33. Vladimir
Vladimir
The moment is charged with anticipation, the air thick with tension. Almost two hundred Bratva men stand across from just fourteen EAO operatives. The numbers are absurdly skewed, and yet… my men are the ones shifting on their feet, casting uneasy glances at one another.
Because they know.
They feel it.
The women of the EAO stand in perfect formation. If anything, they look bored.
Their all-black tactical gear clings to their toned, lethal bodies—form-fitting cargo pants tucked into combat boots and sleeveless tops that reveal strong arms decorated with ink and scars that each have a story.
They’re armed identically, weapons strapped to their thighs, knives holstered at their hips.
They don’t just look like soldiers.
They look like death itself.
And my wife?
My wife looks ethereal.
Luna stands at the front, exuding an almost regal authority, her stance relaxed but purposeful. There’s a quiet, deadly confidence in the way she holds herself—feet balanced just right, muscles loose but primed, her sharp gaze sweeping over the crowd like she’s already assessing weaknesses.
The dim warehouse lighting catches the golden accents threaded through her braids, the gleam of her nose piercing, and the sharp glint of her wedding ring.
My ring.
Possession curls through me, dark and primal.
I’ve seen her kill before.
I’ve seen her lead.
But right now? Right now, standing there like a Goddess of war, commanding a room full of men who wouldn’t dare to challenge her?
I’ve never been more fucking turned on in my life.
I step forward, my voice slicing through the charged silence.
“These women,” I gesture to the EAO operatives, “are not here to serve you. They are not your subordinates. They are our allies, and they will be treated as such. If I hear even a whisper of disrespect, if I find out anyone here has so much as looked at them the wrong way…” I pause, letting the weight of my words sink in.
“You will answer to me.” My voice drops into a lethal promise.
“And I assure you, you will not like the consequences.”
A ripple of unease moves through my men. None of them speak.
Then, Luna steps up beside me, her presence commanding without effort.
“And the same goes for you, ladies,” she says coolly, her voice carrying easily through the warehouse.
“You will not disrespect the Bratva. You are allies—not lackeys. We do not serve them, and they do not serve us. You will work together. Or at least my husband pisses me off. Then all is fair in love and war.”
All the women laugh, but a few of my men shift uncomfortably, unaccustomed to taking orders from any woman, let alone one who isn’t Bratva.
Until one decides to be an idiot.
Alexei. One of my foot soliders.
He steps forward, arms crossed over his chest, his cocky smirk in place as he looks over the EAO women like they’re nothing more than entertainment.
“They talk a big game,” he says, eyes flicking toward Luna, voice dripping with amusement. “But I’m curious. Can they even fight?”
I smirk.
Dimitri, ever the chaotic bastard, is already grinning like it’s his fucking birthday. “Sounds like he’s issuing a challenge,” he muses, his tone far too pleased.
Luna doesn’t even blink. “Fine,” she says, like she’d been waiting for this. “One from each team. You get four. We get four.”
A ripple of excitement moves through the crowd. Amani and Raven exchange a look before turning to the rest of their squad. Isabella, standing in the shadows, watches with a knowing smirk.
Alexei huffs. “Alright, but let’s start with someone?—”
“I’LL GO FIRST!” Dimitri shouts, practically bouncing on his feet like an overgrown child.
Konstantin groans. “For fuck’s sake, Dimitri”
Raven steps forward, rolling her shoulders with a slow, satisfied smirk. “I’ll take this one.”
Dimitri glances at me, his eyes wide with genuine fear. “Brat, If I die, tell my father I love him.”
“You hate our father,” I remind him.
“I KNOW! THAT’S HOW BAD THIS IS GOING TO BE.”
Luna snorts. “Good luck, Dima.”
The circle forms, the crowd pressing in as the first fight begins.
Dimitri barely lasts three minutes.
It’s not even close.
Raven is a predator, moving with controlled precision, weaving through his attacks effortlessly. It’s almost painful to watch. Every time Dimitri throws a punch, she dodges like she’s dancing, countering with devastating efficiency.
And then she takes him down.
A swift sweep of her leg, a sharp twist, and suddenly Dimitri is on the floor, gasping as she presses a knee into his back.
He taps out—fast.
The entire warehouse erupts into laughter.
Raven stands, dusting herself off like she didn’t just humiliate one of my best men in front of everyone.
Dimitri groans, clutching his ribs. “You are the most incredible being I have ever met.”
Raven smirks, stepping over him. “I know.”
Then Raven just walks away toward the EAO women. They all laugh.
I shake my head. “Idiot.”
The next fights happen in rapid succession.
The Black Widow wins. Flawlessly. Her opponent taps out just before she can dislocate his arm, saving himself from what would have been a very painful recovery.
I smirk, crossing my arms as I watch from the sidelines.
Luna had personally rescued the woman now standing victorious in the ring, and watching her fight—seeing her hold her own with such ruthless efficiency—felt like watching a child take their first steps.
She can’t be too much younger than Luna or the rest of her team.
She’s at least six feet tall and built robust, her golden-brown skin glistening with sweat, her movements precise, calculated. But it’s her eyes that pull me in.
When she finally turns my way, I catch a full glimpse of them—Arctic blue. A chill runs down my spine. It’s… unsettling.
Like staring into a mirror and seeing a different version of myself reflected back.
I wonder…
But before I can conclude the thought, the next match begins, snapping me back to the present.
The Praying Mantis lose.
It’s a close match, but my man takes her down after nearly ten minutes of brutal exchanges. The score is now 2-1.
The Vipers lose as well, which utterly shocks me.
That cocky Bratva mu'dak, Alexei, got her in a chokehold and pinned her down. She glared at him the whole time she walked away, clearly plotting revenge.
I probably won't be seeing him again.
A tie.
And now? Now it’s us.
Luna versus me.
The crowd is fucking wild, eager to see this matchup. Some are cheering for me, others—mostly the EAO operatives—are placing bets on Luna.
She steps into the ring, and my blood burns at the sight of her.
Her muscles are taut, her body poised, her lips curled into a knowing smirk.
“Try not to embarrass yourself, husband,” she taunts, rolling her shoulders.
I chuckle darkly, stepping toward her. “Lisichka, I am your embarrassment.”
We circle each other.
And then we strike.
She’s fast.
I knew she was fast, but going against her firsthand is another thing entirely. She dodges my blows like she knows my movements before I even make them. Every time I get a hold of her, she slips through my grip like a phantom.
“I warned you that you were predictable, Vlad,” she taunts.
She keeps dodging my strikes easily, pivoting and kicking out at my side. I barely catch her foot before she can land the hit, but she uses the momentum to flip over me, landing behind me with a grin.
The crowd is going wild.
I turn to face her, a wicked grin spreading across my face.
Oh, this is going to be fun.
We exchange blows, matching each other in speed and skill. She gets in a few solid hits, making my ribs ache, but I return the favor. For the first time in years, I struggle.
And fuck, it’s exhilarating.
I don’t even care about winning. I want to keep playing.
And then I make a mistake.
For a split second, I let my guard down.
Luna seizes the moment.
Suddenly, I’m on my back.
The crowd erupts.
Luna hovers over me, her breath coming fast, a wicked grin curving her lips.
“You got lucky,” I growl.
She smirks. “Luck had nothing to do with it, Dracula.”
Before I can respond, every EAO phone goes off at once.
The mood shifts immediately.
My men are just wondering what's going on, but the EAO women?
They don’t hesitate.
They move in perfect unison, forming a defensive formation, their presence eerily calm. It’s so precise and automatic that even I have to take a second to appreciate it.
Then—
The lights go out.
Shouting erupts.
I feel movement behind me.
And then I feel her.
Luna’s breath is warm against my ear as she presses up against my back, her voice a dark, seductive whisper.
“We’re not finished, Dracula.”
Then she kisses me.
Fast. Hard. Enough to leave me reeling.
The lights flicker back on, illuminating the warehouse.
I spin around, but she’s already disappeared as well as the rest of the EAO.
Dimitri lets out a dramatic gasp, clutching his chest. “I think I’m in love.”
Before he can say anything else, Konstantin smacks him in the head. “You’re a fucking `suka.”
Dimitri groans, rubbing the spot, but still grins like an absolute fool. “Doesn’t change the fact that I am in love.”
I don’t bother to respond.
Because, deep down, I know I’m thinking the same damn thing.