Page 21 of The Bratva’s Secret Heir

“You arrogant, criminal, medically noncompliant bastard.”

“You missed ungrateful.”

“I can add it after you sit down before your stitches open.”

I almost smile. Someone intends to abduct her, armed men may be entering her building, and she remains personally offended by my recovery.

Yuri’s voice comes through my earpiece. “Vehicle across the street. Black Volga, false plates. Two occupants. Engine running.”

I spot the packed bag behind her.

“You planned to run,” I say.

Her eyes move toward the sofa.

“I still do.”

“Every station and airport will be watched.”

“I know.”

My earpiece crackles again. “Ambulance turning onto the street,” Yuri says. “No emergency call logged for this building.”

“Open the door, Vera,” I say.

“No.”

Misha peeks out from behind his mother’s legs and pushes a yellow car through the narrow gap. “For you.”

I look at it.

“Hurt people need something to hold,” he explains.

Vera closes her eyes for one second, and something in my chest pulls that has nothing to do with surgery. I take the car. It’s warm from his hand, scratched along one side, and missing part of a wheel.

“Thank you.”

“You have to give it back.”

“Reasonable terms.”

He nods, satisfied.

Yuri speaks again, faster. “Movement at the service entrance. Two men inside. One heading up.”

Abramov touches his earpiece. “Stairwell team confirms armed men.”

“Abramov, ready.” I close my hand around the toy car, then look at Vera. “Remove the chain now.”

She hears the change in my voice. “Misha, get behind the sofa.”

The boy moves at once.

Vera unhooks the chain, and Abramov pushes the door wide while two men enter ahead of us. I step inside, fighting the pull beneath my ribs, and point toward the rear windows.

“Secure every access. Vera, take the bag.”

Passports, cash, medicine, snacks, tiny clothes, and a bent-tailed dinosaur fill the open pockets. Only her coat hangs near the entrance.