Page 39 of Sweet Obsession (Savage Vow #1)

I saw it in the way she wrapped her arms around herself, like her body was trying to vanish. Saw it in the tension in her jaw, the flicker of something unspoken in her eyes. Not fear.

Worse.

The moment she left the room, I reread both letters again, slower this time. Let them settle into my bloodstream like poison.

Vargas wanted me.

Chernov wanted me to step down.

Together, they offered peace on paper. In reality, they wanted blood. And they thought I was weak enough to fold.

They weren’t wrong about one thing, I was vulnerable.

Because of her.

Because the thought of Chernov ever touching a strand of her hair, lit something feral in me.

I stared at the letter until the ink blurred. Then folded it, tucked it in the fire, and watched it burn.

As the fire consumed it, my phone rang.

The moment I answered the call, I knew it would end with blood.

“Still hiding in your fortress?” Chernov’s voice slithered through the receiver, smug and slow. “I thought you’d at least crawl out by now.”

I didn’t respond. Didn’t need to. He wanted the silence. Needed to feel like he was pulling the strings.

“I expected more spine from you,” he went on. “But then again, your men are turning on you for what you did to me. You don’t exactly inspire loyalty these days.”

I stared out at the city, knuckles white around the glass in my hand. The shadows looked different tonight. Meaner. Hungrier.

“I didn’t call to gloat,” he said, voice sharpening. “I called to let you know I’ve taken your father.”

Silence. It rang like gunfire in my ears.

“Moscow,” he added, like he was describing the weather. “He put up a fight. Proud old bastard. But he’s under my care now. Comfortable... for the moment.”

Rage crawled up my throat. “If you touch him—”

“You’ll what?” He laughed. “March into Volograd estate tomorrow with your pretty little whore and expect applause?”

My hand gripped the desk so hard it groaned.

“There’s already an order. The second you’re sighted at the banquet, your father dies. Quietly. Without spectacle. No one will ever find the body.”

I could hear the smile in his voice.

“You really should’ve killed me when you had the chance,” he whispered. “But now? You’ve lost everything. The families are restless. The wolves are starving. And you... you’re clinging to a girl who’ll be dead before you make it to the podium.”

“She’s not part of this.”

“She’s the only part that matters. She’s why you’re weak.”

I drew in a breath through my teeth. “Let my father go and you can have the estate.”

“Volgograd?” He laughed again, cruel and short. “I don’t want your fucking estate. I want Luna. I want to see what it takes to make the fire in her eyes go out.”

I hung up.

Didn’t smash the phone. Didn’t scream. I just stood there, chest heaving, hands trembling, while the silence collapsed around me like ash.

I couldn’t tell her. Not now. Not while her smile, her real fucking smile, was still burned into my mind, lingering like a wound I didn’t know how to heal.

I called Oleg. Ordered full lockdown. Then had Nikolai brought to me.

He entered stiff, already guessing. His mouth was a grim line. “What happened?”

“Chernov has my father,” I said flatly. “He’ll execute him the moment I’m seen at the banquet.”

Nikolai’s face paled. “That’s a declaration.”

“It’s war.”

He exhaled slowly. “Then let’s end it now. Give the order. I’ll take a team...”

“No.” My voice cracked like ice. “We win the vote first. That gives us control. Authority. Without it, we’re playing defense in our own grave.”

He nodded, eyes cold. “Then we hit after.”

“Yes. From the top down. The elders. Lev. Chernov. Alexei. I want the entire fucking Odessa line turned to dust.”

“My sister’s missing too,” he said quietly. “Same warning. Same terms. They want silence for blood.”

I didn’t flinch. I couldn’t afford to.

“Call Gleb Romanov,” I said. “He’s the only one I trust with this. Tell him two targets—my father, your sister. Stealth only. No mistakes.”

Nikolai hesitated. “And Luna?”

I looked toward the door like I could still hear her breathing down the hall.

“I thought I could take her with me, but not anymore. It’s too risky for her. She stays here. Watched. Guarded. If I don’t come back tomorrow, get her out. Disappear. Burn everything.”

Nikolai gave a tight nod, then left.

The second the door shut, the weight hit me.

What if Gleb failed? What if Chernov’s men cut through mine tomorrow like paper? What if I walked into that banquet and never walked back out?

What if Luna found out?

My throat burned.

Not from fear.

But from the cold, jagged edge of desperation. I’ve survived death. Torture. Betrayal. I’ve clawed my way through blood and fire for power. For survival.

But now, now I was fighting for something else.

Someone.

And if they took her...

No. I wouldn’t let it happen.

I poured vodka with a shaking hand. Downed it in one brutal swallow.

I would go to the banquet at Volgograd.

I would stand before the Bratva and claim the seat I was born for.

And if Chernov touched my father... if one hair on Luna’s head was harmed...

I would burn his family’s empire down, stone by fucking stone.

And I would make them all watch.