Cormac counters with a punch to my side, hitting the spot where a bullet clipped me.
A pained shout breaks from me as a deep, agonizing ache radiates through my side. I lose my breath and bend over, my knees threatening to buckle under me.
Dominik takes over and deals a quick jab to Cormac’s cheek, knocking him backward a few steps. He sidesteps a retaliating punch and responds with a kick to the inside of Cormac’s knee, making him lose his balance.
Cormac drops down to one knee, his legs splitting uncomfortably.
I recover and hit him in the face so hard that my hand aches. Then, Dominik hits him.
Cormac’s face becomes bloody and bruised, but he doesn’t submit yet. He’s a tough son of a bitch.
He manages to shove himself up to his feet, his balance wavering. He grabs Dominik, yanking him forward before smashing his forearm against Dominik’s face.
Dominik still manages to storm forward, sending him and Cormac into the nearest cell. Through their tussle, the door gets pulled shut, the lock engaging.
Fuck.
I run to the door, trying to get it open as Cormac gets the upper hand and pins Dominik against the back wall with his hands wrapped around my brother’s neck.
“Dominik!” I shout as I kick at the door, making the metal rattle.
My brother weakly pries at Cormac’s hands as the lack of oxygen drains his strength. He lets out a strangled grunt that makes my stomach sink.
He’s going to fucking die in there, and I can’t do anything to save him.
That’s when I hear Alina’s voice in my ear, and I know that Dominik can hear her too.
“Gavriil? Dom? Are you okay? Please tell me you’re both okay.”
I catch Dominik’s eyes over Cormac’s shoulder, and I see the fire reignite in his eyes.
A growl rips from Dominik’s throat as he gathers all the strength and pushes himself off the wall. He shoves Cormac back as hard as he can, causing him to hit the cell door.
I shove my arm through the bars and hook it around his throat.
Cormac lets out a startled sound and tries to yank himself free, but I grab my wrist and hold tight, my arm digging into his throat, cutting off Cormac’s air.
Dominik drops to his hands and knees, wheezing as he catches his breath.
Cormac claws at my arm, his grunts becoming fainter and fainter until his body slumps against the door. Only then do I finally release him.
Dominik looks up at me through the bars, giving me a nod of gratitude.
I nod back. “I’ll get someone down here to let you out.”
“We’re okay,” Dominik says into the mic, his voice hoarse.
I hear Alina’s sigh of relief, and I feel it in my soul.
My brother is okay.
We killed the bastard.
“Give me a report,” I say into the mic.
“The last few are fleeing!” Matvei reports. “Should we follow them?”
I glance over at Dominik, who shakes his head. It’ll be risky for the remaining men that we have left. We can’t afford to lose anyone else.
