Page 167 of Mafia and Scars

The butt of my gun hits his face. It busts his lip and knocks out a tooth.

“Why her?” I shout. “Did the FSB send you?” We already worked out a deal with the Russian government—it cost us a hell of a lot of money, but as part of the deal, they agreed they’d leave Avelina and her kids alone from now on. But is this the Russian government fucking reneging on the deal?And is this their way of telling me that Avelina will always belong to them?

Defiance is still lingering behind his eyes. And a smugness.

I don’t like it. I strike again. Hard. Enough to shatter his cheekbone. “Answer. The. Fucking. Question!”

He spits blood. “We were told…it was you in the SUV,” he splutters.

I freeze. Ice water floods my veins. “Told it was me?”

“Orders were clear. Hit the…car. Kill you. The Albanians want you dead. Your old comrade, Geliy, was working…with them too. Just sometimes…when he needed the money. He gave them info about the layout of your compound…”

A kill order from the Albanians. To killme. But it wasAvelinawho nearly got killed. And Geliy was also fucking involved before his death. That was why he visited me at our compound.

I rise slowly, letting my boot come down hard on him before I step over his crumpled body.

“Nikolai said he was almost hit too,” Matvey says over the comms. “Someone tried to take him out at one of our restaurants twenty minutes ago.”

My gut tightens. And fear spreads like poison through my chest. “Grigory?” I say slowly.

“Just texted me to say he was run off the road coming back from the casino. The soldier driving his SUV didn’t make it.”

Didn’t make it. Someone’s already dead.“It’s retaliation.” I say my immediate thought out loud.

“Definitely,” Matvey replies, the anger in his voice clear. “We’re meeting back at the Kremlin as soon as possible.”

I nod, yanking the comms from my ear. It makes sense. The Albanians aren’t just pissed that we ruined shit for them. They want us off the board completely. And Geliy was happy to take their money, giving them info about our compound and whatever he learned about our set up, not caring that it might be putting Avelina and the kids in danger.

There’s no doubt in my mind now. This was a coordinated attack. The Albanians were trying to get in with the Russian government and become their main suppliers, but we burned their bridge before it could even get started. This isn’t about sending a message. It’s war. And now, they’ve made the mistake of making Avelina a target of their fucking actions.

I leap back into the SUV and race back to Avelina. Getting back to Artyom’s vehicle, I push past my men as I rush to her, nearly pulling the door from its hinges to get to her. She sits there, eyes closed tightly, whispering something I can’t make out.

Her face is pale.Too pale.

I don’t even waste a breath before I tug her to me. One hand cradling the back of her head, the other wrapping tight around her waist like I can hold her together. “You’re okay,” I whisper. “It’s okay. I’ve got you now.”

I don’t know who I’m trying to convince more. Her or me. But it doesn’t soothe either of us as she clings tightly to me. I breathe her in deeply.

She’s safe. The words repeat over and over. Because I protected her.This time.

“I’ve got you,” I murmur. “No one gets to touch you, Avelina. You’re mine, and I’m going to protect you. Always.”

She nods slowly, letting out a trembling breath.

“You’re coming back with me.”

She doesn’t argue and lets me lead her back to my SUV.

I give a nod to my men, and they file back into their vehicles. One in front of us. One behind.

By the time we return to the Kremlin, I’m vibrating. Not with fear. But with rage.

Avelina is quiet the whole drive back, and I don’t blame her for that. It’s a hell of a thing to go through. Babulya, Sofia, and Leon are waiting for us in the courtyard when we get back. I hold her tighter to me as we start toward the door.

A soft sigh leaves her as she lets go of my hand and takes Leon from Babulya, hugging him tightly to her chest. She pulls Sofia in too, and my heart squeezes.

My family.