“Get out. Get the hell away from here,” I ordered.
“No. You’re going to pay. You’re going to die alongside your fucking Orlov filth.” He bared his teeth, breathing hard. “I’ll kill you for the boss. You and that bastard spawn. Then him!”
I jumped, nervous as he lunged forward a step.
But I didn’t back down. My heart raced so fast, sending blood rushing through me and highlighting the inflammation of all the injuries and bruises that still healed. My lungs couldn’t fill fast enough with the shallow pants of air I sucked in. Panic threatened to weaken me. I grew lightheaded with the pinpoint of dread.
A guard had to be coming. This one man must have followed Andre here and thought he could sneak in. But that wouldn’t last. It couldn’t. Mikhail ran a tight ship and all his men were trained. They weren’t sloppy with their calculations.
Mikhail Orlov would never let his son be in the way of danger. But just in case something had gone wrong. If all the security had been bypassed…
“You willnotget past me,” I warned, determined to protect my man, stubborn to defend my future.
I was no pawn here. I wouldn’t be seen as a thing to use, dismiss, or dispatch on any stupid, ill-fated missions.
Until help came, I would stand here and be Andre’s equal in standing up to my uncle’s regime.
He laughed, spittle flying from his lips. “Oh, I won’t?” He shook his head like I was a joke. “That’s probably what all those Orlov soldiers thought as I followed that motherfucker back here.” He pointed at Andre on the couch, his knife tip dripping with blood.
He was unhinged. High on the “glory” of serving my uncle. Bloodlust shone in his menacing glare, but it wouldn’t dissuade me from standing up to the evil they perpetuated.
“You’re dead, bitch. I’ll see to it if it’s the last thing I can do for the boss.”
I shook my head, stepping side to side to counter him. Mere feet spanned between us. A small side table was the only hurdle that he’d need to pass to reach me.
“No.” I had too much to live for. I had too much love to give and cherish. Andre and I were starting a family, and this mama-bear protectiveness wasn’t waning.
“This is what you deserve for turning traitor,” he shouted, stepping forward.
Oh, fuck.
Fuck.
Where’s my phone?
Where is a guard?
I steadied my arm, holding it forward as I glanced at Andre.
Please. Please, wake up.
“I’m not a traitor,” I argued, trying to stall the guard.
“You are! You chose to defy the boss. You had aligned withhim!” He thrust his knife in the direction of Andre on the couch. “And for that, you will?—”
“Never be alone again,” I shouted, finishing his claim as I saw fit.
He laughed, holding out his free hand. “Looks like you are now. Who’s going to save you this time?”
I rotated my wrist to be in a more ideal stance to attack. They did say the best defense was offense, right?
“I will,” I growled.
I would fight for my love, for my chosen family, until my last breath.
39
ANDRE
