Page 34 of Scarlet Sins (Yegorov Bratva #2)

Chapter Thirty

DEMYAN

I’m still waiting on the rest of the backup. And I’m waiting to see what Sergio’s going to do. I can’t kill him. Not until I know Erin’s safe, and Pavel, who went to contact Ilya, the only other person with Erin’s number, hasn’t come back in.

Whatever he has to say is only for me and if she’s dead or hurt, I have to believe I’d be told.

“Marry her and this will be over.”

“Shut your mouth and maybe I won’t shoot you.” I eye Sergio. “How do I know you didn’t text for backup or to have her killed?”

“Trust?”

This time I laugh. It’s a strange sort of standoff, but something’s off here. His daughter’s in the other room, but I don’t worry about her. There’s a gun trained on that door. And my gun’s on Sergio.

Alek is pointing his gun at Rocco.

“I’d never trust you. How about this. Put Erin on speaker and we’ll take it from there.”

He hesitates .

Sergio texted, didn’t call. So is he bluffing? Or did my girl lose his men?

“Call, or is it that you can’t?” I ask softly. “Take his phone, Ivan.”

Ivan steps forward as Sergio’s gaze darts toward him. “Touch this and I won’t send the next arranged signal.”

My chest tightens. Fuck, I can’t risk it.

“Call your daughter out.”

The avarice in his eyes leaps. “She’ll be out any minute. When the time lock ends.”

Did he lock her in? Then again, it’s an actual panic or safe room. So it might be time locked. I really don’t care except, I don’t want a whole bunch of men to jump out.

“Shoot to kill when the door opens,” I order.

Now the avarice turns to panic, and he stares at me. “She’s unarmed, there’s her and the celebrant in there.”

That I believe, but I don’t change the order.

“Kill my daughter and I’ll kill your bitch.”

“Seems we’re at a standoff.” I nod at Rocco. “And you? What’s your part in this with Sergio? I’m more powerful than Sergio. It’s why he wants me to marry his daughter. Get his hands on my holdings.”

Sergio starts spluttering but Rocco’s face turns mean. “You’re part of the deal. Or your power is. Marry her, I get half. That’s the promise. And I’ll be the most powerful man around.”

“We will,” says Sergio.

It’s at that point the door starts beeping and the gun on Rocco shifts slightly as my man glances at the door. And in the front of the building, behind us, comes a commotion. Shouts but no shots.

But it’s enough for Rocco to reach beneath his jacket and pull a weapon. I only have time to start to swing my weapon from Sergio as Rocco’s aims at me. But a bullet slams into his head.

He’s dead before he hits the floor.

I don’t glance back; I know who made the shot.

“She’s fine,” Ilya says with a grunt of pain.

I swing my gun to Sergio as he goes for something in his shoe. A knife, a gun, I don’t give a fuck. I aim and pull the trigger and he drops.

Not dead, just seriously wounded. Blood pours from just below his left shoulder as he falls to the floor.

“Ivan, if he moves again, shoot.” Now I lift my gaze, glancing at the safe room door. “And Ilya, I thought I made it clear you were to stay away.”

Ilya’s cane hits the floor as he comes into view, gun in one hand as he gives me a smirk. “You clearly needed my help.”

“I had it under control. She’s okay?” I ask.

“They got away. You should turn your phone on.”

“It’s dead.”

He tsks. “Always bring a charger.”

“I’ll pack it with sandwiches for the next shootout.”

“See that you do.” It doesn’t go unnoticed that Ilya leans heavily on Sergio’s desk.

I turn my full attention back to the fuck. “Sergio said he had someone holding a gun on Erin. Are you sure?”

“Spoke to her myself. They’re at Vasily’s. Alina got them there. Unfortunately, the guards we had are dead. But Sasha and Erin and your sister are safe. They’re safe.”

Safe. Inside, I’m shaking as the word sinks in. And all the fear I held back, the fear I pretended I didn’t have, floods me and my vision wavers.

I go up to Sergio, kicking him down, then stepping on his wound, grinding my foot down on it.

He screams in agony. I keep my foot there, pinning him.

“You dared try to scare a small child and a pregnant woman? Take my family? Lie to me? You knew your guards didn’t have them and you fucking lied.

For what? You thought I’d cave and marry Stefina? What kind of sick fuck are you?”

I lift my foot and start to kick him, the panic and relief turning into anger. I fucking hate this cunt.

A door clicks. It’s like a light in my head.

What the fuck am I doing? I don’t even want this blight to suffer. I just want him to no longer exist.

So I lift my gun and shoot him in the head.

He doesn’t move again.

“No! Daddy!”

Stefina flies past me and drops to her father, hysterical. I motion to someone to pull her back.

Her face twists into pain and grief as she glares at me. “How could you?”

“You’re better off without that sack of shit,” I mutter. “He didn’t care about you, just what you could bring him. He treated you like shit.”

Her eyes flash and her grief recedes. Stefina shakes off the man holding her and crosses her arms. “I’ll find a way to make you pay if you don’t fix things!”

“Fix things?” I shake my head. “He’s dead. What do you want me to fucking do?”

“Marry me like you promised.”

I start laughing. “You don’t want to marry me. You and me, we don’t spark. We’d never last and you’d be miserable.”

She swallows and stomps up to me. “What am I meant to do without him? How do I survive?”

“Your daddy had money.”

“You don’t get it. He did, I don’t. It’s set up that my husband gets everything to be shared with Rocco, and failing that… it goes into trust until I have a son. From one of four families. At least you’re young and good-looking. So… what am I meant to do? ”

The words get a job come to mind, but she’s a mafia princess, brought up to be only that.

I’m guessing her father figured I wouldn’t kill him as Rocco and I would never mix, given my history with his family. And Rocco wanted my power. I was going to be killed, no doubt.

But I don’t think she knew that. And I only have pieces I put together.

I can’t leave her penniless. I look at Ilya. “I’ve got an idea. Call Vince, have him meet us here. I’ve got a proposition.”

And Stefina’s face lifts to mine. “Vince?”

Vince is minutes away, and I use Alek’s phone to change our chartered flight to an earlier one. Fuck, I’ll fly commercial if I have to. But I know a private chartered flight is easier. When I have it set up, I breathe out.

I want this nightmare in here to be done. I want to be with my family as soon as I can. I was insanely stupid allowing them to go early. Freedom? I almost signed their death warrants.

Erin might think she’s still in the regular world, but she isn’t. She’s mine and the most precious thing ever. I need to protect her and my children, no matter what.

I should have been there.

Vince arrives and Stefina’s eyes light up, her dead father forgotten.

I’m seeing her in a different light, a woman forced into a role she hated.

Oh, I think she’s probably still shallow, but Vince is decent and he likes what he sees.

And since he’s stepping in fresh, he just might be what she needs.

And he might need her to help navigate some parts of the world since he’s spent so long out of the game.

“What’s this about?” he asks .

I let him take in his dead cousin and Sergio. And of course, Stefina.

Then I lead everyone into the club.

“You and I have a deal, correct?” I ask him.

He nods. “Ilya and I see eye to eye on this, and you took care of the bad blood in my family. And then some. You operate the way I always suggested, before they pushed me out.” Vince shrugs.

“I took that option, made my own money, but this business is in my blood. Are you saying you want me to leave Chicago? Rocco’s business isn’t set up here, so that wing of the family business isn’t mine to carve up or control?—”

“I’m not interested in that. I’m interested in taking care of Stefina, and Sergio’s business.

” I explain to him what she told me and how I think it’s set up, but I know she’s right.

If her father is dead, it all goes to the husband and Rocco.

And since Rocco’s dead… Just the husband.

In fact, I’ll bet the Rocco part isn’t set up yet except by a handshake and a word.

“Marry Stefina,” I say.

“And give you half or all of her father’s holdings?”

“No. All I want is what we arranged. The ability to do business with you and the people he controls. Like I always did. If there are things I want, we’ll discuss.

You and Ilya set it up, and I trust him.

” I look at Stefina who’s now eyeing Vince.

He’s young and good-looking, and I’m pretty fucking sure she’s forgotten her fake devotion to me.

Thank fuck.

“Marry her, join your interests with hers, and take control over your brother’s and Sergio’s territories. And our deals stand.”

“I get power and money and… her?” Vince asks.

“She’s nonnegotiable.”

Vince smiles. “Good.”

And Stefina squeals, throwing her arms around Vince .

“You’re good with this?” Ilya asks me, sidling up.

“As long as he sticks to the deal and keeps the fuck out of my way.”

“He will. And he’ll be an asset.” Then Ilya smacks me on the back. “We did good. Now I’m back.”

I roll my eyes. “Come on, we’ve got that new flight to catch.”