Bratva Sinner (A Possessive Mafia Romance)

She clenched her jaw. “Don’t use that against me.”

“I know you’re afraid. We’re all afraid for our own reasons, but I need your help with what happens next.”

She sucked in a shuddering breath then nodded once. “I’ll try, okay? I’ll try, I’m just not made for this.”

“You’re stronger than you realize. Most people would’ve run away by now, but here you are. You’re upset, but you’re still standing, and I’m proud of you for that.”

She flushed slightly. I leaned forward and kissed her lips gently. She didn’t return it, but she didn’t push me away, either.

“Get some rest,” I said, helping her up, and led her to the stairs. She let me bring her all the way into her room and I gently pushed her down onto the bed.

“I’m only going to be in the way,” she said, pulling the blankets around her.

“No, not at all. Not even close. Now get some rest. We have a lot of work to do.”

I left her there, shutting her door. She disappeared beneath the sheets, burrowing into safety.

I stood outside of her room and leaned my head back.

She had no clue how close we’d come to dying down there. Or maybe she did, and that was why she had that sudden outpouring of emotions.

But we survived. The Pakhan decided to trust me, and now I had this single chance to take the fight to the Lionettis. It was Cara’s idea from the start, but I knew she was right— this dossier was a chance to go on the offensive and change the structure of the city’s underworld.

It was a chance I wouldn’t pass up.

I’d drag the whole Morozov Bratva kicking and screaming into this war if I had to, but it was going to be war whether they liked it or not.

16

Cara

The parking lot was empty and filled with weeds. At the far end, past the overgrown median and the flagpole that was tilted slightly to the side, an elementary school sat boarded up and covered in lewd graffiti. Luke leaned back in his seat and stared across the asphalt at the plywood-covered front doors, and I wondered if he knew that place, if he maybe went there—but no, the building looked like it’d been abandoned for a long time.

“You doing okay?” he asked softly, not looking at me.

“I’m fine.” I let out a breath. I had my freak-out moment, my panic attack, and now I was starting to feel better.

All it took was about two hours of crying and a full night’s sleep.

Marvin’s chest shattering with blood and bullets haunted me every time I closed my eyes. I hated that I saw that and hated that it happened to him, and I didn’t think I’d be able to push it from my mind anytime soon. Luke seemed aware of that, and was trying his best to give me space and support—but he needed me for this, and I understood why.

Franklin pulled up in a rusty pick-up truck and parked two spaces away. He’d be suspicious if I didn’t show up after having been a part of the negotiations from the start, and Luke didn’t want to give him any reason to back out.

We needed him here for a while at least.

Luke watched Franklin and nodded once. “You ready?” he asked me quietly.

“I’m ready. How many guys are out there again?” I felt a shiver run down my spine. I knew we were being watched—I just didn’t know how many eyes were staring at me.

“My whole crew plus two for backup. Fifteen men, give or take, I didn’t count.”

I laughed nervously. “Seems like overkill.”

“Damn well better be. Come on, let’s get this over with.” He pushed his door open.

I followed and got out. I held a duffel bag tucked under my arm, empty except for a single file folder stuffed with papers—the dossier itself.

Luke approached Franklin’s truck. Franklin got out, stretching his back. It was late, well past midnight, and the only light came from the moon and a street lamp fifty feet away. Franklin held up a hand in greeting. He wore all black, his hair slicked close to his skull, his beard trimmed slightly since our last meeting.

“Gotta admit, Luke, I didn’t expect you to be reasonable.” Franklin grinned, all teeth.

“Orders from above,” Luke said, stopping a few feet from Franklin. “Got to move the thing.”

“Your boss wasn’t too happy about you meddling with the Lionettis, huh?” Franklin laughed loudly. “It was a bold move, my friend, and I admire you for it, but I guess it didn’t pay off.”

“I guess not.” Luke nodded toward the truck. “You brought my money?”

“All in cash,” Franklin said. “But let’s see the dossier first.”

“You think I’d try to rip you off now, you asshole?” Luke’s tone was sharp and the anger bled from his body language.