I round the container and immediately spot three armed men ducking behind it. One of them notices me and raises his gun, but he’s too slow.
I shoot first. The bullet pierces his chest and he drops dead instantly.
The second man dives for cover while the third manages two steps before Mikhail blasts him to the ground with the rifle, his blood splattering all over.
A scream echoes from one of the containers, and my heart nearly stops. I recognize her voice instantly.
“Elena.” Terror grips me at the thought of her being in danger. I push the image of one of these bastards hurting her to the back of my mind and break into a run, cutting through one lane after another while my eyes scan every corner.
A body lies near a stack of cargo pallets, and relief washes over me when I see it’s not hers.
I turn a sharp corner and see her crouched behind a shipping container, dirt smeared across her face and clothes, one hand pressed against her mouth as two armed men close in from opposite directions.
For a fraction of a second, relief crashes through me so hard it almost hurts, but then it turns into pure fury when one of Vasili’s men raises his gun to her.
“Ublyudok,”I bark, getting the asshole’s attention. The moment he lifts his head to look at me, I pull the trigger. Twice.
The fucker drops to the ground like a ragdoll. The second guy spins toward me, but Mikhail shoots him before I get the chance.
Elena’s head snaps toward me. She stares at me as if she can’t quite believe I’m standing in front of her. Then, suddenly, she jumps to her feet and launches herself forward.
I run to her and catch her halfway, only releasing my first full breath of air when I have her securely in my arms.
She breaks into a sob, her entire body trembling as she cries.
The sound hits harder than any bullet ever could. I’ve walked into gunfire without hesitation, but hearing Elena cry like this makes something dark and violent unfurl inside my chest.
Vasili.
His name roars in my head. He’s the reason she got hurt, the reason she’s crying right now. I’ll find him and I’ll make him pay in blood for this.
I wish I could hold her until she’s calm, but I have to get her to safety. I gently pull back and scrutinize her from head to toe, checking for injuries. “Are you hurt?”
She sniffles, trying to stop herself from crying. “No. I’m fine.”
I heave a sigh when I don’t spot any injuries on her. “Fine is okay. Fine is good, baby.”
She’s shaken, obviously terrified from everything that’s happened, but at least she’s alive, and that’s all that matters right now.
A new burst of gunfire erupts somewhere nearby. I pull her behind me and draw her against my side.
Mikhail scans the area. “We need to get out of here.”
Three of my men appear from behind the containers. They’re covered in ash and blood. “Boss, we’ve secured an exit,” one of them says.
I grab Elena’s hand and press a kiss to her palm. “I’m taking you home, ptichka.”
She nods and wipes her face with the back of her free hand.
I signal for the men to lead the way, then tighten my arm around my wife and start leading her to safety, leaving the chaos behind us.
After getting Elena out, my next priority is making sure every single man involved in this attack regrets the day he was born.
And God help Vasili Morozov.
Because the hunt for the bastard’s head has officially begun.
.
