“Kelly!” I scramble over to my sister as she tries to get up, still dazed but knowing we have to get out of here.
“Are you okay?” we ask each other at the same time. I help Kelly to her feet, only to scream again as hands grab me from behind, an arm winding around my neck and shutting off my air. But it's not the guy in the orange shoes, because he's going after Kelly again. She throws a punch and he dodges. She's still not at full strength, still wobbly. He takes advantage and manages to land several more punches, one to her cheek and another to her stomach, causing her to double her over. She drops to the ground and twists, taking the man's legs out from under him. He falls, and once again, they're grappling on the ground.
I can’t tell who's getting the upper hand because I'm still trying to pry the arm away from my windpipe. I’m gasping for air, trying to do anything to keep myself from losing consciousness. I have to protect the twins.
A crack rings out. The guy kneeling over Kelly slumps to the side and doesn't get up. The arm around my throat disappears, and I can breathe. I stumble forward, straight into Evgeny. He holds me steady as I gasp and cough, sucking air back into my lungs.
“Kelly,” I gasp. I stumble around Evgeny to see my sister staring at the dead jogger with wide eyes, blood spattered across her cheek. There are bruises and cuts on her face, and her arm is curled around her stomach.
“Are you okay?” I ask, my voice hoarse, breathless. I'm still gasping, trying to replace the oxygen that was being squeezed out of me.
“Areyouokay?” she asks instead of answering.
“I'm okay,” I manage.
I hear the sound of bone cracking and turn to see Matvei with a bloody fist as he punches my attacker over and over again, like he's in a frenzy.
He's going to kill him.
My line of sight is broken when Evgeny steps in, blocking my view. He takes both Kelly and me by the arms and starts moving forward, away from Matvei and the attacker.
“Let's go,” he says roughly, supporting Kelly more firmly when it's clear she's limping and hurt.
He's going to kill him.
The thought keeps going through my mind, the image of Matvei in a frenzied blur.
I soon realize I don't care what happens to either attacker. In fact, I scare myself when I realize Iwanthim to do whatever he's going to do. The darkness in me battles with my brain and how I should feel.
They tried to kill my sister. They tried to kill me. They tried to kill my babies.
They deserve it, a voice whispers in the back of my mind, and I hate that I agree with it. I hate that even though I flinch when I hear a gunshot go off behind us, a part of me thinks,Good. Now we're safe.
23
SONYA
“I'm sorry you had to see that,” Matvei says. He's trying to scrub the blood from his hands, the motion a blur. He's already cleaned it from his face, but he's going to have to burn his clothes. I don't think there's a dry cleaner out there that could restore them.
“Thank you for saving me. For saving us,” I whisper.
The water swirls down the sink, draining away the last traces of blood before it disappears. I look at his knuckles, bruised and split from the fight, but Matvei doesn't seem to care.
He turns the water off and dries his hands on a towel. Then he turns to me, looking me up and down to make sure I'm okay. “Evgeny says you've been well.”
It's only been two weeks since I’ve seen him, but he makes it sound like forever.
To be honest, it’s felt like forever.
“I'm fine.”
“Do you understand now why I wanted you to stay with me?” His voice is exhausted.
I can tell by his tone that his plan to investigate and follow Samson, to defend his empire, has been wearing on him. I wonder if Samson has made any more moves.
“Matvei, I'm really grateful you were there today. I'm grateful you saved Kelly, too. But that doesn't mean I've changed my mind. It doesn't mean I'm okay being locked up like a prisoner.”
His brows draw together, forming the familiar angry line, but I rush ahead before he can start arguing.
