“I don’t know. Do I?” I taunt.
The muscles in his jaw flare. His hand forms into a white-knuckle clenching fist by his side. Those eyes of his darken. “Do not play games with me, princess.”
I think better of correcting him. I’ve already poked the bear. Best not to agitate him further. “Release my husband, and you’ll finally know the truth.”
“You drive a hard bargain. Sure, there isn’t any Russian blood in you?”
“Unfortunately, I have my pa’s stubbornness. But unlike him, it won’t allow me to not fight for the person I love.”
“Your pa’s stubbornness comes from pride and greed,” he says, in fact. “Yours comes from the heart. Purer. Braver. Sometimes makes you stupid.”
“Is that supposed to be a compliment or…?”
“Both.”
And it must be true because on the final swing of the key around his finger, he flicks it in my direction. It falls only a couple of inches away from my feet.
Not trusting him, I bend down slowly at the knees, gun still aiming at him, and retrieve the key.
Then, with what feels like my heart in my throat, I go to free my husband.
The key fumbles the first two tries as my nerves get the best of me. But in the third try, the cell unlocks. I open the heavy gate and dash to him quicker than the speed of light.
He’s far worse than what I feared. I can’t even believe he’s still breathing. Granted, the breaths are shallow, but they’re there.
His face is almost unrecognizable. Too many blows to the head have left him heavily swollen. Both of his eyes are nearly swollen shut. His brow is split wide open. Blood covers him like he bathed in it.
He sits in an unnatural position, but as I inspect further, I see him clutching at his ribs.
My heart breaks into millions of pieces. Tears fall like rain down my face. My hand trembles as it reaches for him.
“Shadow, it’s me.” My voice chokes.
He tries to lift his hand, but he’s too weak. I take his busted hand in my own and hold it dearly against my face. I gently press my lips against his hand. He grimaces.
“If there is a god,” he wheezes, “he is not kind. To be tortured by the feel of your lips. To hear your voice. God is cruel.”
He chokes up blood. I’m trying so hard not to panic. I gather him in my arms, and he groans from the minimal movement. I don’t know how I’m going to get him out of here. He can’t walk on his own. And I’m not strong enough to carry him.
“You have to help me,” I tell Kirill.
“I don’t have to do anything. I gave you the key. You give me my answer.”
“No.” He looks taken aback by my defiance. “You help us get out of here along with my ma, or you don’t get shit.”
His jaw ticks. “I could just kill you right now.”
“You could,” I agree easily. “But so does your chance of ever finding Zhen.”
He grunts. “Fine. I help you. Now give me information.”
“How do I know you’ll keep your end of the deal?”
“You’ll have to trust me.” The way he flashes his smile makes me not want to trust him.
“Just know I will kill you for real this time if you go against your word,” I warn him.
“It is a real shame you married Italian scum. I think in another life, you and I would be friends.”
