Suddenly, a voice cuts through the moment. “Well, isn’t this cozy.”
I stiffen, sucking in a sharp breath. Roman stays cool and calm as he turns slowly in the direction of the voice.
Nikolai Garin steps out from the shadow of a column, drink in hand. “Roman,” he says. “You clean up well. I almost forget how long it’s been since we’ve had such a soiree.”
Roman’s expression immediately hardens, his eyes locked on Garin. “What do you want?” he asks. “Say whatever it is you came to say.”
Garin’s grin widens. “Who said I have anything to say? The view is lovely, after all. And I heard about your idea with Callahan. Very cute.”
Roman looks like he’s on the verge of pitching Garin over the balcony.
“Anyway,” he says, looking at me. “Perhaps a word of prudence is in store. You know that old cliché about mixing business with pleasure.”
Roman takes a step forward. “Do not speak of her like that, or in any other way.”
Garin raises an eyebrow. “Oh? That sounded like a threat, Roman.”
“It was a promise.”
Garin clears his throat. “Well, be careful about who or what you get attached to, my friend. It could?—”
He doesn’t get a chance to finish.
Gunfire cracks through the air, sharp and deafening, like firecrackers from hell. Glass shatters somewhere behind us. Someone screams.
“Down!” Roman shields me with his body, forcing me to the ground. I turn, watching chunks of marble burst from the wall behind where we were standing less than a second ago.He reaches into his jacket pocket and pulls out a gun, clicking the safety off.
I can’t believe what I’m seeing.
Another shot rings out, then another. More tiny explosions of marble erupt from the wall nearby.
He turns to me, looking me over. “Are you hurt?”
“I don’t think so.”
“Stay down. I’ll get you out of here safe.”
I pray he’s right.
CHAPTER 40
ROMAN
“Stay down!”
More gunshots ring out. My gun feels useless in my hand. Returning fire would be pointless. I have no idea how many assailants there are, where they’re shooting from, or what their ultimate goal is.
Though the bullet holes in the marble above give me a damn good idea what they came here to do.
Amalie is shaking underneath me. Scared as hell but thankfully unhurt. I turn slightly to see Garin hiding behind a stone column, his drink smashed on the ground before him.
More gunshots. I hear the security staff yelling commands to one another, indicating the counterattack is in motion.
Nikolai looks scared out of his mind. He would’ve been my first suspect for planning such an assault, but he’d been so close to me when the gunfire began…
“Roman!” A voice snaps me out of my thoughts.
I look up to see Andrei, weapon at the ready, moving toward us. His head is down low, behind the cover of the balustrade.
