Page 136 of Bratva Menace

“No,” I whispered.

His eyes rolled back into his head, and he collapsed.

“No!” I ran forward. A man stepped down from the back porch, but I barely noticed, dropping to my knees at my father’s side. “No. No, no, no.” It was a shot to the chest. A shot to the fucking chest! “Oh, God. Oh, fuck. No. No. Dad!” I applied pressure to the wound, pressing down hard. He didn’t move. Didn’t make a sound. There was so much blood. So much blood. No one could survive that much blood loss. It completely drenched my hands, almost running down my forearms.

Autumn roused, a groan falling from her lips. She slowly sat up, dazed and disoriented eyes landing on me. “What happened?” she groaned again, hand to her head. A trail of blood slid down the side of her face. Alertness snaked back into her, and her eyes locked on my father. Her face dropped. “Dimitri?” When he didn’t respond, she screamed. “Dimitri!”

Victorious laughter came from behind me. I looked over my shoulder and instantly recognized the man who’d shot my father.

“Here! Apply pressure!” I yelled. Autumn kicked right into gear, shuffling over to take my place, tears streaming down her face.

I got to my feet and strengthened my stance, standing protectively in front of them.

Lev Voznesensky stood a few feet away, eyes alight with triumph. The gun was still in his hands, smoke billowing into the air from the barrel.

“Well, well, well, if it isn’t Lukyan Volkov in the flesh.” He chuckled. “I was hoping I’d get to meet the man who broke my sister's heart.”

Guilt swam in my chest at his words. I couldn’t let it smother me. It hurt so fucking much knowing I’d hurt Lyla, but I had to put it to the side, deal with the problem at hand, no matter how hard it was.

It was made easier by the fact Lev raised his gun, pointing it right at me.

“Move,” he commanded harshly.

That surprised me. “No.”

“Fucking move!” he growled this time, frustration seeming to mount on his face.

I stood taller, refusing to budge even a fucking inch. “No.” If I moved, I knew without a shadow of a doubt that he would finish what he started. Autumn was working tirelessly behind me to try to save my father, which I wasn’t even sure was possible. If he received another injury, no matter how minor, there would be no hope. No coming back from it. I couldn’t move. I couldn’t let Lev kill my father.

He marched over to me, each footstep full of anger. “The only reason I haven’t killed you already is because I promised my sister I wouldn’t. But if you don’t get the fuck out of my way, I will break my promise, consequences be fucking damned. You understand me? This is your one and only warning. Move now, or die.”

I knew he was one hundred percent serious. There was no hesitation in his words. His hand was steady and calm. Determination burned in his gaze. He was a man on a mission. Nothing and no one was going to get in his way.

No one.

I stayed where I was, staring him down. If Lev wanted to get to my father, he would have to fucking kill me.

“Fine.” He shrugged, cocking the gun again. “Lyla will forgive me.”

Bang!

CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR

LYLA VOZNESENSKY

Bang!

“Lev! Stop!” My brother didn’t even flinch at the warning shot I’d just aimed over his head. He remained calm and still, glaring at Lukyan. His eyes cut to me, burning with hatred and vengeance.

My heart pounded in my chest so loud as we stared at each other across the yard. I almost didn’t make it. We had burst through the gates of Sergei’s estate not long after Lev’s necklace had activated with a great, almost blinding white light. My brother didn’t elaborate on its meaning. Only that it was some sort of signal. And then, next thing I knew, we were all piling into cars and taking off before I’d even had the chance to blink.

If I was being honest, I didn’t care enough to ask any questions. We were going to see my Lukyan, and that was all I needed to know. I couldn’t break into Sergei’s fortress on my own. I needed my brother’s help and the help of his men, so regardless of the why or how, I was going, and that was that.

When we arrived, we separated, me taking the house and Lev patrolling the outside.

He promised me. Lev fucking promised me that if he came across Lukyan, he wouldn’t hurt him. He wouldn’t kill him.

And I believed him.