It’s harsh, but it’s necessary.
I grab Anya's arm and haul her to her feet. The white dress is gray with dust and torn at the hem, but she's moving. That's all that matters.
"Kitchen!" Semyon points. We stumble forward through the smoke.
My lungs burn. Every breath tastes like ash and cordite. Behind us, more shouting. More gunfire. The compound is tearing itself apart.
We burst through the kitchen door. The staff scattered long ago—abandoned pots still bubble on stoves, food burning. The acrid smell mixes with the smoke, making my eyes water.
"Back exit!" Maksim moves ahead, checking corners despite the way he's swaying on his feet.
He shouldn't even be standing. The blood soaking through his shoulder bandage has spread down his entire left side. His face is gray beneath the dirt and blood. But he keeps moving, keeps fighting.
For me. For Anya.
We reach the back door, and Semyon kicks it open. Cold air hits my face. We all inhale the fresh air. Our lungs desperate for clean oxygen.
The compound's rear gardens spread before us. Beyond that, the outer wall. Freedom.
"Go!" Maksim pushes us through. "Don't stop until you're over that wall!"
I pull Anya forward. A guard steps in front of us, his gun aimed directly at Anya. I throw myself in front of her, knocking her to the ground as a shot rings out. I wait for the pain.
We hit the ground, knocking the air from our lungs.
And then I’m looking into the dead eyes of the man who tried to kill me. There’s a black hole directly in the center of his head.
More gunfire erupts behind us. I roll over to see Maksim and Semyon returning fire at pursuers I can't see.
"Maksim!" I scream his name, terror clawing at my throat.
"Keep going!" He doesn't look at me, focused on the threat. "Get her out!"
I want to go back. Want to fight beside him. But Anya's hand is in mine, and she needs me more. We scramble to our feet once again. I pull her along, trying to make it to the wall but it feels impossible. There are so many guards. So many guns.
But I would rather die trying than die at Roman’s hands.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Maksim
Each heartbeat sends fresh waves of agony through my body.
I ignore it. I have to ignore it.
I fire at the guards emerging from the compound, each shot sending lightning through my shoulder. My vision blurs at the edges, but I force myself to stay focused.
Semyon moves beside me, his weapon barking in controlled bursts. "We need to fall back!" he shouts over the chaos.
"Not until they're over that wall!" I squeeze off another round, dropping a guard who was getting too close to Kira and Anya.
More of Roman's men pour through the kitchen door. Too many. We're being overwhelmed.
"Maksim, we're out of time!" Semyon's voice cuts through the gunfire.
I glance back. Kira and Anya are halfway to the wall, but it's still too far. They need more time.
"Go!" I order Semyon. "Get them over. I'll hold here."
