Page 33 of Toxic Salvation (Krayev Bratva #2)

KOVAN

I’ve made so many mistakes already today, and it’s not even two in the afternoon.

As I jump into my SUV and race toward the mall, I catalog every fuck-up in my head.

First mistake: putting Pavel in charge of Vesper and Luka’s security when he’s clearly more interested in Charity’s cleavage than protecting my family.

Second mistake: letting them leave the house to go to a goddamn mall.

Third mistake: letting them leave the house, period.

They could have spent a nice, safe day by the pool, surrounded by twenty-four-hour security and a state-of-the-art surveillance system. But Vesper had begged for some “normal” time with Charity and Luka and, idiot that I am, I’d relented.

It just goes to show that no good deed goes unpunished.

I find Pavel on the third floor of the mall, pacing between clusters of shoppers who keep staring at him like he’s a serial killer on the loose.

“Where are the guys?” I growl the moment he spots me.

“Doing a sweep. Don’t worry; they’re being subtle.”

“And this asshole who’s been following you?”

Pavel shifts his weight. “Listen, it was just a feeling. I’m not even sure we were actually followed, but I recognized his face and?—”

“Is it one of Ihor’s?”

“No. I can’t remember his name, but I’m pretty sure he was one of Yana’s ex-boyfriends. Face looked similar. At least, I think so.”

“Jesus Christ, Pavel. Did you just raise the alarm over some random guy who might look like one of Yana’s former fuck buddies?”

“He followed us through half a dozen different stores!” Pavel insists. “And I didn’t raise an alarm—I sent you an update. You didn’t have to drive down here.”

My patience evaporates. “Where are Vesper and Luka?”

Pavel points to a baby boutique a few doors down. “Hiding in one of the dressing rooms. Store was empty when I left them. Figured they’d be safe until I could confirm we were clear.”

“Empty? What about the staff?”

“Didn’t see anyone.”

“Fuck.” I push past him, heading for the store.

The moment I step inside, my instincts scream danger. The place is a ghost town. Alternative rock plays softly in the background, but otherwise, it’s dead silent.

I move toward the back as my mind spins through worst-case scenarios. What if I pull back those dressing room curtains and find three bodies? What if Ihor managed to get one of his men inside, kidnapped Luka, and left Charity and Vesper behind? Worse—what if he took both Luka and Vesper?

The dressing rooms are even quieter than the front. Four stalls, two with curtains drawn. My stomach drops as I rush to the first one and yank the curtain back.

Empty.

I move to the second curtain, but just as I open it, something crashes into my face. Pain shoots through my skull and I taste blood.

“Oh my God. Kovan! It’s you!” Vesper’s voice is pure relief.

I blink through the pain, touching my mouth. “ Blyat’ . Not exactly what a knight expects when he goes on a rescue mission.”

“I am so sorry.” She grabs my face, her thumbs brushing over my split lip. “I can’t believe I hit you.”

“What did you hit me with? Because it was effective.”

“My purse,” Charity answers, peeking out with Luka’s face visible below hers. “Sorry about that.”

“Christ.” I work my jaw. “What do you have in there, rocks?”

“Perfume, a brush, my wallet, a first aid kit, and a book. Plus some other stuff.”

“That’s a weapon, not a purse.”

“Are you okay, Uncle Kovan?” Luka asks, pushing past the curtain with Charity.

“I’m fine, malysh . It’ll take more than a bag of boulders to take me down.”

Vesper still looks horrified. “I’m so sorry.”

“Stop. Don’t apologize for defending yourself and protecting them.” I kiss her forehead carefully, avoiding getting blood on her. “You did good.”

“Let me look at that lip.”

“I have my first aid kit!” Charity offers.

“I’m fine,” I insist. “Now let’s?—”

Pavel bursts into the dressing area, breathing hard. “Everything okay? The men cleared the first three floors, so we can—” He stops, staring at my face. “What happened? Did you fight off whoever was following us?”

“Vesper did all the fighting.”

Pavel looks between us. “ You did that?”

Vesper hangs her head. “I didn’t mean to. I heard someone searching for us, and after you got in my head about being followed, I grabbed the heaviest thing I could find and swung.”

“Nice!” Pavel grins.

“No, not ‘nice’!” she argues. “I didn’t hit some bad guy. I hit your brother!”

“But you didn’t know that. Way to be proactive, V.” Pavel slaps my arm. “See? She can totally take care of herself.”

“I’d rather she didn’t have to,” I snap. “Now, let’s get out of here. Enough excitement for one day.”

“You mean we can’t see Minions ?” Luka pouts.

“Not today. I’ll put the movie on for you to watch at home.”

“It’s not the same.”

I look to Vesper for backup. She forces a smile even though I can tell she wants to stay. “We’ll come back another day, honey. Your uncle’s right—that’s enough excitement.”

As we walk through the store, I notice a clerk appear behind the counter from a back door. He’s wearing a ratty t-shirt and exhaling vape smoke, but his glazed eyes lock on me immediately.

“Yo, you Kovan Krayev?”

Charity and Luka have already left with Pavel. Vesper pauses at the threshold when she hears my name.

“Go outside,” I tell her firmly. “Wait with Pavel. I’ll be right there.”

“Kovan—”

“Now, Vesper. No arguments.”

She hesitates, concern creasing her forehead, but she leaves.

As soon as she’s gone, I stride to the counter and grab the clerk by his collar, hauling him halfway over it. He whimpers as the edge digs into his stomach.

“How the fuck do you know my name?”

He reeks of weed smoke, cheap body spray, and poor life choices. Can’t be older than twenty, with acne covering half his face and breath that suggests he hasn’t brushed his teeth in days.

“Please, man, let me go! I was just told to give you something if you came in. That’s all!”

This kid couldn’t handle a McDonald’s order, let alone anything dangerous. I release him and he slides back over the counter.

“Talk fast. What were you told to give me, and by whom?”

“I don’t know. This weird-lookin’ guy showed up a couple hours ago, made a purchase, wrapped it. Said you were a friend and would be by soon. It’s already paid for.”

“What is it?”

“I don’t know, man! I wasn’t paying attention. It’s a gift.”

“If you don’t know what it is, how are you so sure it’s for me?”

“He showed me a picture of you. Gotta be honest, dude, you looked nicer in the photo. Not so fuckin’ angry.” His eyes go wide as he realizes what he just said. “No offense. I’m sure you’d look nicer if you smiled.”

“Shut up.”

He mimes zipping his lips.

I notice Vesper peering back into the store, wondering why I’m taking so long. “Hurry up. Give me this gift.”

He ducks down, and instinctively, I put my hand on my concealed gun. This moron may look harmless, but any fool can buy a weapon these days.

When he resurfaces, he’s holding a small gift box tied with a red striped bow. What the hell?

“Open it,” I order.

His jaw drops. “You want me to open it?”

“That’s what I said.”

“But it’s your gift. What if there’s a snake in there or something?”

“Didn’t you wrap it?”

“No, the guy did it himself. What if he slipped something inside when I wasn’t looking?”

I roll my eyes. “All the more reason for you to open it. Do it before I lose patience.”

“I am so quitting this job,” he mutters, slowly undoing the bow.

He pulls off the top. Inside is white tissue paper with a small note on top. I bend down to read it.

Secrets have a way of being exposed.

My chest tightens. I pull apart the tissue paper layers, and underneath sits a tiny newborn’s onesie.

The message is crystal clear.

Ihor knows about the baby.

I stare at the onesie—pale yellow with little ducks printed on it. Innocent. Harmless.

And the most terrifying thing I’ve ever seen.

“Dude, you okay?” the clerk asks. “You look like you’re gonna puke.”

I grab the box and the note, stuffing them in my jacket pocket. My hands are steady, but my mind is racing.

Ihor knows Vesper is pregnant. He knows we have a child coming. And now, he has the ultimate leverage against me.

“If anyone asks, this conversation never happened,” I tell the clerk.

“What conversation?” He grins nervously.

I leave without another word. We need to get home. We need to increase security. And I need to figure out how the hell Ihor found out about the pregnancy when we’ve been so careful to keep it quiet.

Outside, Vesper is pacing next to Pavel, her hand resting protectively on her still-small bump. She doesn’t know it yet, but everything just changed.

“Ready to go?” she asks, searching my face.

“More than ready.”

As we walk toward the exit, I can’t shake the feeling that we’re being watched. Every shopper, every employee, every security guard could be one of Ihor’s people. The onesie feels like it weighs a hundred pounds in my pocket.

Vesper slides her hand into mine, and I clutch it tightly. She’s carrying my child, and now, our enemy knows it. He knows. He fucking knows.

“Kovan?” she says softly. “Everything okay?”

I look down at her—this woman who attacked a stranger with a purse to protect Luka, who’s carrying my son, who’s become the center of my entire world without either of us planning it.

“Everything’s fine,” I mutter.

It might be the biggest lie I’ve ever told.