“I’m fine,” she says, putting her hand on mine.
I rest my forehead against hers and allow myself to breathe. “That was too fucking close,” I whisper. “I’m sorry for not keeping you safe.” I’m sorry for bringing this war to our very doorstep. For putting my family in danger.
“You saved my life, you idiot,” Grace says, pulling away. She searches my face, reading the worry I’m failing to hide. We’re no longer in immediate danger but I can’t say the same for my brothers. “I’m safe now, Duke.” Her lips purse. She knows what I have to do and she’s struggling with it too. “You don’t have to babysit me. It’ll eat you up if you hide away when the others need you. And they do need you.”
She’s right. Leaving the others to fight my battles would haunt me forever.
“Go.”
I take a breath, the decision made. “No one hurts you ever again,” I say, handing her one of the extra Glocks.
Her look of alarm tells me she’s never used one before, and I give her a quick demonstration of the basics.
“Don’t forget the safety. Don’t aim it at the good guys. And if you’re under threat, don’t think about the consequences. Just point and shoot like I’ve just showed you,” I say. “The Russians will be wearing body armor too, so aim low, or go for a head shot if you’re close enough.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll stay out of trouble,” she promises. “You need to go.” She grabs my arm, but instead of pushing me away, she pulls me closer. “But first you need to kiss me. Please.”
I don’t want to hurt her, but I need that kiss too. Our lips press together gently, but it isn’t enough. Our kiss deepens until we’re both wincing from our matching split lips.
As we pull apart, there’s still one question I haven’t dared ask. “What happened to Ed?”
“Andrey hit him over the head with something,” she says. She goes to bite her lip then thinks better of it. “He was out cold when… when Andrey took me.”
That’s when he hit her. I wish I could kill Andrey all over again. “I’ll come back as soon as I can.”
“Make sure you do,” she says, voice catching.
I put my hand on the door handle, but I don’t turn it. “You do not move until I say, Grace.”
“I won’t.”
When I leave, I can’t shake the feeling I’m going to regret it.
Chapter 34
Grace
The thump, thump of helicopter blades is momentarily deafening, but after it flies overhead, I hear shots ring out from inside the house. I don’t know who’s firing or from where, and I don’t like where my imagination leads. Are Duke and his brothers winning? Will they drive the Bratva out, or will those evil men be pushed deeper into the house? Could they be getting closer? And how soon will it take for the Griffins to get to the house? Assuming the helicopter coming into land is theirs. What if it’s not?
Feeling suddenly trapped, my body thrums with adrenaline, blocking out the pain from my injuries and my common sense. I ease open the closet door. If I can just find out whose helicopter has landed…
The gunfire has stopped for now, but I flip the safety off the Glock just in case. Even after Duke’s demonstration, I’m not confident about using it and I’d rather not be fumbling with the safety catch if I need to protect myself.
Moonlight casts shadows over a room so large it makes the full-size billiard table look small and I hurry towards thewindows being blasted with grit from a strong gust of wind. Hiding behind the drapes, I sneak a look outside and catch a glimpse of flashing taillights as the helicopter touches down on a patch of lawn to the side of the marquee. Relief floods my veins when I see the image of a griffin on the side.
I’m about to retreat back to the closet when a white ghost drifts past the window. Swallowing back the sob, I swing open one of the French doors. As I poke my head out, I stare down the barrel of a gun.
“Shit, Grace!” Ed hisses. He lowers the gun and puts a hand to where his scalp is matted in blood. “Oh, my poor head. I can’t take surprises like that. Where have you been?”
“It’s a long story, but Duke told me to hide in here.”
Ed tips his head towards the helicopter. “The cavalry’s here so I suggest you go back and hide.”
“Come with me.”
“I can’t,” he says, backing away. “I’ve just seen Danyl creep into the hall.”
My stomach flips. “He could be looking for Duke and the others. It was Vasili who delivered Fitz personally and now he wants to take Katarina back to Russia.” I shudder when I think of what Danyl had said about breaking her.
