It’s always been him!
Not evidence, not clarity—just Nikolai, the man I always wanted without realizing it. I can’t lose him now! I can’t have him die and sacrifice himself like this, not when my daughter and I both need him.
Aslanov studies him, smirking. “You know what? Have it your way, Niko. You’re lucky I’m in a good mood today.” He walks towards the table and every cell inside of me hurts. “Consider this my farewell gift to you.” Ronan snaps his fingers and two of his men standing outside enter, each taking one of Nikolai’s arms to drag him backwards, out of the shipping container.
Niko…
No!
God, please no!
The worst part about all of this is that he just lets them. He’s double the size of these two men combined—he could finish them in seconds, but he doesn’t. He just obeys, letting them take him, knowing that if he misbehaves, I suffer as a consequence.
He’s doing everything in his power to save you, Lauren.
He’s about to sacrifice his life for you!
Aslanov takes the gun from the table and follows behind with the rest of his men, leaving Timur and me alone. I turn to him and see terror spread across his face. I think about the wedding ceremony, me accusing him of murdering my mother. I couldn’t have been more wrong.
Then, I think of Sophia. My heart breaks for her. This is the first time in her life that she has had something positive and stable, and now there’s a high chance that it’s all going to be taken from her. Just like Nikolai is being taken from me.
I watch Nikolai leave my sight for the last time and I can feel tears stream down my face. I shut my eyes and let them fall, shaking; bracing myself for the gunshot that is sure to kill me as well as him.
I don’t want to believe that this is it, but it is.
He’s going to take his own life to save mine and our unborn child’s.
I force my eyes open and look at the empty table where the Magnum previously lay, and a new wave of sadness crashes over me when I realize the inevitable.
Nikolai will never get to meet his daughter.
This was our last moment together.
And it’s my fault.
All of this is my fault.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Nikolai
Etot grebanyy mudak!
As much as I despise that fucker Aslanov, I have to hand it to him—he is a smart fucker. The bastard outsmarted both me and Timur and he did it with ease. He used Lauren as leverage against me and there was nothing I could do to stop it. It makes me want to tear him apart as I think about it.
Pizdets!
The world comes crashing down as I realize that this was the last time I saw Lauren. This wouldn’t be so bad without her in the picture. And it’s even worse that she’s carrying our child. I’ll never get to witness my daughter’s face, her sweet smile, or watch as she grows into a beautiful woman, just like her mother. Aslanov took that away from me too.
Maybe it’s for the best.
Maybe a man like me doesn’t deserve such happiness.
All that’s left for me to do is to make sure that the two of them will be safe for the rest of their lives. And if sacrificing myself is the price I pay for their safety, then it’s worth it.
Your life for theirs, Rogov.
I grit my teeth as I brace myself for what’s to come. Aslanov’s men continue escorting me through the scrapyard until I’m back at the warehouse I came from, being yanked back under the half-closed shutter, and then back into the maze of racking. Without the light from the outside, the place is even darker, the silence more eerie.
