Jamie shook his head, letting out a hollow little laugh. “You want a business partnership.”
“I want a future where my family will be acknowledged. Untouchable. I will get there through you. And one day the Kremlin will be mine.”
Because money was forever the measure of the haves and have-nots, and Jamie’s family was one of the richest in the world, with deep political clout. They’d been targeted before, but never like this. What’s more, they never would have been in this situation to begin with if Jamie hadn’t agreed to the MDF’s request last year.
Jamie might not be a precog, but he could see how Stanislav would use Jamie’s status to gain legitimacy in the eyes of the public, despite their seemingly tarnished reputations at the moment. The Kremlin might have turned against the Pavluhkins, but power came through money, and Jamie didn’t doubt Stanislav’s goal would be to one day rule not just over the people he’d blackmailed, but the country that was trying to exile him, if not outright kill him.
“You think you can outrun every government who will come after you?” Jamie asked.
Stanislav smiled coldly. “I’ll always see them coming. How do you think I came to own Bennett? How do you think I’ve come to own you?”
Jamie took a step forward again, ready this time for the hand that clamped down on his shoulder, because he was done with holding back. It was a risk, but Jamie weighed it against Stanislav’s precognition, and went for it.
He spun on his feet and ducked underneath the man’s arm, grabbing him by the wrist and shoulder. Jamie used every shred of his skill and training to break the man’s arm as he threw him to the ground, stealing his handgun in the process. Jamie put a bullet in the man’s back before twisting around to fire one in the other man’s chest.
Before the body even touched the ground, the doors to the courtroom were opening and the two men standing guard outside came rushing inside. Jamie took each of them out with a vicious double-tap, putting a bullet through their chests and hearts without blinking an eye. The open door was a threat—anyone could come through it—but Jamie put his back to it because he had no choice.
He spun around and stepped forward, gun in hand, taking aim at Stanislav’s head, as it was the only target Jamie could reach around Kyle. The other man didn’t seem fazed by Jamie’s actions and hadn’t even moved during the fight, as if he’d expected it. Stanislav still held Kyle by the throat in front of him, a human shield that stayed Jamie’s finger on the trigger. Stanislav pressed the muzzle of the gun against Kyle’s head at an angle, ready to shoot.
“You have a choice, Jamie,” Stanislav said into the fraught silence. “Your freedom and a new partnership, or his life.”
If he agreed to Stanislav’s terms, then the fighting would stop and the Pavluhkins would clear the path for Jamie’s father to win the presidency. Despite all the barriers between them and that seat of power, in the face of investigations digging deep, Jamie had no doubt that Stanislav could see a way out because he’d seen the way here. All Jamie had to do was sayyes. In doing so, the leverage the Pavluhkins and thePresnenskaya Bratvawould forever hold over Jamie would be Kyle’s life, because he knew Stanislav wouldn’t leave this place without Kyle.
If he declined, Stanislav would pull the trigger.
Whatever choice Jamie made, people would get hurt, people would die, all over one man’s greed. Stanislav could try to build his way to a stable end—and maybe he had, Jamie didn’t know—but the future was forever fluid.
Jamie just couldn’t see it.
For once in his life, Jamie’s keen mind failed him, as did his body, which still felt far too human to his senses. Blanchett was still alive, despite Katie and Alexei’s best efforts. Without their powers, Jamie’s strength was meaningless and Kyle couldn’t heal.
What’s the status on Blanchett?he asked desperately through the mental link.
Katie didn’t answer.
Jamie swallowed thickly, hoping that her silence meant the elimination of the threat was close. He had to believe that, because this was his team, and they had never let him down before.
Jamie dragged his gaze away from the knowing, expectant look on Stanislav’s face and looked at Kyle. Head tilted hard to the side from the pressure of the gun against his temple, Kyle’s dazed green eyes were locked on Jamie.
“I’m waiting,” Stanislav said. “I won’t wait forever.”
“Do it,” Kyle whispered raggedly.
And Jamie knew—heknew—Kyle wasn’t talking about Stanislav’s offer.
“Kyle…” Jamie got out, voice shaking even if his hands weren’t.
Kyle never blinked, never looked away. “I would.”
The words were permission, an apology, and forgiveness all rolled into one. Jamie’s expression twisted as he let the gun sink down, aiming away from Stanislav’s head, hands still rock-steady. Stanislav smirked at him, the triumph on his face impossible to miss, but all Jamie saw was Kyle’s faint smile, the trust in his eyes, and the map of their lives that had led them to this moment.
“I love you,” Kyle told him softly.
It felt as if Jamie’s world broke apart with those words in a way that could never be fixed. His own lips shaped those same syllables, but the words were locked in his throat.
“I knew you’d see things my way,” Stanislav said as he finally,finallyremoved the gun from Kyle’s head, angling it toward the ceiling.
That split second chance was all Jamie needed, even though he didn’t want it.
