Page 141 of The Bratva Sinner

And he’ll die trying to save me.

40

Maksim

The warehouse district is quiet when Sampson cuts the lights two blocks away. I get out of the SUV alone.

Damien is out of the passenger door before I’ve taken three steps. “Maksim.”

“Stay here.”

“That’s insane. You can’t go in there alone. He’ll kill you. We know it’s a trap.”

I turn and look at him. He’s my chosen brother. A man I trust with my life. And my wife’s life.

“I need you out here,” I say. “I need you alive and out here. You understand me? I’m trusting you to keep my wife safe.”

He stares at me as he works his jaw. “This is suicide.”

“Maybe.” I straighten my jacket. “Or maybe it’s the only play that works.”

“Maksim, please.”

“If I’m not out in twenty minutes, call Sergei and tell him everything.” I hold his eyes. “Everything, Damien. He’ll know what to do.”

He doesn’t answer. That’s as close to agreement as I’m getting from him tonight.

I walk toward the warehouse.

Two men are at the door. They see me coming, and neither one moves. They’re expecting me.

They take my gun, and I let them. They don’t find the blade in my boot. I probably won’t get to it fast enough, but it’s a chance.

They walk me through the warehouse. I count seven men positioned along the walls before they push me through a second door and into a larger space.

Arlind is standing near the center of the room.

Lila is on her feet against the far wall, with her wrists bound in front of her. There’s blood on her forearm, and her hair is loose and wild. Her chin is up. Her eyes find me as I walk through the door, and I see the moment she decides to be furious with me for coming.

I almost smile.

She’s alive.

Everything in my chest loosens just enough to let me breathe. Part of me expected to come here and find her dead, or close to it.

“Sokolov.” Arlind spreads his hands. There are three fresh scratches down his left cheek, red and raw. My wife’s work. Mylittle wildcat. Something vicious and proud moves through me. “You came alone.”

“I came alone,” I confirm.

He looks past me at the door. Checking. He doesn’t fully believe it.

“My men are outside,” I say. “I told them to wait.”

“And they listened?” He sounds amused.

“They follow my orders.” I look briefly at Lila. Her eyes are burning holes in the side of my face. I look back at Arlind. “Let her go.”

He laughs a short, flat sound. “You walked into my warehouse to tell me to let her go.”