“I’m not doing shit,” I spit, staggering to my feet. My gaze moves to where Alonzo and Ilya are slowly getting up, faces etched in pain. Relief washes over me. He’s alive. He’s okay. The bullets must have hit their vests.
Then I register the look on Ilya’s face. Pure, unadulterated rage, along with shock. “You,” he gasps out as he rolls to his knees.
My mouth drops open in shock when her expression goes from cold to full of happiness. “Hello, pet,” she purrs his way. “Miss me? I missed you, but don’t worry, we’ll have lots of time to catch up once I’ve got this all handled.”
Pet?Wait,Ilyais the man she was talking to on the plane when we left New York?
Hades lets out a cry of pain, and I instantly turn, seeing my father trying to drive a knife into his side. The only thing stopping him is the vest, but some of it must have poked through as blood starts to drip down Hades’ side, and he jumps away instinctively.
Uncaring that Tatiana might just shoot me in the back, I move quickly, kicking my father hard across the face and reaching down to twist his wrist painfully, making him drop the knife. I grab the knife, putting it to his neck, my boot pinning him down as I step on his wounded bicep. He lets out a sharp cry of pain, his face reddening in agony and fury.
“I’m going to kill you, you son of a bitch,” I hiss, blood welling under the blade. He doesn’t fight; he just stares up at me. “You don’t deserve a swift death, but that’s all I’ll manage this time. The devil will do the rest for everything else you’ve done. Maybe you’ll get lucky, and I’ll join you there one day, but somethingtells me that even if I do, I’ll be the one holding the pitchfork and whip. You hurt my dog, shot at the man I love, and you tried to break me. That’s done.”
He grunts, trying to struggle away, but I put more pressure, and he stills. That first trickle of fear fills his gaze. The one I’ve always wanted to see. But I don’t feel elation. It’s grim determination.
Then I feel the gun on the back of my head. I don’t stiffen. Dying is worth knowing that this fucking rat bastard will be joining me.
Then I see it, the flash in my father’s eyes of sick pleasure. What, he thinks Tatiana is going to kill me to save him?
“Back away from him,solnyshko. Now.”
It takes a second for my mind to catch up as my body stills. No. It can’t be. This is some kind of cruel trick.
I stare down at my father, too scared to turn around. I don’t even care that he’s looking up at me with a triumph that he shouldn’t be allowed to feel. “Now, Rayea,” the deep voice orders again, pouring steel into words. A voice that used to be so caring and gentle. That used to laugh and tease me just to make me smile. A voice that I haven’t heard in over a decade.
A voice that should be dead.
40
RORI
Slowly,I comply, easing off my father. Then I turn.
It takes a second to put him into focus, my eyes not comprehending the man in front of me.
Mishka Belov. Alive. Standing next to Tatiana in the same outfit, and looking like a much older version of the boy who saved me. “Mishka,” I breathe.
He looks older, more honed, and harder. His hazel eyes are no longer full of light and laughter, but cold, and reflecting dark secrets that only those in this life can understand. It makes my heart clench hard. His dark hair cut military short, with small faded scars peeking out. He has no facial hair, but I see tattoos peeking out along the underside of his jaw and neck of his top.
He lowers the gun and we stare at each other. “Rayea,” he finally says. He takes me in quickly, and the first whisper of a smile tugs at his lips. “You’ve certainly grown up. And still causing trouble.”
“What the fuck are you doing? Kill her!” my father bellows. “Kill her now, you useless son of a bitch.”
“We’ll do the whole bullshit reunion thing in a second. Gag him,” Tatiana orders Mishka.
Mishka hands her the gun, and I just blink when he takes mine and my knife and hands them over to her.
“What the fuck are you doing?” my father screams. Another cry of pain, and then the sound of flesh meeting flesh fills my ears. I can’t take my eyes off Tatiana, trying to comprehend what the fuck is happening right now.
“See to your dog, Aurora,” Tatiana finally orders. “Then we’ll all talk.” She turns and walks over to where Ilya and Alonzo are seeing to Hades.
It spurs me into action. I rush over, shoving them both out of the way. “Hades,” I whisper, finding the gash. He whimpers, but tries to nudge my hand away. “I know it hurts, baby,” I murmur. “I got you. I’m so sorry, boy.” I turn to Alonzo. “I need your shirt. Quickly.”
Alonzo doesn’t waste time getting his vest off, flinching at the pain, before yanking off his shirt and handing it to me. I press it to the wound, and then look at Alonzo. I see the dark bruise already forming on his ribs. “Are you alright?” I demand.
“I’m fine.” He gently cups my face. “I was fucking panicked trying to get to you,orsetta.”
I lean into his hand, needing the comfort while my thoughts still reel.
