Page 104 of Sexting my Bratva Daddies

Misha had worked with me on close-quarters combat.

I still ached after every session, and my coordination was still shit, but I had managed to slip out of his headlock yesterday and kick his legs out from under him.

I was not going down without a fight.

“Mama.” Luka tugged my hand. “You have a worry face.”

“No, honey, I’m just thinking.” My phone pinged again, and I knew without even looking what it would say. But just to prove it to myself, I read the message.

He’s headed your way. Hide. Now. Ridoc and Yuri are on guard.

Luka pulled hard enough to make me stop. “No, Mama. That’s your worry face.”

My nerves leaped along my skin, a prickling sensation bringing my head around to the front door. Misha had drilled it into me to never discount my gut. “Luka, you remember our game? The hiding game?”

He nodded, his face going solemn. “The super serious one?” He scowled the way Misha did at the end of a long day.

“Exactly.” I turned him around and nudged him toward the stairs. “Go now. Go straight to your hiding spot, lock yourself in, and you stay there. No matter what.” I lifted his chin, my hand grazing his cheek. “Do not come out unless you hear me say the code word.”

“Thunderbird.” Luka’s eyes shone. “I love this game.”

I crouched to his level. “You are so brave. I love you to the moon and back. Go. Now.”

He planted a sloppy kiss on my cheek, then bolted, his little feet furious as they pounded up the stairs.

I waited for the click of his door, the special room we’d arranged just for him with the hiding spot behind the closet in a room he could lock from the inside.

We had a backup to unlock it from the outside in case of emergency. There was not enough room for me.

I could hide. It would take Anton time to search the whole house.

Or I could fight.

I turned and ran for the gun room, unlocking it with my thumbprint. My hands were steady, which almost surprised me as I lifted the Kimber free and checked the chamber before racking one in.

Round seated. Safety off. Two spare mags went into each of my pockets. I’d started wearing cargo jeans with open pockets because some part of me had known it would come to this.

I’d known Anton was too chicken shit to come after Leo directly. I’d known he would come for me to try and hurt them.

I set the Kimber down and slid a Glock into a holster I strapped on in seconds thanks to Leo’s training. “Always have a backup.” I patted the Glock, then grabbed the Kimber and backtracked to the kitchen.

Misha had walked me through what might happen. The front door was the only possible entry point. Unless Anton set the house on fire, that was how he’d breach the house.

I moved into the kitchen and crouched behind the island, positioning myself at the far left corner where I had the best angle at the front door. Cold seeped through my pants and made my knees ache. I pushed that aside.

A gunshot sounded outside. The lock on the front door blew apart, sending the door flying open to crash against the wall.

Three men rushed in, Anton on their heels. He moved with that same unhurried pace that had terrified me before.

Blood dripped from the men’s clothing, and my heart somersaulted. The two men Leo had stationed outside the house, Ridoc and Yuri, would not have let them through. They’d killed them already.

Which meant help wasn’t coming. I pressed my teeth together and shoved down the grief, lining up the first shot. Squeeze slow. Leo’s voice in my head helped curl my finger around the trigger.

I shot one in the back of the head. The sound in the enclosed space threatened to blow out my eardrums. I should have used ear plugs, but I’d been afraid they’d hinder me.

Anton’s head snapped in my direction, and I fired twice before he dove left. A bullet caught him in the shoulder, and he slapped a hand over the wound while diving behind the couch.

The two men split up. Both fired, their automatic rifles popping off shots that threw plaster and marble in my face. The island would protect me.