Chapter 35
Reyna held her arm against her bad side as she continued to fire until the last of her ammunition was gone. Lev then shoved her behind him as he continued to fight.
Suddenly, there was silence.
Lev turned his head to look at her. “You good?”
“Yes. You?” Reyna asked.
He winked at her before looking at the men around him. Over half were dead, with a handful more wounded. Reyna peered around Lev, but she didn’t see any more Saints standing.
“Are they all dead?” Mia asked.
Lev motioned for some of his men to go around the building and check while the rest of them inspected the area.
Reyna accepted a magazine from Lev and ejected her empty one, replacing it with the full one.
She held her gun up, ready to shoot should an enemy jump out.
Mia was on her other side, and she had also gone through a fair share of ammunition.
By the time they finished looking over the bodies, the men Lev had sent to the back had returned and gave the all-clear.
“We got them all,” Mia said with a smile.
Lev turned as someone said his name. Reyna looked over to find a short, skinny man with two hefty men flanking him. The short one was smiling as he and Lev shook hands.
“Thank you, Tommy,” Lev said.
The union boss shrugged. “It was my pleasure. I think these Saints will think again before they come back here.”
“Don’t get your hopes up,” Reyna said. “They will retaliate.”
Lev grabbed Reyna’s hand and said, “Tommy, this is Reyna. Reyna, Tommy Sullivan.”
“Nice to meet you,” she said as she shook his hand. “And thank you again for helping us.”
Red stained Tommy’s cheeks as he smiled at her. “We’ve always stood with Sergei, and we will stand with Lev.”
Tommy and Lev exchanged nods before Tommy turned on his heel and went back to the rest of the workers who had begun to return to their homes now that the threat was over.
Behind them, Sergei’s men waited for Lev to turn around. Reyna didn’t push him. She simply stood in the arms of the man she loved, marveling that they had won a major victory over the Saints. But she feared that they had only angered the titan.
And the retribution would be vicious.
Lev kissed her temple. “You can still leave.”
“I’m with you,” she told him, meeting his gaze. “I’ll always be with you.”
He smiled at her before he turned them to face those remaining. “Thank you all for fighting with me. I’ve heard that some of you believe I was responsible for Sergei’s death. The men we fought today were the ones who took his life.”
“Reyna and Mia told us,” Arnold said as he held his wounded arm.
Lev’s gaze moved over the men. “Sergei asked me to take over upon his death. I told him no repeatedly, but he never gave up hope that I would take his place. I’m here to tell you that I will honor his wishes.”
A loud cheer went up, causing Reyna to smile as she beamed proudly at her man.
“It’s not going to be an easy road,” Lev continued when the cheering died down.
“Sergei was determined to see the Saints ended, and so am I. Our business is going to extend from the normal port dealings. We’re fighting a global giant that has people everywhere.
We have to trust each other. The minute that ceases, we have a problem. ”
“We’re with you,” Arnold told him and was joined by a chorus of agreements.
Lev grinned at them. “Let’s see to our dead and wounded.”
The men wandered away to do as ordered. Lev dropped his arm and walked to the left where a huge black mark scorched the concrete. She didn’t have to ask to know it was where Sergei’s car had blown up.
Mia moved closer and said, “Lev is staying here, isn’t he?”
“He thinks having two locations shows the Saints that we’re not afraid.”
“It’s what Sergei would’ve wanted. Oh,” she said and hurried away.
Reyna watched her rush toward three men walking their way. The youngest jogged to meet her, wrapping his arms around Mia and swinging her about.
Lev returned to her side and retook her hand as the foursome walked up. He and Cullen nodded to each other. However, the older man who looked similar to Cullen held out his hand.
“Glad to have you back safe and sound.”
Lev laughed and shook his hand. “It’s good to be back.”
“And you brought a friend,” the Russian said as he grinned at her.
“Yuri, Orrin, Cullen, I’d like you to meet Reyna Harris. Reyna, these are my friends.”
“We’re her friends, as well,” Mia said with a wink.
Reyna greeted each of them, shaking their hands as they welcomed her. They stood around, laughing and talking for a few minutes before one of Lev’s men said that they’d found five more bodies, one a woman.
They followed the man to the dead, and Reyna found herself staring at the body of her old boss. “That’s Lorraine,” she told Lev.
Orrin knelt beside her and looked at the wound. “She was killed at point-blank range.”
“She knew her killer,” Cullen said.
Lev looked at Reyna. “Do you think it might be the same person who helped you?”
She shrugged. “Anything is possible. Are there cameras around here?”
“Behind us,” Lev said, pointing to them. “I’ll ask Tommy for the footage.”
Mia walked around the bodies. “It looks like the woman who has been chasing the two of you is gone. Maybe you can stop running.”
Reyna met Lev’s gaze. “We’ll all be running until the Saints are brought down.”
“Come on,” Lev told them as he tugged on her hand. “There’s vodka waiting in Sergei’s office. I mean, my office. Damn. That’s going to take some getting used to.”
“But it fits,” Yuri said.
Lev smiled and gave Reyna a quick kiss. “That isn’t the only thing that fits.”
“I’ll be damned,” Cullen said with a wide smile. “Lev has himself a woman.”
“Keep talking, Tex, and I’ll kick your ass,” Lev promised.
Reyna looked at Cullen and said, “He’s pretty good. I think you should zip it.”
“Hey,” Mia exclaimed, unable to keep the smile from her face “My man is just as good.”
“Ooooh. Do I see a fight coming on?” Yuri asked, rubbing his hands together excitedly.
Orrin sighed loudly and looked up at the sky. “I’m too old for this shit.”
They all laughed, enjoying the interlude of peace because they would need to start planning soon. But they had earned a few hours of rest and celebration.