Uneasiness crawls under my skin as I try to imagine what’s going on. Are we winning?
I haven’t heard that much gunfire in a long fucking time, and nothing but blood and death come out of that many bullets being shot.
I don’t even want to guess how many men may already be dead.
My eyes return to Alina. The horror and concern written all over her face makes jealousy stir within me. It feels so fucking petty to feel that way in a moment like this. I hate myself for it, because none of this is her fault. My brother could be dead, and I’m still jealous of the way he has the woman I love hooked on him.
Part of me wanted to leave him to his own self-destruction, to have him out of my way. But he’s still my brother. He’s killed for me. Killed our own father to protect me.
I need to come to terms with the fact that he’s embedded in Alina’s heart and soul, no matter how much I hate it.
He’s always had a hold on her, and it wasn’t just because of the cage.
It was a pull stronger than gravity.
I don’t know how to compete with that.
Reaching for the radio, I search the stations to try and find out what’s going on. There’s a crackle then Russian voices flood the line. I translate for Alina.
“No signs of life on the first floor.”
“Where’s the goddamn medic?”
“We have a group pinned down in the library. Can anyone hear us?”
She shakes her head, her eyes wide in concern. “These are all Gavriil’s men?”
I nod grimly since I recognize all the men’s voices.
“On our way to the library. Hold your ground. The fire is spreading fast.”
Alina gasps. She may not understand the words, but she recognizes Gavriil’s voice.
He sounds exhausted. In pain. But alive.
“It’s him,” she breathes out, clutching at her necklaces.
“It’s him. He’s still alive,” I tell her. “He said he was on his way to the library and for them to hold their ground.” I pause before adding the last part, “There’s a fire spreading.”
“But he’s alive,” she repeats as if to reassure herself.
“Getting to the bunker is going to be even more dangerous now,” I warn her quietly. “Do you still want to go?”
Alina swallows hard and tears her eyes away, forcing them forward. She stiffly nods. “We have to, Dom. He needs us.”
She’s not wrong.
Neither of us is ready for what’s ahead but staying here isn’t an option. Going back to help my brother may very well end up getting us all killed.
But it’s a chance we’re all willing to take.
45
Alina
I’m notsure what I expected, but the constant crack of bullets in the distance makes my mind and heart race faster with each one.
They grow even louder the closer we get to the estate.
