Page 116 of Bratva Menace

He turned to the soldiers still swarming in. “Clear the house!”

“Father.”

He locked eyes with me, the relief swimming in his gaze making me feel guilty. While I’d been enjoying myself, having the time of my fucking life, he’d been suffering.

“What are you doing here?” I asked in a whisper.

His body went rigid at my words. “What do you mean? I’m here to save you.”

Save me. From Lyla. From the woman I love.

Two men came over, carrying an unconscious Cedric. They dropped him at my father’s feet. “House is clear, sir. There’s no one else here. Only him.”

The Butcher reared his head. The change was instantaneous. He went from concerned father to the merciless former leader of the Bratva in the blink of an eye, and it was all directed at Cedric.

“Kill him,” Father spat.

“No, don't!" I ran forward and blocked Cedric with my body, standing in front of him. “Don’t kill him.”

Father narrowed his eyes. “Why?”

My throat suddenly felt dry. “Because.”

“Because why, Lukyan?”

Goddamn it. “Because he’s a cool dude, and I like him.”

“You like the man who kidnapped you?” Autumn asked, confused.

“Well, if we’re being specific, he didn’t kidnap me. He was more my watcher.”

Father slashed a hand through the air, annoyed. “It doesn’t matter if he was the one who kidnapped you or not. He participated in it. So, he’s dead.” He pulled out his gun.

“No!” I stood taller, staring my father down. “No,” I repeated strongly. More sternly. “Don’t kill him.”

His eyes held mine. I didn’t look away. I couldn’t let him do it. I just couldn’t. Autumn laid a hand on my father’s shoulder, and he turned his head. They stared at each other for a moment before he cursed, putting his gun away.

“Fine,” he all but snarled.

Relief filled my chest.

“Everybody, move out!” The soldiers immediately did as he ordered, filing out of the house. “Let’s go, Lukyan.” He moved away, Autumn following.

My feet stayed rooted in place. Indecision warred inside me. I’d just been talking about needing to leave. The opportunity was right there, right at my fingertips, and yet, I couldn’t make my feet move.

Leaving Lyla, without a single word, didn’t sit right with me. Caused a heavy pressure to sit firmly on my chest, making it hard to breathe. The connection she’d been so adamant we shared solidified over my time with her. I couldn’t just abandon that. Abandon her.

The idea of her returning home to see I’d left…The hurt she’d undoubtedly feel…hurt me. I didn’t want to leave her⁠—

“Lukyan.” My eyes rose to clash with my father’s bright blue ones. A somber expression crossed his face. “Let’s go,” he said again. There was a layer of concern and worry in his voice. In his words. As if he feared I wouldn’t go with him. That I wanted to stay.

You do want to say, a little voice said inside my head.

But I can’t. My family needs me. My father needs me. Lyla will understand that, won’t she?

The voice didn’t answer me. I didn’t need it to. I already knew it wasn’t true. Lyla had told me countless times that she was afraid I would leave her, and when she returned to see I was gone, it would break her.

Break me.