LOGINAXEL POV
She was breaking apart in my arms, and it was killing me.
Every sob that tore out of Emilia hit me like a bullet to the chest. Every shudder that ran through her small frame made my hands tighten around her, like I could hold her together through sheer force of will.
I'd faced down armed men without flinching. I'd taken bullets and knife
AXEL POVThe clubhouse was chaos.Everyone shouting.Everyone panicking.Em was gone.Marco was gone.Sandra was gone.And we had no idea where."The vans," I said to Bull. "Where did they go?""We lost them," Bull admitted. "Both switched vehicles three times. Different locations. Different drivers. By the time our people caught up, the trails were cold.""So we have nothing," Tank said."We have to have something," I replied. "Victoria didn't just make them disappear. She took them somewhere. Somewhere she feels safe.""Could be any of her properties," Bull said. "We checked the compound. Empty. The warehouse. Empty. The office building. Empty. She's got them somewhere we don't know about.""Then we find it," I said. "We tear this city apart until we find them.""That could take days," Tank pointed out. "They might not have days."He was right.Victoria wouldn't wait.Wouldn't give us time to orga
EMILIA POVI woke up with a splitting headache.Couldn't remember where I was.Couldn't remember what happened.Tried to move.Couldn't.My hands were bound behind me.Zip tied to a chair.Again.My vision cleared slowly.I was in a large room.Concrete walls.High ceiling.Industrial.Like a warehouse.Cameras mounted in every corner.Red lights blinking.Recording.To my left, Marco sat in another chair.Also bound.Still in his hospital gown.IV still in his arm.Blood seeping through bandages."Marco," I said. My voice was hoarse."Em," Marco replied. "You're awake.""What happened?" I asked."They took us," Marco said. "Through the hospital window. Rappelled down. Put something over your face. Chloroform maybe. You've been out for hours.""Hours?" I repeated."At least three," Sandra's voice.I looked right.Sandra was bound to a
AXEL POVMorning came with bad news.Marco had crashed during the night.Internal bleeding.They'd rushed him back to surgery.Three hours on the table.Sandra called at eight AM."He's stable," she said. "But barely. The bullet did more damage than we thought. Nicked his spine. He might have permanent paralysis.""How bad?" I asked."Right arm," Sandra replied. "Maybe permanent loss of function. Maybe temporary. Too early to tell.""Can I see him?" I asked."Not yet," Sandra said. "He's in recovery. Sedated. Give it a few hours."I hung up.Told Em.She took it hard."Marco might lose his arm," Em said quietly. "Because of me. Because Rookie shot him to get to me.""This isn't your fault," I said."Isn't it?" Em challenged. "Victoria targeted me. Used me as bait. Marco got shot protecting me. Everything that's happened is because of me.""Everything that's happened is because of Victoria," I c
EMILIA POVThe gunfire above intensified.Explosions.Shouting.The entire building shaking."What's happening?" I called to Axel."Full assault," Axel replied. "Bull brought everyone. Every brother. Every ally. They're hitting Victoria hard.""Can they win?" I asked."I don't know," Axel admitted.The cell door exploded inward.Breaching charge.Smoke filled the room.I couldn't see.Couldn't breathe.Then hands grabbed me.Pulled me up."Em! It's me!"Bull's voice."Bull!" I gasped.He cut the zip ties.My hands fell free.Blood rushed back into them.Painful.But I was free."Can you walk?" Bull asked."Yes," I said.He pulled me out of the cell.Tank was cutting Axel free in the adjacent cell."You came," Axel said."Of course we came," Tank replied. "Did you really think we'd leave you here?""How many?" Axel asked."Forty,"
AXEL POVI arrived at Victoria's compound at eleven forty-five.Fifteen minutes before midnight.The gate was open.Waiting.I drove through slowly.Parked in the courtyard.Guards appeared immediately.Ten of them.All armed.All aiming at me."Out of the vehicle," one ordered. "Hands where we can see them."I climbed out.Hands raised.They approached cautiously.Like I was a bomb about to explode."Arms up," the guard said.I raised my arms higher.They searched me.Patted down every inch.Found the knife in my boot.Took it.Found the body armor under my jacket."Take it off," the guard ordered.I removed my jacket.Then the body armor.Left me in just a t-shirt.Completely unprotected."Phone," the guard said.I handed it over.They crushed it under a boot."This way," another guard said.They surrounded me.Six in
EMILIA POVI was pulled through the main house entrance.The door slammed shut.Heavy steel.Locked.I was thrown to the floor.Looked up.Victoria stood over me.Cold. Calculating. Victorious."Welcome to your new home," Victoria said.Behind her, Rookie appeared.Carrying Mia.She was conscious.Crying.Shoulder bleeding but not fatal.
AXEL POVI tensed immediately, my hand moving to the gun concealed under my cut. "Stay behind me," I ordered, lifting Em off my lap and positioning myself between her and the door.The chapel doo
EMILIA POVMarco's office felt smaller than I remembered. Or maybe it was just the fury radiating off my brother that made the walls seem to close in.
EMILIA POVBehind us, I heard the service continuing. More dirt hitting wood. The final goodbye happening without me there to witness it.But I couldn't watch anymore.
EMILIA POV"Is that true?" I asked Axel. "Do you owe the Bratva?""I owe them nothing," Axel said. "The job was paid in full. There's no debt."







