Hidden Monsters (Volkov Bratva #4)(100)

He stood again, ready to leave once more, but Loki whined, taking a step in his direction.

“Stay.” The command even made Alex jump. “You can’t go with me this time.”

From what he had told her, Alex knew that Loki had been his only companion for the last few years. From the way he was speaking…as though he was never coming back…

“Luka—”

“Let’s go.”

Without much choice, Alex grabbed her bag and followed behind him.

As they rode together toward the studio in the heart of Chelsea, Alex reached between the them, clutching his hand and holding it like a lifeline.

When they arrived, and Luka put his Jeep into park, she sat with him, undoing her seatbelt to better face him.

“You’re not planning anything too crazy, are you? You’ll be here when I come out?”

Luka stared straight ahead, his eyes following the line of cars driving by. “This…all of this bullshit with the Albanians… By the time you walk out of here”—he pointed at the building to their right—“it’ll be done. You’ll be safe. That I can promise you.”

“Luka—”

He cut her off with a kiss, one that might have made her toes curl if not for their conversation…or lack thereof.

“Go be great.”

She wanted to stay with him, but he was already turning away from her. Sighing, Alex climbed out, slamming the door shut behind her. She turned to look back at him before he could pull off.

“Be careful, Luka.”

She waited on that curbside until he pulled off and his Jeep disappeared in the sea of other cars.

____

Luka parked outside the old brownstone, reclining back against the seat and ignoring his cell phone buzzing beside him in the empty passenger seat.

His time was up and he’d accepted that, but he wasn’t going down alone.

Reaching around his seat, he pulled out another Glock, clicking off the safety. He didn’t have enough ammunition to take out everybody—he didn’t know how many were actually in the house—but he had enough for what he needed.

Before he got out, he thought of Alex—her smile, her laugh—and let the image of him calm him. If he could help it, then that would be the last image he thought of before he died.

Climbing out, Luka took a calming breath, letting the echo of heartbeat in his ears guide him as he headed for the door. Ringing the bell, he waited a second, another, then reared back and kicked it open, surprising the man who had been coming down the hall. Two shots to the chest dropped him, making the remainder of the men cry out in surprise, the sound of running feet carrying out.

He shot two more before they returned fire. Ducking behind a corner, he counted each shot, waiting for a break in shot before he leaned out, firing off more rounds.

Back and forth it went until Luka had to toss his gun, pulling the other free from the holster at his back.

This time, he didn’t stay hidden, but boldly moved toward the others, shooting as many as he could until that gun was empty, too.

Then, he just relied on brute force.

Punching one, he went down with one hit, his body crumpling to the floor, but more were on him, dragging him away and hitting him with the butt of a gun. His face exploded with pain, but that only made him laugh as he struck back, kicking out a foot to hit the man in the groin.

“Just shoot him!” someone yelled.

Finally, the one thing Luka had been hoping for. He couldn’t take them all, he knew that before coming here, but if he wanted those he loved safe, he had to give himself to the Albanians…and he wouldn’t go down without a fight.

And fighting, usually, got one killed.

If he were dead, there would be no reason for Fatos and the others to remain in New York.

Someone brandished a gun, and Luka didn’t bother looking into the face of the man who was going to kill him. He didn’t matter.

“Wait!”

Luka tensed at the sound of Fatos’ voice, craning his head around to get a visual of him.

As he stepped into the room, he moved leisurely, as if he had all the time in the world.

…Like he had known Luka was coming.

“Is this any way to treat an old friend?” he asked as he shook his head, as though disappointed in Luka’s actions.

He held up Luka’s phone for him to see, giving it a little shake. Almost, as though she could sense the trouble he was in, the phone started buzzing again with Alex’s name appearing.

Shaking his head, Fatos silenced the call. “Tell me. Who is there to protect your little doll now that you’re here with me? There could be men waiting for her outside that studio even now…”

When Luka jerked toward him, multiple pairs of hands grabbed him, forcing him to his knees.

“What do you want, Fatos? Why won’t you just kill me and end this!”

“I don’t want you to die. I want you to live. How many times have I offered you a place by my side? All will be forgiven…eventually.”

“I don’t want it.”

Fatos frowned. “You would rather give your life for these Russians? What have they given you that I didn’t? That I won’t?”

“Everything.”

“Fine.” He pulled out his own gun, leveling it at Luka’s forehead. “Then you can die as you wish, and after I’m done with you, I’ll have that little bitch of yours killed too, but not until after I f*ck her bloody.”