We position ourselves on either side of the door. Waiting. Weapons ready.
Minutes tick by. Or hours. Time has lost meaning.
Then—gunfire.
The sound is distant but unmistakable. Automatic weapons. Multiple shooters.
Anya grabs my arm, her eyes wide with terror. "What's happening?"
"I don't know." But hope flickers in my chest for the first time since they dragged me from Maksim's arms.
The chaos outside means someone is fighting back. Someone with enough firepower to challenge Roman's security. I have zero hope it’s Maksim, but maybe someone is still loyal to me.
Or maybe it’s one of Roman’s enemies and they’re coming to kill me and Anya. A wife means heirs and none of the rival families want Roman to have an heir.
More gunfire. Closer now. Shouting. Running footsteps in the hallway outside.
"Get ready," I whisper to Anya. "When that door opens—"
"Kira!"
My heart stops.
That voice. I know that voice.
"Maksim," I breathe. I look at Anya. “Did you hear him?”
Anya nods. “I hear him.”
"We're in here!" I call out. “Maksim! Here!”
“Get back!” I hear someone shout.
I grab Anya and pull her away, wrapping my arms around her from behind and do my best to shield her body.
There’s a pause. Then the door explodes inward—literally explodes, the lock shattering as someone kicks it with brutal force.
Maksim stands in the doorway.
He's bloodied and battered, his shoulder bleeding but he's alive.
I don’t know how he’s here, but he is. I can’t breathe. He’s here. And alive.
"Are you hurt?" He's already moving toward me, his hands framing my face, checking for injuries with desperate gentleness.
"We're okay." I can barely speak through the relief flooding through me. "But Roman—"
"I know." His thumb brushes my cheek. "We need to go. Now. His men are regrouping and this place is about to become a slaughter."
Semyon steps into the room, his weapon drawn. His eyes find Anya, still frozen by the wall in her wedding dress.
"Can you run, little one?" His voice is surprisingly gentle.
Anya nods mutely. Semyon moves to help her, his hand steady on her arm.
Maksim wraps his arm around my waist, pulling me close.
"Stay close," he commands, his eyes meeting mine. "No matter what happens, stay with me."
