“Store some of the extra equipment in the bunker. We don’t want them stumbling upon it and using our own weaponsagainst us,” I tell him as I pick up one of the handguns off the table. “Do we have enough ammo to take down an army?”
“All those crates,” Eduard says as he gestures to four different crates along the back wall of the room.
My forefinger rests on the side of the barrel as I turn my hand to inspect the gun. As nice and powerful as the shotguns and assault rifles are, I’ll move faster and kill more with just a handgun in my grip.
“I want small weapons planted throughout the estate. Make a note of where they’re placed. They need to be well hidden and only found by people who know where to look,” I tell him as I place the handgun back down on the table. “If any of our men lose their weapons or run out of ammo, they need a backup plan.”
“Yes, sir. I’ll get on that,” he replies. “Anything else?”
“No,” I answer without having to consider it. Thinking of Alina, I add, “Make sure everyone eats. I need them to keep their strength up,” I mutter.
“You should eat too, sir,” Eduard says.
When I give him a hard look, he lowers his gaze and hurries out of the room, leaving me alone with the torrent of thoughts in my head. I haven’t had an appetite for a while. How can I eat when every choice I make costs someone I’m supposed to protect?
My eyes sweep over all the weapons and equipment, tension winding around my chest. Our enemies aren’t going to show up with just their fists. They’ll bring their firepower too, and they won’t hesitate to shoot.
I’d rather not die, but I’ll choose death over being taken prisoner and tortured.
Regardless of what happens, I’ll miss out on the chance of making peace with my brother and telling Alina how I feel about her. Two things that I actually regret not doing.
Maybe this is the price of doing the right thing too late.
I let them go because keeping them here would have killed them.
If this war ends with my blood on these floors, at least it won’t end with theirs.
39
Dominik
When we pullup to the farmhouse, I finally feel a flicker of relief. Not much, but enough to remind me that we’re all still alive.
Alina and I made it out. Together.
The house is old and bleak but functional enough to serve as a safe house. Safety and privacy disguised as chipped vinyl siding and a creaky wooden porch—exactly the kind of place no one bothers to look twice at. It’s the best cover until the war with the Irish and Armenians is over.
After parking the SUV in the attached garage, Viktor, Renat, and Petrov help us haul a few of our bags.
I’m still not sure what to do with Petrov and his betrayal yet, but he carries what he can in his good arm, then shuts and locks the garage door behind us.
The slight smell of dust lingers in the air as we move to the kitchen, daylight streaming in through the small window over the sink.
Nobody jumps to switch on the lights. Darkness is cover, and despite how happy I am that we’re together, I can’t shake the uneasiness rattling up my spine. Gavriil sent us here because he’s preparing for the worst outcome of this war.
Just because Alina and I are two miles away from the estate doesn’t mean that we’re a hundred percent safe. It’s down to me to protect her now after Gavriil deliberately stepped back and let me take the lead again.
“Help me get this off,” I tell Alina as I nod to the zip tie pinning my wrists together.
I assume they threw them on in case I decided to go rogue and take matters into my own hands. Things have to go according to Gavriil’s plan.
I suppose he was certain that Alina wouldn’t protest. Maybe she hasn’t outright, but I can see the tension written all over her face. She’s conflicted, not smiling or celebrating our freedom.
I guess I can’t bring myself to either yet.
Alina opens up several kitchen drawers until she finds a sharp knife. She slips the tip under the zip tie and pulls upward until the plastic snaps and falls off my wrists.
Was it really just weeks ago that I put zip ties on her?
