"Yes." I shift my grip on her, not tighter, but secure. "That's one of my many handles, but I mainly go by Kirill Belov."
Through the earpiece, I hear Anton's sharp intake of breath.
"Belov," Anton says. "Vadim Belov's brother."
"He was nineteen!" My control cracks. "Nineteen years old. And you put a bullet in his head without hesitation. Didn't even ask his name."
"I'm coming for you too, Kirill."
"Good. Because I have something you want. Fee's beautiful, Anton. Even terrified, she's extraordinary. I can see why you chose her."
Fee slams her elbow into my ribs. It doesn't hurt, but she's stronger than she looks.
I hold her tighter, pulling a second syringe from my pocket.
"I don't want to hurt you," I tell her, meaning it. "Please don't fight me."
She fights anyway. Scratches my face, tries to stomp on my foot, throws her head back, trying to connect with my nose.
"Fee, stop!"
She doesn't.
"I hope you're not allergic to anything in this cocktail," I say.
I plunge the needle into her shoulder.
She gasps, continuing to fight for three seconds. Then her movements slow and become uncoordinated.
"No," she mumbles.
"Fee!" Through the earpiece, Anton's voice is destroyed.
"Love you," she whispers, but she's looking at me. "Anton...I love—"
She collapses.
I catch her and lower her gently to the floor. I check her pulse, which is steady and strong. I can hear Anton breathing, fast and harsh.
"She's fine," I tell him. "Sedated. Unharmed. She'll wake up in a few hours."
"I'm going to kill you." His voice is ice and fire. "Slowly. Painfully. You'll beg me for death before I'm done."
"Perhaps." I lift Fee in my arms. She weighs nothing. "But first, you'll have to find her. And Anton? You better rush. Because every minute you waste is a minute I have with your woman."
My wound burns now, the pharmaceutical cocktail starting to struggle against the damage. I shift Fee's weight to my right arm. Left shoulder's useless.
I make it to the stairwell. Aleh's waiting, back to his own face.
"Take her." I transfer Fee into his arms. The movement pulls at my torn muscle, sending fresh blood spreading through my jacket.
Aleh carries her down, and I watch until the stairwell swallows them both.
I pull the earpiece out and crush it under my heel.
Now Anton will finally understand what loss feels like.
Chapter 22
