It's strange how reality seems to slow down to a crawl and tiny details become the thing your brain focuses on when you're hyper-aware—the way he snarls, the way his pupils are blown wide like he's on something.
"You were supposed to be mine, Danica…" Petr's hand eases slightly so I can breathe in, then he pinches down again to block me from screaming. Both of my hands grip his wrist tightly, begging him not to snap my neck, but the way he's looking at me, I know he doesn’t want to kill me. He wants something worse.
"Please," I manage to mouth, though no sounds come out because I have no breath to give utterance. And my lower extremities seem to have disconnected from my brain. I can't move or even think of kicking him.
"Please? You're begging me to fuck you?" he asks as his hand slides up under my shirt and his dirty, callused hands touch my bare flesh. I shudder and my knees go weak as I feel tears stinging my eyes, then warming my cheeks.
"Marko said you would be mine as soon as your brother's debt was paid, and it's paid…" Petr licks my cheek in a long, slow draw that makes me cringe and gag, and I grit my teeth to prevent him from trying to kiss me. "Now you're mine, Danica, and that puny husband of yours can't have you back."
My body is rigid with terror and panic, and I clamp my eyes shut to block him out as his fingers touch me in places that make me squirm uncomfortably, and then I hear a loud thud, and the hand around my neck goes slack.
My eyes pop open as I suck in a desperate breath and see Vadim there with a shovel in hand and Petr spinning wildly on his heel.
"Vadim!" I gasp, sliding to the ground as my legs give out, and he doesn’t even look at me.
"What the fuck do you think you’re doing with my wife?" he snarls, and the shovel swings in the air again, aimed at Petr's head.
Petr ducks and spins as he lashes out with one leg, sweeping Vadim's feet out from under him. He tumbles to the ground hard and rolls away, and I watch as Petr swings his leg again trying to catch Vadim in the ribs but misses.
The fight is brutal, one man pitted against the other as Vadim grabs Petr's foot and lifts it, knocking him to the ground as he stands to tower over him and Vadim unleashes a boot into Petr's gut. I'm terrified, cowering with my arms shielding my face, and I'm ready to piss myself. Vadim gives Petr a chance to stand and when his hand vanishes into his boot, I know what's going on.
"Vadim!" I shout, "A knife!"
23
VADIM
"Get inside," I tell Danica without taking my eyes off Petr. The knife in his hand reflects the dying light, flashing like a fishing lure, and I keep my eyes locked on it. It's not a fair fight, but I'm not used to things being fair.
She doesn't move. I can hear her ragged breathing behind me where she slumps on the ground by the garage.
Petr pushes himself up, one hand going to his shoulder where the shovel hit. His eyes are wild, pupils dilated. He's been drinking. I can smell it from here.
"This doesn't concern you, Russian." He spits blood onto the ground. "She was mine first. Marko promised?—"
"Marko's debt is paid." I take a step forward, glancing at the shovel I dropped when he knocked me on my feet. "I settled with him weeks ago."
"He promised me I could have her once her debt was paid off, and I intend to collect that…" This man is insane. Marko never owned Danica to have permission to give her to this man.
My jaw clenches and I grind my teeth. This bastard has been stalking my wife for years, and Marko used her as bait to keep him loyal. It's sickening.
"She's not property," I growl. "She's my wife."
"You soiled what was mine." Petr's face twists a snarl and he spits at my feet, and we're circling slowly, him with his knife, me with my hands ready to strike the instant I have a chance. "You made her stink like a Russian. It's time I take back what is promised to me."
Petr's eyes turn toward Danica for a split second, and I use that moment to snatch the shovel off the ground, and I swing it again, but Petr's faster than I expect. He ducks under it and drives his fist into my ribs where pain explodes through my side, but I don't let go. I bring the handle up and catch him under the chin, snapping his head back.
"Vadim—" Danica whimpers, and I know I can't protect her and myself at the same time.
"Go inside. Now."
"But—"
"Inside!" I order again, now using the shovel to shove him back.
I hear her scramble to her feet and run toward the house, and relief settles over me. She doesn't need to see this and I don't have the capacity to protect both of us at once. With her gone, however, things get ugly fast.
Petr lunges at me, and I drop the shovel to meet him with my fists. We collide and go down, rolling across the ground. He gets in a solid punch to my jaw, and stars erupt across my vision before I pop back to my feet and return it with two jabs to his ribs, feeling something crack under my knuckles.
