Page 81 of Daddy Brigadier
As I step into the open air, my heart races, pounding loudly in my ears. Each quick gasp of breath fuels my urgency as I move further away from the warehouse, leaving Valentin behind.
The tears are starting to emerge, but I won’t allow the Bratva to see that they’ve managed to break me.
Stay strong.
Don’t let the tears show.
Not here.
Not where he can watch.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
ELISE SAVIN
Bratva.
A world that shouldn’t exist. The Coalition is a place rife with death and violence, a harsh reality no one should have to endure. This is where I reside, and I would do anything to keep my sister far away from its horrors.
Anything and everything.
Alexis washome. She was supposed to stay in Seattle, innocent and full of hope, waiting for me. I had planned to return there with her one day when my soul wasn’t drowning. That was the plan I held onto tightly. But, as fate would have it, things didn’t go as I had anticipated.
With a tight smile, I step out of the vehicle and circle the hood, my sunglasses firmly in place. My eyes take in the small warehouse, searching for any signs of activity. It’s quiet, but I know she’s inside. My men have been watching her for weeks.
As the engines hum around me, a refreshing breeze sweeps across my face. The sunlight radiates against a clear blue sky, and as the familiar white cotton clouds float leisurely by, you can almost feel the anticipation in the air—the calm before the storm.
The sound of Ivy’s heels against the cement blends into the background noise of hurried conversations. Security personnel are on high alert, their hands resting near the insides of their jackets, ready to draw their weapons if the situation demands it.
Every passerby could pose a threat.
“You sure about this?” Ivy questions, concern etched on her face.
“It’s time,” I reply, taking a deep breath filled with the heavy air that’s far from the pristine views of the Manhattan skyline.
Ivy bangs on the door, and within moments, a tall blonde swings it open. I lean slightly forward, locking eyes with her. Fear radiates from her.
“Elise,” she hesitates, struggling to get the words out.
“I’m here to see my sister,” I state firmly.
Her mouth opens, eyes widened in shock as she steps back, allowing us in. Ivy crosses the threshold first, and I follow her inside.
We stand in the open area of a warehouse—nothing glamorous, just some rooms upstairs and an office. This isn’t my first visit, though my sister will remain oblivious.
Ivy wiggles her brows and smirks. “Cute.”
Robyn, with the black hair, runs down the stairs, frustration evident on her face. “What the hell?” she whispers, clearly unsettled. But as soon as her eyes land on us, her expression shifts. She falls silent, stepping back up the stairs in shock, disbelief etched across her features.
I take a moment to assess the two girls—Lacey and Robyn, part of my little sister’s circle. I have gathered files an inch thick on both of them, as well as the other one, Ruby. It’s important for me to know who my sister is spending time with, even when she insists I stay out of her affairs.
“Can I make you some coffee?” Lacey asks, tiptoeing past Ivy, whose eyes follow the girl.
“That would be great,” Ivy chuckles. She’s clearly amused by how frightened the girls are to be in our presence.
A smile breaks across the girl’s face, a spark of light returning to her eyes. “Just give me five minutes.” She strolls over to the kitchen, her back turned to us as if she’s deliberately avoiding our gaze, getting lost in her task.
My feet freeze in place, drawn to the corner where I find my mini me. Every nerve in my body is alive, tingling with anticipation as if a thousand tiny creatures were scuttling beneath my skin. With each thump of my heart, I feel fate nudging me closer to her.
