“Do what has to be done early this morning, then try to get a few hours of sleep. It could be the last we get for a while,” I tell them, not wanting them to be dead tired when the fight rolls around.
I need them sharp and ready to go. The fight coming will decide who we are when the dust finally settles—if any of us are left standing.
36
Dominik
Alina is still wrappedup in my arms when the door opens without a knock.
I squint my tired eyes and groan in annoyance when I see Valentin in the doorway.
“What now?” I huff.
All he says in response is, “Alina.”
She sits up, and I tighten my hold on her. Gavriil is summoning her.
“I guess I have to go,” she remarks, like the words cost her more than she’s willing to admit.
Grateful to have any time with her at all today, I press a gentle, lingering kiss against Alina’s soft lips. “Come back to me,dikaya koshka.”
She smiles as she rests her forehead against mine. “You know that I will.”
We break apart, and she slips out of bed. My heart races as she reaches Valentin and disappears.
Gavriil is the only person I can’t protect her from, and that cuts deeper than any blade ever could.
Every time she leaves me, I’m reminded of my failure. Of how I should’ve kept her safe, kept her away from him. If I had, neither of us would be here now.
About fifteen or twenty minutes later, when the bedroom door opens again, I expect to be taken right back down to my cell.
Simeon appears in the doorway, and he motions for me to approach him.
I step toward him, only to pause when he pulls a pair of handcuffs out of his back pocket.
“Back down to the basement?” I guess.
“No. ThePakhanwants to speak to you,” he replies.
“You really need to put those on me just to let me speak to him?” I question him, my feet becoming rooted to the floor.
Simeon huffs. “Everyone knows you want him dead.”
He’s right. But for now, my curiosity overpowers my frustration. I walk over to him and hold my wrists out.
Simeon snaps the handcuffs onto them before nodding toward the doorway.
“His office?” I guess as I step out into the hallway.
“You know the way.”
I roll my eyes as I take a left to head that way, my steps slowing as faint noises reach my ears. Overlapping voices, rapid footsteps, thuds and thumps. Too many to ignore, too violent to dismiss.
Something is going on downstairs. Actually, it sounds likea lotis going on downstairs.
“What’s happening?” I ask Simeon as I glance toward the staircase.
“ThePakhanwill explain it to you if he wants you to know.”
