“She’s saving you now,” Mikhail says. “So let’s go.”
“Not so fast,” a man says.
Whirling around, I see that Denis is here, in the lobby, with three guards standing behind him. They all have guns and all their guns are pointed right at us.
Chapter Nine
Natalya
“You thought you could steal all my nieces, did you, Mikhail?” Denis asks. His lips turn into a sneer like he’s trying to hold back as much contempt as he can and is failing miserably at it.
“Denis.” Mikhail steps in front of me. “How did you find us here?”
“Followed your man.” He nods at Jackson. “I didn’t realize you had planted a mole in my guards but when my man here, Christian, found all the girls missing, it wasn’t hard to figure out. He spotted Jackson taking them away from the house. He followed and called me. I came right over. Just in time too tostop you.” He nods at the three men behind him. “Shoot Mikhail. Make sure the women survive.”
“No,” I say, jumping in front of Mikhail before anyone can start shooting.
“Natalya,” he hisses. “Get behind me.”
“They’re going to kill you,” I hiss back. “Uncle, don’t do this.”
“You’re one to talk. You gave me this.” He points to his shoulder. From the way his arm is hanging, I can tell he’s in pain. “You shot me. I should shoot you just for that alone.”
“No. You want me back. You want to use me to gain power. You can’t do that if I’m dead.”
“You’re used goods. No man will want you now.”
“I’m still a virgin,” I blurt out, making everyone stare at me in shock. “I’m not used goods. You can still marry me to another man. Don’t kill me. Don’t hurt my sisters.”
“Yeah,” Sasha says, stepping forward. “We’ll return with you, Uncle Denis. No one needs to get shot.”
I want to object and scream at my sisters to run but not when there’s this many men with guns pointed at them. Denis wants to use my sisters to his advantage but that doesn’t mean he won’t try to shoot them in the process if they don’t fall in line. It’s something I can’t risk.
Denis considers Sasha’s offer. “You’ll return? Willingly?”
“Yes. Irina, Ana. Come on. Let’s go.” All three of them start to walk in Denis’s direction until he holds up his hand, silently telling them to stop.
“Natalya comes with.”
“No,” Mikhail growls, grabbing my waist. “She’s my wife. You don’t have any claim to her anymore.”
“My men will shoot you,” Denis says dismissively. “You’re outnumbered here, Mikhail. You can’t win.”
“Why can’t you join forces?” I ask. “Why do you have to fight? You can work together. You’re both Bratva members. Join forces and gain even more power.”
“Because I don’t trust him,” Denis spits out, glaring at Mikhail. “He stole you right out from under me.”
“You never had a claim to me,” I say. “You’re not my father.”
His face turns into a sneer. “No. I’m better than your father.”
“Our father never needed to lock my sisters up to keep them in line. You do. You’re not better.”
“Natalya, careful,” Mikhail murmurs to me. “Let me handle this.”
“I know you want to,” I say to him. “But if I move, you will be shot, and you’re my only chance, Mikhail. Let me do this. Please.”
He meets my eyes for a long moment before he nods. “All right.”
