Page 27 of Bratva King

"You can relax," Alexei said quietly.

"I am,” she pointed out.

He laughed softly. "If this is you relaxed, I'd hate to see you anxious."

Natalia lifted the corner of her mouth, and Alexei found himself smiling back before he realized he was doing it. Outside, rain had begun to fall. Tiny droplets streaked across the tinted windows while city lights blurred.

Their driver navigated the nearly empty streets with practiced confidence. For the first time all evening, Alexei allowed himself to breathe. Maybe tonight had passed without incident after all. Perhaps whoever wanted him dead had finally accepted failure.

From the corner of his eyes, he noticed Natalia’s expression had changed. Every trace of warmth vanished from her face. Her shoulders stiffened as she snapped toward the rear window.

"What is it?” He couldn’t help but ask.

She didn't answer. Instead, she leaned forward slightly, watching the reflection in the glass. Natalia narrowed her eyes.

“Get down!” she yelled.

When he didn’t immediately react, Natalia threw herself across him. Alexei barely had time to react before she shoved him toward the floor. He heard a heavy thunk. Something slammed into the rear window.

A spiderweb of fractures bloomed across the bulletproof window. Alexei's pulse exploded, then gunfire rained. Another shot rang out, and he heard a crack. The second impact struck inches above where his head had been only moments earlier.

The reinforced glass groaned, and he and Natalia cursed. Whoever was firing at them was using some kind of armor-piercing rounds.

“Natalia,” he began.

"Stay down!"

A third round hit, and this one punched completely through. The rear window burst inward in a shower of sparkling glass. Fragments rained across the leather seats. Cold night air rushed into the cabin.

"Damn it, Bryan!” Alexei barked toward the front. "Drive!"

The chauffeur didn't hesitate. The limousine surged forward, and its powerful engine roared as it accelerated through the intersection. Behind them, he finally saw the black SUV following them. Its headlights blazed through the shattered rear window.

Muzzle flashes erupted from the passenger side. There were more shots. Metal shrieked, then the limousine swerved. Natalia had already opened her evening clutch.

Inside, nestled between lipstick and her cellphone, sat a small pistol. She chambered a round with practiced ease. Alexei reached for her wrist, and she looked at him.

"Keep your head down,” she told him. He was about to protest, but then she said, “My job is keeping you alive."

Another bullet tore through what remained of the rear window. Glass exploded over both of them.

Natalia didn't even flinch. She pulled free from his grip.

"Either trust me,” she said, checking the magazine in one smooth motion. “Or 1find another bodyguard."

Alexei opened his mouth, then closed it. Damn her, she was right. He nodded to her. Lowering herself beneath the shattered window line, Natalia inched toward the rear passenger door. The limousine swerved again. Their pursuers were gaining.

Alexei braced himself against the seat as they rounded a corner far faster than any sane driver should. Natalia pressed the window switch. The reinforced glass lowered halfway even as the vehicle wove violently through traffic.

Cold wind exploded into the cabin. She leaned out, far more than Alexei considered remotely safe.

“Hey, Natalia!”

"I've got them."

Gunfire erupted. The pursuing SUV answered with another barrage. Bullets sparked off the limousine's armored body. Alexei caught brief glimpses of a masked driver and another shooter leaning from the passenger side through the broken rear window.

Natalia adjusted her aim, exhaled, and fired twice. The passenger disappeared back inside the SUV. Whether wounded or taking cover, Alexei couldn't tell. Natalia made another shot, and the pursuing vehicle lurched violently.