Page 48 of Enemy of the Heart

Before us is a cozy, historic Russian dacha with a screened-in terrace at the rear. The previous owner had done next to zero renovations to the old summer house. I’d planned to build a garage and a proper armory, but I haven’t gotten around to that yet. Although, I did finish the basement, outfitting it with several safes and a gym, and painting the exterior a dark green that matches the forest around us in the summertime. I couldn’t stand owning a home in the hideous turquoise color that was present before.

I’m the first to climb the steps to the front door, the wooden planks groaning beneath my weight. My beefy companions are on my heels as I fish the keys from my pocket, but the sight of the window to the left of the door has me reaching for my Glock instead. There’s an obvious hole through the center of the pane, the jagged edges smeared with blood.

I strain my ears, listening for movement behind the door, but the only sounds are the harmony of snicks and clicks of three firearms cocking.

Unwilling to bust my own damn door down, I shove the key into the lock and turn, glancing over my shoulder at the two men. When they both nod, I twist the knob and swing the door wide.

Then, I scream.

Sean

I’ve only heard a shriek like that twice in my life, and both times have come from Louhi. My own chest aches as I bleed for her internally because, like a beast in the wild, I’ve mated for life, and my other half is howling in agony.

A man who looks eerily familiar, though I’m sure we’ve never met, is sprawled out on the gray, mauve, and black floral couch. The fabric appears to be smeared with something that looks a lot like blood. Removing that will be a nightmare. His body is as still as a statue, as though he’s stuck in a blip of time.

Louhi rushes over to him, her knees hitting the floor with a heavy thud. She frantically taps his cheek. “Mercer, Mercer, it’s me. Wake up.”

Fucking shit. My breath and words catch in my throat. I grind my teeth and tighten my grip on my firearm as I fight the impulse to reach for Lou. She can take care of herself, but the possessive urge to protect her from every threat is strong. And innocent people don’t typically end up looking like that. The sidearm resting on the cushion next to him doesn’t ease my concern either.

I blow out a breath as she tosses the firearm aside. Jace steps next to me, and as my impossibly wide gaze shifts to meet his, we share a thousand unspoken words. Louhi’s missing brother looks like he’s dead. How did he get those injuries? Thank fuck, we don’t have to go to Kazakhstan. Is he here alone?

He nods, responding to the imminent threat, his loaded gun in front of him as he begins to sweep the place.

My girl presses her index and middle fingers to the too-pale olive skin of Mercer’s neck, a relieved exhale falling from her open mouth. “He’s alive.”

While I’d never tell Louhi this, it sure looks like her brother might not want to be. His right eye is so swollen and purple that I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s permanently lost his vision. His lip is split, and his jaw is the muted shade of yellow that only comes with getting decked in the face, probably repeatedly. Those aren’t his worst injuries.

He’s missing his left ear, or at least that’s what I’m assuming, since he’s got it wrapped in gauze that’s now completely soaked through with blood. The hand that’s palm up on the couch is missing three fingers, and his arm is positioned at an unnatural angle. There’s also a deep gash in the left side of his neck.

Lou’s voice cracks, panic having washed over her face. “Mercer.”

I crouch next to her, careful to set my gun on the floor at my feet. I reach up with my good arm and feel his neck for myself in case Lou found what she wanted to find. Sure enough, there’s a pulse. It’s far stronger than I thought it’d be considering the way he looks—

An iron-tight manacle clamps around my wrist, and I grit my teeth as I pry the mangled fingers away. “Lou,” he croaks.

She throws herself onto the couch, her arms flinging around her brother. “Mercer.”

Finally, he groans and returns the hug as best he can, with his one good eye trained on me now. I hold his brown gaze that’s a shade darker than his sister’s.

Stretching to my full height, I step back, taking the handgun he had with me. I give them some space as the siblings murmur in what I’d guess is Finnish. I don’t care who this man is; I’m not leaving him alone with Lou until I feel comfortable doing so. Right now, I don’t trust this guy. At all.

I’m leaning against the back wall when Jace returns, stuffing his black beanie into his front pocket. His eyebrows are knitted as he surveys the reunited duo before turning his back on them. I know even before he whispers a single word that it’s so this man won’t read his lips. “He’s here alone, but you need to see the bedroom he’s been sleeping in. First room down the hall on your left. I’ll stay here.”

I jerk my chin in a short nod before striding from the room. It’s clear Jace trusts Mercer Koskinen about as much as I do.

I find the bedroom without trouble, my forehead creasing as my eyebrows shoot to my hairline. Holy shit.

On the bare wall are maybe a hundred ripped and taped shreds of paper with names, places, and arrows connecting them—some of the names familiar. It fills nearly the entire space. I step farther into the room and find Louhi’s bolded name followed by a question mark circled three times.

Just what the fuck is this guy planning? How long has he been here? From the looks of it, Mercer’s been busy.

The rest of the bedroom is bare except for a mattress on the floor and an unassembled bed frame in the corner. I decide to poke my head into all the other bedrooms, where I find unassembled frames and mattresses in each one.

When I make it back to the living room, Louhi is unwrapping the bandage on her brother’s ear. I lock eyes with Jace, giving him a look that says, what the fuck is this guy’s deal? He lifts a shoulder.

My best friend and I approach the couch again, and Louhi’s eyes meet mine. The chocolate irises that stare back at me hold a mixture of relief, joy, and love. “Mercer, meet Digs and Jace.”

His good eye flicks between me and my best friend who stands at my side. “You’re with Louhi,” he asks me directly.