ANDREI
“Gun down,” Igor commands, narrowing his eyes at me in a warning. I notice how the other man’s grip tightens on Vera as his boss speaks.
My heart pounds so hard it feels like it might burst out of my chest as I stare at Vera being held by a man with a knife to her throat. One move and he can cut her open, ending her life before I can so much as make it within ten feet of her.
The blood trickling down her neck makes me mad with rage. Seeing anyone else touch her makes me insane, let alone, hurt her.
For the first time since we met, she’s scared. I can detect it in her beautiful emerald eyes, and the way her nostrils are flaring. It’s her expression that makes my decision easy.
I kneel and set my gun on the floor, holding my hands out in universal surrender. “Let her go, Igor.” I hold my hands up. “This is between you and me, not her.”
“Give her to me,” he commands, grabbing Vera from his man and passing the gun into his hand. I wince as he brings the knife back to her throat, digging it in ever more. A rivulet of blood trickles down her neck and onto her chest. The uncontrollable beast inside of me roars. I never let go of my control, but this man is hurting the woman I love.
“This has everything to do with her,” he snarls. “She was supposed to kill you for me. Instead, she’s turned into your fucking whore.”
I grit my teeth, hating that he is disrespecting the woman I love. This man is the lowest of the low. A man who killed his own flesh and blood. He won’t hesitate repeating that again, and I know the severity of the situation we’re in right now.
The only thing up my sleeve is a knife. I’ve always been good at knife throwing—the best in North America. However, the pressure of the situation is different to anything I’ve encountered before. The risk of getting it wrong, too great. “What do you want?” I ask, attempting to stall. Even though I know what he wants.
“I’m here for blood, Andrei.”
I narrow my eyes at him. “What have I done to you?”
He loosens his grip on Vera. “Nothing, I just want to expand and take control here in America. You hold the most power here and have done for a long while.” He shrugs. “It’s not personal.”
“Why would you want to kill your own niece?”
He tightens his grip on her again, digging the serrated blade into her skin. I wince at the sight of more blood dripping down her pale neck. “She’s no longer needed and didn’t even do as she was supposed to.” He shakes his head. “All the years of training and planning, and she fucked it all up,” he spits.
“If you let her go, I’ll come willingly.”
HE BARKS OUT A LAUGH. “Bullshit. If I let her go, you will fight me until I’m dead.” He shakes his head. “I’m not stupid Andrei. You’ve got age on your side.”
I realize at this point there is no reasoning with him. “What are you going to do then?”
He flicks his eyes between Vera and me. “I want you to come forward and kneel with your hands behind your back. Then, my man will tie your hands.”
I glare at him for a moment, before switching my attention to Vera. Her eyes are wide and begging. I know she doesn’t want me to do as he says, but I can’t stand by while he kills her. With a nod, I step forward toward them.
“Turn around,” he barks, setting my teeth on edge. I follow no one’s commands, but I’ve got no fucking choice right now. It goes against my nature to turn around.
“Fillip, tie him up with this,” he says, chucking him a rope.
A flutter of hope ignites in my chest as I slip the knife up my sleeve closer to my wrist. If I can take out this man and get his gun, then we’ve got a chance.
His rough hands grab at my shoulders hard and with a flick of my wrist, I let the knife drop into my hand. It takes him by surprise as I push the knife deep into his heart, killing him with one blow.
“Fuck,” Igor shouts, as I grab the gun and aim at his head.
His eyes narrow. “You wouldn’t risk hitting her, would you?” He gets Vera even further in front of him.
“I’ve never missed before,” I say, staring him out.
He is right. It’s too fucking close and although I’m a great shot, I don’t want to risk him moving her at the last second.
“She will be dead before the bullet makes it to me,” Igor says.
He can slice her open quicker than the bullet will meet its mark. We stand in a deadlock. It feels like hours tick by as I wait. “What now?” I ask, breaking the silence.
“I’m not giving her up,” he growls.
“You let her go and we fight man to man, fist to fist.”
He laughs. “Andrei, you can be beat me in a fist fight. I’m not stupid.”
Cold dread slices through me, as I try to move closer out of sheer desperation. “Not another fucking step.”
Vera whimpers, as he tightens the knife to her skin, cutting her even deeper.
I hold my free hand up. “Okay, don’t hurt her.”
“Why would you do this to me, uncle?” She asks.
He grabs hold of her throat and turns her to face him, keeping the knife pressed to her chest.
“My brother always had the perfect fucking family and was always the perfect fucking son. When he became pakhan of the brotherhood after our father died, I hated him.” Vera keeps her hands behind her back, twisting something in her palm. “I hated all of you. Ivan and his perfect little family. I knew you were the weakest and would help me end Andrei.” He shakes his head. “Looks like I was wrong about that because you can’t keep your fucking clothes on.”
“MY FATHER LOVED you and so did my mother.” She shakes her head. “You’re pathetic.”
I watch as Vera’s hand swipes across him and realize at that point she has the razor from the bathroom in her hand. She cuts him across the face, forcing him to let go of her long enough for her to make a break from him.
Igor staggers back in shock. “Bitch,” he spits, grabbing the knife he had been holding from the floor and rushing after her.
She dashes away from him, as he slashes the large serrated knife through the air. I cock the gun and shoot, aiming at him. To my horror, the gun isn’t even fucking loaded.
Vera dashes toward an exit, as Igor trails behind her with crazed eyes, wielding his blade.
She’s only got a razor and there’s a nutcase chasing after her. I follow them in a sprint, desperate to save her from him.
I need to get her to her, before he catches her. Vera is agile, but Igor is stronger than her. He can overpower her. As I dash out of the dining hall and into the main entrance, a scream sends my heart into my throat.
Vera.