Page 136 of Bratva Bidder

I look at her then. Really look. Her eyes are steady but tired. She’s holding it together for me, for the kids, for everything that might fall apart if I make the wrong move.

The bastard made her scared. That’s all I can think. Dmitry made her scared enough that she had to ask Alexei for help. That’s on me.

I squeeze her hand once before pulling away.

“I’ll have Lev handle the airport cover story,” I say. “You make sure Levin gets food and settles in.”

She gives a soft nod, already turning toward the little kitchenette.

I walk toward the high window and stare out at the cracked concrete lot. My fists curl against the steel frame.

He sent a warning. That’s what this was. A whisper in Levin’s ear. A shadow outside his daughter’s school. He’s telling me he sees everything, owns everything, still pulls the strings even when he’s not in the room.

But I’m done reacting.

The warehouse has fallen quiet again, the doctor finally settled upstairs, the low murmur of his movements fading as Nadya and I linger downstairs by the surveillance monitors. I’m leaning against the metal railing, staring blankly at the black-and-white security feeds cycling slowly across screens, my thoughts churning darkly.

Nadya touches my elbow lightly, drawing my attention back to her. Her eyes are soft with exhaustion, but steady, always steady.

“We should go,” she says quietly. “He’s secure. Lev’s people will watch the place.”

I nod once, reluctantly. It feels wrong to leave, like turning my back on the pieces I’m still trying desperately to keep together. But she’s right. We’ve done everything we can tonight.

“Let me check in with Lev first,” I say, reaching for my phone.

But before I even pull it from my pocket, the entire warehouse shudders violently beneath us.

A deafening blast tears through the silence, rattling the walls, vibrating straight through the soles of my shoes. Nadya stumbles, grabbing my arm as I jerk my head toward the monitors, heart racing into overdrive.

Smoke blooms across multiple screens, cameras flickering out in quick succession. The feed to the front gate goes dark instantly. We’re under attack.

29

NADYA

The explosion tearsthrough the warehouse, a brutal percussion shaking dust from the ceiling. For a moment, the world is nothing but noise, vibration, and darkness. My ears ring so hard that for a split second, there’s nothing else—just the disorienting hum drowning out Konstantin’s voice.

“Nadya! Move!” he shouts again, pulling me behind a stack of crates just as the windows explode inward, glass shards slicing through the air like glittering knives.

I blink, breath hitching in my chest, heart slamming against my ribs. Konstantin’s fingers dig into my shoulder, grounding me as he peers over the edge of our makeshift barricade. Smoke curls thick and black, blinding us to whoever is storming through the breach. But I already know who’s behind it. We both do.

Dmitry.

Konstantin reaches behind him and pulls a gun from his waistband, handing it to me without a word. I grip it, feeling the familiar coldness against my palm as muscle memory takes over.I learned how to hold a gun before I could properly tie my shoes—today, I find myself grateful.

“We need to get Levin out of here,” Konstantin growls, voice low and taut with urgency. He reaches into his pocket, clicks the button on his security beacon, sending an alert to Lev. “Backup’s coming, but it won’t be here fast enough.”

“I’ll get him,” I say firmly, already pivoting toward the stairs.

“Nadya—”

“I can handle it,” I say, gripping his arm briefly, meeting his eyes. “Trust me.”

He hesitates only a heartbeat before nodding once. “Stay sharp.”

I sprint toward the metal staircase leading to the upper room, ducking low to avoid being seen through the smoke-filled air. Another blast rattles the warehouse—smaller this time, but still powerful enough to make the stairwell shiver under my feet.

At the top, I shove the door open. Levin cowers by his bed, eyes wild with terror, suitcase clutched to his chest as if it can shield him.