I slam my head back, driving my horns into the male, just as Noelle lunges at me, her knife pointed straight at my heart…
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
NOELLE
With J.T. behind me, watching my every move, I cannot hesitate or delay. I’m forced into a position I tried to avoid. One where I’d have to choose my mission over an innocent.
Over a male I’ve fallen head over heels for.
When Nikkov drives his horns back into Farrow’s shoulders, the man screams. He’s pinned, keeping Nikkov from moving until he dislodges himself. It gives me the opportunity I need to plunge the knife into flesh as I crush myself against Nikkov.
I’ve never liked the feel of warm blood gushing from a body, draining a person’s life, and this is no different.
“Didn’t think you had it in you, Snow,” J.T. says when I pull away.
“Bastard,” Farrow curses, freeing himself.
The blood on Nikkov’s belly spreads wider than I expected. The expression on his face nearly crushes me. He’s in shock. I guess we both are. Nothing else explains why my thinking has slowed even as my heart races.
I wish I could explain my actions to him, but I can’t, not with J.T. here. I hope Nikkov understands.
His eyes scan down my body, to the blade in my hand as I turn it outward, toward him again. He falls to his knees, realization guiding him now as he thrusts his hand over his bloodied abdomen, then falls to the floor, flat on his face.
With a flick of my wrist, I close my bloody switchblade and quickly slide it into my back pocket without taking the time to clean it. Quickly, I zip up my coat up to hide my wound before J.T. realizes I haven’t stabbed Nikko but myself.
“Take care of your injured man, J.T. I’ll dump the body later, after I finish my last toy drop.” I grab the sack of blaster parts and brush past J.T., hoping he’ll follow and forget about Nikkov.
J.T. motions Farrow to follow him out of the office. He swings me about, taking the sack—and my gun—from me. “Change of plans, Snow. You’re coming with me.” He shoves the sack at Farrow. “Take her place.”
“I’m injured.”
“Have Banyan stitch you up, then play Santa for a few hours.”
“Why bother? We have the blaster parts now.”
“These parts are headed to contacts from other regions. I don’t know who they are. Finish distributing them for our Ms. Snow.”
“You think you can get away with killing me, J.T.”
“I have something better in mind for you, doll.”
This isn’t part of the plan. It’s all I can do to keep from looking back at Nikkov and making sure he’s staying down. The last thing I need is for him to play hero and get himself killed. I can’t handle the thought of that, and right now, I need to focus on keeping up with J.T. without letting him realize the blood on me doesn’t belong to the zyanthan warrior he thinks I killed.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
NIKKOV
After Noelle and the males from the Brotherhood leave the warehouse, I follow, keeping enough distance to ensure they don’t see me. My sholani stabbed herself, then pressed our bodies together to coat me in her blood and make the males believe she’d stabbed me.
Her sacrifice, her courage, shame me for ever doubting her and give me immense pride. She is everything I thought she was when I first met her… and more. I cannot fail her.
Even as she and J.T. enter a huge circular structure with thousands of seats, I debate my course of action here. As clever as she is, Noelle could have escaped J.T. by now, but she hasn’t. I suspect she’s using this opportunity to learn more about the Brotherhood in this region. If I pull her out now, then I risk destroying her work. Having a sholani means more than protecting her. It means respecting her wishes.
Sliding from shadow to shadow, I make my way into the curved labyrinth that runs the perimeter of the structure until I hear voices, Noelle’s specifically.
“Can’t,” she says. “Pittsburgh is home. I already told you I’m staying here.”
“I could kill you.”
