Page 58 of Brutal Reign (Bratva Kings #3)

CHAPTER

FORTY-SIX

HOPE

The bass from Element’s sound system thrums through my body as I descend the stairs from the VIP floor. Pavel’s words fuel me, burning away the fear and sharpening my mind to a razor’s edge.

He loves me and wants to adopt Kin. Tomorrow, he’ll understand he doesn’t have to. But right now, all that matters is getting us there.

I know Pavel’s people have eyes on me, ready to intervene if necessary. That knowledge should comfort me, but my stomach churns with nerves. In a few minutes, I’ll be face to face with the man who betrayed me in the cruelest way possible, and I have to pretend I still trust him completely.

The main floor pulses with music and movement, beautiful people in expensive clothes dancing under the shifting lights. The air is thick with perfume and sweat as I push through the crowd and scan the space.

I spot Chen standing near the main bar, looking every inch the distinguished gentleman in his perfectly tailored charcoal suit.

He’s aged since I last saw him many years ago.

His hair has gone completely silver, and there are new lines around his eyes, but he still carries himself with the same quiet authority that made me trust him as a child.

Looking at him now, knowing what he’s done, makes me sick.

Still, I paste on my brightest smile and move toward him through the crowd.

“Uncle Chen,” I call out when I’m close enough, injecting every ounce of false joy I can muster into my voice.

His face lights up. For a moment, I almost believe his happiness is genuine.

“Little bird,” he says, calling me by my childhood nickname. The sick bastard. He opens his arms for an embrace, and I hesitate for a beat before forcing myself to close the distance even while my skin crawls. “You look beautiful. Just like your mother.”

“I can’t believe you came all this way,” I say when we pull apart. “Are you sure it’s safe? I know what a risk you’re taking for me.”

Lies, lies, lies.

“Nothing is more important than family,” Chen says, and the sincerity in his voice is so convincing it makes me wonder when he became such a master manipulator.

Was he always this way? Did he play my father too, or did Simon’s corruption spread like a disease?

“Besides, I have something that belongs to you. Something your father wanted you to have.” He pats his suit jacket.

“This isn’t really the place for that kind of conversation,” I say, glancing around at the crowded dance floor. “Let’s go to the second floor. I know somewhere we can meet privately.”

“Where is your Russian captor?” Chen raises his voice to be heard over the music. His tone is casual, but his eyes are sharp. “I mean…husband. You know I was surprised to hear you say he’s not a monster.”

I tense and force a smile. “I just meant he wasn’t abusive, not that I was happy. He’s busy with his cronies anyway. He doesn’t care what I do, as long as I stay in the club.”

Chen nods, seemingly pleased with my suggestion. “Best to be cautious. Lead the way.”

We move through the crowd with him behind me, and I catch a glimpse of Niko near the DJ booth. Our eyes meet for just a moment, and he gives me the subtlest nod—a small gesture that reminds me I’m not alone.

It’s too loud to make small talk, but I feel Chen’s eyes on me, and a chill ripples down my spine.

We reach the second floor and head down the hallway toward the private bathroom.

Away from the pounding music, I can hear my own rapid heartbeat and the soft click of my heels on the concrete floor.

Pavel and Roman should be in position by now.

I just need to get through the next few minutes, and this will all be behind me.

Chen murmurs something behind me, and I turn to hear him better. “I’m sorry, what did you s?—”

The words catch on my lips as something hard presses against my ribs and Chen’s hand fists in my hair, yanking my head back.

I start to cry out, but the sound dies as he hisses in my ear, all pretense of being a caring uncle evaporating. “Shut up and do exactly what I say. You put up a fight or call for help, and I’ll put a bullet in your spine, do you understand?” His grip is so tight I can barely nod. “Now walk.”

Terror floods my system as he pulls me away from the bathroom, away from Pavel and Roman lying in wait. Instead, he drags me in the opposite direction, toward an unmarked door. My mind spins, trying to make sense of what’s happening. How did he get a gun past security? Where is he taking me?

I know Maxim and his team are watching, but maybe they’re afraid to step in with Chen’s weapon against my spine. I doubt he’ll actually shoot—I’m too valuable to him and Simon alive—but they may not want to take that chance.

“Chen, please,” I coax, trying to keep the desperation from my voice. “W-what are you doing?”

“What I should have done years ago,” he snarls. “Your father made the mistake of cutting me out of the triad. But that won’t be a problem anymore.”

The door opens to reveal a dimly lit back stairwell—narrow and utilitarian, nothing like the elegant main stairs. The concrete walls close in around us as he shoves me upward, step by step.

I keep telling myself someone will come for me. I need to hold on until then. I can’t let Chen drag me out of this building. I’ll fight him before that happens.

Chen pushes me to keep walking while my mind races. I could try to reach the knife strapped to my thigh, but with his weapon jammed against my ribs and his hand wrenching my hair, I’d be dead before I could draw it. Still, if it comes down to it, I’ll fight him off on my own.

Cold dread washes over me when we reach the next floor to find at least six of Chen’s men waiting for us.

“Cover us from below and above,” he barks at his men. “We still need to reach the roof, and I know they have eyes up there. Shoot to kill.”

His soldiers spread out, taking positions that block any rescue attempt, while Chen stays behind me, his hand still twisted in my hair like a leash, forcing me forward.

“Please,” I sob. “I don’t care about the money. You can have it all. Pavel will give you whatever you want if you let me go.”

Chen’s laugh is cold and ugly. “Let you go? You na?ve child. Did you think we’d leave you here in Russia, married to our enemy?

You’re going to hand over your inheritance and marry Simon and behave, like you should have in the first place.

” Chen shoves his weapon harder against my ribs.

“You know nothing about loyalty. If you did, you never would have spread your legs for that Russian savage. You’re his whore—a disgrace to your people. ”

“You’re one to talk. You’re the biggest traitor of all.”

He only laughs, giving me a hard shove forward. I trip over my own feet, barely catching my balance before I sprawl across the concrete.

The sharp blast of gunfire erupts from below, stopping us all in our tracks. Shouts echo up the stairwell, and relief crashes through me so hard I have to fight for my next breath.

Pavel.

One of Chen’s men peers over the railing, then turns back with urgency. “Boss, Syndicate forces are fighting their way up here.”

Chen’s hand fists painfully in my hair. “Stop them. All of you, go! I want those Russians dead.”

“What about her?” one man asks, gesturing at me.

“I can handle one spoiled princess.” Chen sneers. “Move!”

Knowing help is on the way gives me the strength I need to fight back.

Twisting my torso, I claw at the banister, dragging my heels in desperation to slow him down.

It works for a second, until he snarls in frustration and strikes me across the head.

Stars explode behind my eyes, my knees giving out, but he jerks me upright and forces me through a door onto the roof.

Wind whips across the space as a helicopter hovers above us, rotors churning debris and loose gravel into a stinging storm.

For a moment, Chen’s attention wavers as he watches the aircraft approach. That split second is all I need.

Fueled by pure adrenaline, I slam my elbow into his solar plexus.

He grunts, his grip loosening as he doubles over.

As I scramble away, I hear glass shatter on the concrete and see a broken beer bottle near my feet.

I realize with horror there was no gun—he used the bottle’s bottom to mimic a gun barrel.

My fingers close around the knife handle at my thigh. Chen straightens. He has no weapon now and no backup. We face each other across the windswept roof, the helicopter’s rotors creating a wall of noise around us.

“You deserve the worst possible death,” I pant, and raise the knife between us.

Chen’s lips curve in a cruel smile. “Kill me if you want. While we’ve been playing games in here, Simon’s men paid a visit to Pavel’s compound.”

Ice fills my veins. “You’re lying.”

He shrugs. “When did you last check on that beautiful boy of yours?”

I freeze as bile rises into my throat.

“You can see for yourself.” Chen reaches into his right jacket pocket and holds up his phone so I can see the screen clearly. “This is a live video feed,” he adds.

What I see nearly destroys me. Kin sits in an airplane seat, tears streaming down his face as he clutches his stuffed dinosaur. A man in a dark suit stands behind him, and when Kin looks up at the camera, his eyes are red from crying.

A broken sound tears from my throat. My son is alone with monsters.

The knife slips from my fingers, clattering onto the concrete.

Chen’s lips curl in satisfaction. “Exactly as I thought. Let’s go.”

I look up at the hovering aircraft, despair hollowing me out from the inside.

“The Syndicate will come for you with everything they have,” I warn. “You won’t get away with this.”

“If they try to attack us, you and your precious son both end up dead.”

I know he’s a liar, that nothing he says can be trusted, but what choice do I have? Kin is alone with Simon. The thought is like a knife twisting in my gut.

For a brief, desperate moment, I think of Pavel, praying he’s alive, knowing in my bones that he would want me to go and do whatever I must to protect Kin.

“I’ll go,” I whisper, the words tasting like poison. “But if you touch my son?—”

“He’s more valuable alive,” Chen grunts, smoothing his suit with chilling calm. “For now.”

Chen pushes me toward the aircraft. My legs feel unsteady, but I’d walk into hell itself to protect Kin. Wind and debris batter us as we approach the chopper, its blades spinning, ready for takeoff.

Chen settles into the seat beside me, giving me a look that promises retribution if I try anything stupid. And with that, the helicopter lifts off into the night.