Blowing out a breath that blows my hair, Dom says, “The odds aren’t great. But Gavriil made his choice. I made mine.”
“Me,” I reply.
Lifting one of the rubies then the other, he tells me, “Gavriil gave me a choice—challenge him forPakhanor leave with you.”
“Dom…” I whisper.
With a small smile, he says, “I wasn’t going to kill him. We both know it. And he’ll never give up the crown…”
Before I can say another word, there’s a knock on the bedroom door, making us both tense.
“Hide,” Viktor whispers just as a beam of light sweeps across the window.
Dominik and I break apart and crouch down to hurry to the bathroom. We pull on our clothes as quickly and quietly as we can, my heartbeat thumping in my ears.
“Get in the closet,” Dominik whispers to me.
I shake my head. “I’m staying with you.”
We’re going to protect each other because he’s all that I have, and I will be damned if I lose him too.
Dominik’s jaw tightens like he’s ready to argue, but when I reach for the gun on the sink counter, he relents and motions for me to come with him. At the bedroom window, he lifts his head a little to peer out of the window, his eyes sweeping the area.
I manage to pick out a sound through the pounding of my heart. An approaching vehicle.
Someone is here.
My naïve heart soars at the thought of Gavriil giving in and coming for us crosses my mind. But that blip of hope fizzles away the moment that I hear two car doors shut.
Dominik grabs my hand and pulls me away from the window. He pushes open the bedroom door and leads me out into the hallway, his face determined and still.
We pause at the end of the windowless hallway with Renat, Viktor, and Petrov who have their guns out and ready. Petrov looks around the wall edge, then holds up two fingers.
Dominik frowns harder, concern etched into his brow.
Fear pulses through me, but I remain steady and quiet, standing next to Dominik’s side. Beams of light sweep across the walls in rooms that we can see into as the men make their way around the property.
My heart shoots up into my throat when I hear them try to open the back door, but the handle jams from being locked. Instead of kicking down the door, the men continue around the house, faint thuds sounding as they try windows and doors.
“Why aren’t they busting in?” I whisper to Dominik, my voice threatening to shake as I wait to hear glass shatter or wood splinter.
“They don’t think anyone is here,” Dominik tells me. “An unlocked door would hint at someone being here. Someone careless and easy to attack.”
His words make sense, but my nerves don’t calm.
“Should we kill them?” I mouth to him.
Dom shakes his head. “They would send more to look for them if they go radio silent.”
I nod in understanding, thankful that Dominik’s men locked every door and window they’d found earlier.
Footsteps sound on the front porch, followed by the doorknob jiggling.
My skin heats up so much from anxiety that I’m on the verge of breaking a sweat. It would be so easy for them to bust into this old house and gun us down.
Dominik places his hand over mine like he can sense my anxiety. I wouldn’t be surprised if he could somehow hear my pounding heartbeat.
I hold my breath until I’m lightheaded, but I can’t exhale until I hear car doors open and shut again, followed by wheels rolling against asphalt.
