface and flips open the top, showing us a black drone tucked inside, along with a tablet.
Dominik immediately nods. “Eyes in the sky would help. Anyone know how to fly a drone without running it into the ground?”
“I can do it,” Renat volunteers.
Dominik moves closer to me. “You should stay down here with him.”
“While you guys are risking your lives out there?” I question him, my heart lurching at the thought of being separated from them.
Gavriil places his hand on the side of my face. “You need to stay down here, printsessa. I’m sure we’ve got an extra mic somewhere. You can report to us what the drone sees. Be an extra set of eyes for us.”
At least he isn’t asking me to sit around and wait. If I’m going to be down here, I want to be useful.
“Okay, I can do that,” I say with a determined nod. “And I won’t miss anything.”
The corner of his mouth turns up. “I know you won’t.”
“You should let Yelena look at you before you go out there,” I tell him as hope fills my eyes. I just want him to take care of himself.
“I’m not bleeding much anymore,” Gavriil replies. “She’s busy with the others anyway.”
“Your life matters too,” I say as I rest my hand on his arm. “It matters to me. To Dom.”
I glance over at Dom as he stands nearby. He nods in response before meeting his brother’s eyes.
“You’re in pretty bad shape, and we’re about to storm back into battle,” Dom tells him. “At least get some bandages.”
I give Gavriil’s arm a light shake. “Please.”
Gavriil sighs quietly before stepping away, walking with a slight limp that probably hurts worse than he’s letting on.
“Maybe my brother is actually becoming less stubborn,” Dom comments.
I turn to him with a small smile. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.”
Dom smiles back and steps forward, his lips grazing my forehead. Such a simple, soft touch coaxes me to close my eyes, a brief wave of peace washing over me. It won’t last, but it’s nice while it does.
“I’m glad we came back,” I tell him, hoping that he feels the same way.
He seems fine with me being around Gavriil, but I can’t read his mind. I don’t know if he’s just acting like he’s okay with everything or not.
“Me too,” Dominik replies.
We stand there together for a few minutes, existing in our little bubble while people rush around us to get things done. Only when I hear Gavriil’s voice do we break apart.
“There. Patched up.”
I look over at Gavriil, noticing slight ridges under his clothes where bandages were placed over his wounds. A satisfied smile crosses my lips. “Good. Thank you.”
Gavriil nods. He shifts on his feet like he’s going to move closer to us, but he stays rooted to the spot, watching us instead.
“Please be careful out there. Both of you,” I tell them as I glance between them, my pulse thumping from concern.
“We will,” Dom promises me before he meets Gavriil’s gaze. “We’re not going to do anything reckless.”
“We’ll make it back to you,” Gavriil agrees.
The three of us stare at each other, varying emotions playing out silently. There are so many words left unspoken between us, and I can only hope that we get the chance to say them after the fight.
But I don’t know what’s going to happen when they leave the bunker and storm the house. This could be the last time that I see them alive.
The thought steals the air out of my lungs, leaving me breathless.