“You’re acting as if this arrangement isn’t mutually beneficial. The Irish want their throne. I could give a fuck less about your throne.” His voice hardens. With a malicious smile he says, “But having a hand in killing you. Now that makes me a happy man.”
No better time than now I twist my body and have my arm outstretched to force the man holding the gun to move his arm in the opposite and downward direction. The element of surpriseis in my favor because it works. Swiftly I strike my heel down on his foot and he howls with pain. I then take my hand and force the gun against himself. I pull the trigger.
As he crumples to the floor with a gut wound he won’t survive from I finagle the gun from his hands and point it at Kirill.
He watches with rapt fascination. His eyes even glitter with awe. “No one told me you were capable,” he says, impressed.
“Men underestimate women. Always have. Always will.” I stand beside my husband and say darkly, “Now, remove your gun from my husband or I won’t hesitate.”
“Kill me if you must but the job will still be done.”
“What job?” I question harshly.
Raising his hand open palmed he then forms it into a fist and makes a knocking motion.
Over a dozen of soldiers, Irish and Russian, move in on us. We are surrounded.
My chest tightens but I breathe through it. Rico grasps my hand in a bone crunching grip.
“So, you see. We can do this the easy way or the hard way. I prefer hard. More fun.”
“Rico,” I say his name in a whisper filled with uncertainty.
“We’ll be okay, la mia gazzella,” he promises me under his breath but for once I can’t believe him.
The unknown lies on the horizon. And I fear what will become of us when we reach the destination.
“On your knees. The both of you.” With guns pointed at us from all angles we both come to our knees. “The gun,” he says to me. With a sneer on my lips I drop the gun. He kicks it to the side and one of his men collects it. Tipping his head he orders another, “Search them.”
Large roughened hands come down on my body and I grit my teeth. Rico starts to come after the man but two soldiers hold him back. He grinds down on his molars as the man swipes hishands down my curves and moves between my thighs. I clamp them shut.
“Don’t you fucking dare,” I snarl, baring my teeth.
Rico fights against the men holding him but they kick him down and press their feet against his back.
Kirill waves his hand. “Stand down.” The soldier removes his hands from my thighs. I almost spit at him.
They search Rico next. They remove his gun and knife along with his phone and earpiece. We’re stripped of anything that can aid us in escaping.
“I would trust you would bring no more complications but I cannot take the risk.” He shakes his head like a pa would do to their naughty little one. “Proceed,” he says ominously.
I feel it first. The prickle of the needle before it sinks deeper in my skin. My body immediately becomes lax. My eyelids become extremely heavy. And as I try to fight the current I only become weaker faster.
The last thing I see before the dark abyss is Rico’s strong deep blue eyes on mine. And they promise death to all who touched me.
CHAPTER 41
Imogen
The familiar feeling of my mouth being extremely dry and my throat raw and sore has me waking up with a painful groan.
I attempt a couple of times to open my eyes and when I do I immediately recognize where I am.
With weak and tired muscles I try to move myself from the bed but an achingly familiar gentle hand prevents me from getting up.
“Shh,” the hushed voice I know as my ma comes quietly. She strokes my hair away from my sweaty face. “Everything is okay my sweet deary girl.”
Tears prick at my eyes and they fall down my cheeks. Ma swipes away the tears and peppers my face with kisses.
