Page 84

He swung the gun around, aiming at Marco behind me. The gunshot was deafening! Muzzle flash briefly lit the dim warehouse, his movements fluid as breathing.

"This is what you deserve." His voice was low and even, without any inflection, yet more chilling than any scream. It wasn't a declaration—it was final judgment.

After several gunshots, the warehouse fell deathly silent. Only Gennady's heavy breathing and my own drumming heartbeat remained.

Nerves stretched to the breaking point suddenly snapped! My legs went weak, and I stumbled toward Gennady. He rushed forward at the same moment, opening his solid arms stained with blood and dust, crushing me into his embrace!

"Cassie!" He called my name, voice hoarse as hell, carrying the violent gasps of survival. He held me so tight, almost trying to meld me into his bones and blood. I could clearly feel his heart hammering wildly, powerfully against his chest, drumming against my eardrums. His body heat came through the blood-soaked shirt, burning hot and real.

Safe... the baby's okay... This knowledge crashed through all barriers like warm water.

All the fear, despair, and grievance stored up too long, plus the massive impact of getting him back, instantly turned into flooding tears bursting forth. I buried my face in his neck that smelled of gunpowder and blood, crying out loud, body shaking uncontrollably. His broad palm stroked my messy, sweat-damp hair over and over with undeniable soothing power, just like countless nights before, chasing away my nightmares.

"I'm sorry," I cried incoherently, tears soaking his shoulder. "Sorry I left, sorry I didn't tell you about the baby, sorry I wouldn't listen to your explanation."

"Shh, don't say that, rose." His warm breath hit the top of my head, a kiss tasting of gunpowder and blood landing reverently on my forehead. "It's over, all over. You're safe. You and the baby, both safe." His voice trembled slightly, too, arms tightening around me as if I'd disappear if he let go.

The massive, wild joy of getting each other back temporarily drowned all wounds and shadows like a warm tide. We held each other tight, as if trying to make up for all the longing, pain, and regret since we'd been apart in this one embrace. His chin rested on top of my head. I could feel his throat working, hear the near-sob suppressed deep in his chest.

But in this moment of survival, when our guard was most relaxed—

An extremely faint but soul-freezing sound of metal scraping, like a snake's hiss, rang out in the dead silence!

I jerked my head up, pupils contracting in extreme horror!

The "corpse" on the ground moved! Marco! He wasn't completely dead! Those blood-covered eyes held only the last glimmer of vicious light, locked dead on us! With his uninjured left hand, he'd somehow found the backup pistol hidden at his side! The gun pointed at us.

Using his last remaining life force, trembling, extremely slowly but absolutely determined, he aimed that black hole of a gun barrel at us in our tight embrace!

"Go... to... hell..." His broken throat squeezed out a few unclear but viciously cursed syllables.

Bang!

Gunfire again! The shock made dust fall from the warehouse ceiling!

Time stretched infinitely in that moment. I could even see that spinning, air-tearing bullet, carrying death's sneer, shooting toward us!

"No—!!!"

My scream was cut off by a massive force! Gennady! Almost by pure instinct branded into his marrow, in the same instant the gun fired, he reacted! He didn't try to dodge but used all his strength to pull me into his arms and throw us to the ground! His body was like the most solid wall, without hesitation, resolutely, completely blocking between the bullet's trajectory and me.

Chapter 28

Cassie

I'd been sitting in the hospital corridor outside the operating room for an entire night.

The cold bench dug into my back, making everything ache, but fear had numbed me to physical pain. Through the heavy glass doors, I could see Gennady lying on the hospital bed, surrounded by medical equipment, his chest rising and falling rhythmically.

Thank God Dimitri and the others arrived in time to get Gennady into emergency surgery. But his condition was critical—from last night until now, those operating room doors hadn't opened once. I couldn't bear to imagine losing him... I couldn't accept it, refused to even consider the possibility. Right now, my only wish is to pray for a miracle.

Mom had arrived at the hospital a few hours ago and now sat beside me, stroking my back over and over.

"He'll pull through, Cassie." Her voice was soft as a feather. "The doctor said the surgery went well. They got the bullet out."

I nodded but kept my eyes glued to that glass door. My fingers unconsciously rubbed my stomach again and again, where another tiny, quiet life rested—connected to him by blood, also waiting silently. We were both waiting.

At five in the morning, the light above the operating room door finally went dark. The doctor came out and allowed me into the ICU.