Page 71 of Savage Truce

For the first time since it all happened, anger surges through me, speeding up my breaths. “I wish I could do the same to him.”

Rodian’s eyes narrow, his expression turning downright savage. “Can you face going back to the factory?”

His question catches me by surprise, and I think for a moment. “What happened to the men who were there?”

“Some were killed when I found you. The others are still there.”

They’re alive?

“What will happen if I go back?”

“You give the order, and I will kill whoever you want. But if you don’t want to go there, I can bring you photos, and you can just point out the men who hurt you.”

My tongue darts out to wet my lips, then I say, “Maybe if I go back to face the demons and see them die, it will help.”

“It’s your choice, moya Krasavitsa.”

When I nod, he pulls his phone out of his pocket and dials a number. A few seconds later, he orders, “Come pick me up in the helicopter. We’re flying out to the factory in Chekhov.”

Rodian

Looking out the window as we land, I’m pissed off with myself for not doing this sooner.

I’ve been so focused on Anastasia, I never thought once to stop and consider that some of the men who hurt her might still be alive.

It’s my fucking duty to defend her, and I slipped up.

Never again. It’s time to get my head out of the clouds and to do my fucking job as her husband and the pakhan of the Bratva.

Even though we’re wearing headsets, she leans into me to ask, “How are we going to do this? Do I just point out the men?”

I nod, gripping her hand tighter. “Yes. That’s all you have to do. I’ll handle the rest.”

I brought her medication in case she needs it, but so far, she’s doing really well. I honestly didn’t think she would want to return to the factory.

When we touch down, we remove the headsets and wait as two guards get out first before Sergei and Andrei follow.

A man appears in the open doorway, his eyes widening when he sees I’m here.

“Is he one?” I ask.

“No,” My wife answers, her voice sounding fragile. “I haven’t seen him before.”

I glance at Sergei and order, “You don’t leave Anastasia’s side. No matter what happens. She’s your priority.”

“Yes, sir.” He moves to her side while scanning the area.

When we enter the factory, most of the men are hard at work, converting the place into a functioning manufacturing plant.

“Pakhan!” someone shouts, and all the men stop what they’re doing.

“Show me who hurt you,” I tell Anastasia.

When she starts pointing out men, Andrei and the guards train their weapons on them, indicating for the fuckers to line up by a wall.

“The very tall one,” she says, and just then two make a run for the back door that leads to the pens.

Yanking my gun from where it’s tucked into the back of my pants, I don’t hesitate for a second and shoot one in in his thigh while one of the guards tackles the other to the ground.