Chapter 38 Daphne
38 Daphne
Click, click, click.
My mother keeps pressing the trigger but nothing comes out.
She has no more bullets.
Before it’s too late, I swipe at her legs with as much force as I can, but I don’t get both of them. She catches and rights herself quickly – but she’s let go of my arm.
I lunge at her, trying to take her down. She falls to the ground beneath me, hitting her head. I don’t have enough time to secure her arms and she reaches into her cleavage and pulls out a small knife.
Well, that was unexpected.
She swipes at my face but I dodge the blade just in time. I try to knock it out of her hand but her grip is too strong. I grab her wrists before she can try again, lifting them over her head. We’re about the same height so it’s a lot easier to pull them taut compared to when I did this with Milosh.
I dig my fingers into her wrists as hard as I can and the knife falls from her grasp. I adjust my position and kneel on her stomach to pin her down.
She whimpers in pain just as four men surround us, pointing their guns right in my face. Somehow Milosh is one of them, shot leg and all.
‘Come here, Daphne,’ he says. I can see the pain in his eyes as I get up and come to him while the team secures my mother.
He holsters his gun and cups his hands around my jaw. ‘Are you okay?’
I nod and fall into him, his arms wrapping around me as he grunts quietly.
‘Your leg,’ I gasp, pulling out of the embrace to look down at his thigh.
‘It was a clean shot,’ is all he says before he takes my hand. ‘Come on, let’s get out of here.’
He’s slow in his movements, limping slightly as we make our way back to my mother’s house where multiple police cars and ambulances are waiting.
‘Petrov,’ a short blond lady says, walking up to us. She looks over to me, offering a small smile before she sticks out her hand. ‘Miss Green, it’s lovely to meet you, I’m Commander Peterson, but please call me Lucy.’
I shake her hand. ‘Hello.’
‘I’m glad to see you’re out safe. You’ll be happy to know that we’ve got all the hostages out, and they’re safe too.’
Relief floods through me.
‘With your mother and all the other Daveeno members here tonight in custody, we’re well on our way to fully dismantling the organization. I can assure you, they won’t be bothering you again.’
‘Thank you.’ I smile sincerely and look around for Daddy and the other hostages but I can’t see them. ‘Where’s my father?’
‘He’s been taken to hospital to be treated along with the rest of the hostages. There’s an ambulance ready to take you too, just so you can get looked over.’ She peers at Milosh’s leg. ‘You too, Petrov. Scott, you and Daphne ride to the hospital. I’ll sort everything out here.’
Milosh nods before reaching into his pocket and taking out the necklace. ‘Here.’ He hands it to Lucy. ‘Major Davis instructed me to give this to you.’
She takes it, tucking it into one of her trouser pockets. ‘Yes, he told me you had it. Thank you.’
‘What will happen to the formula now?’ I ask.
‘A select group of scientists will look at the validity of the claims made about it. If it is as bad as your father says it will most likely be destroyed, but there are instances where these serums may be helpful. It’s unfortunate, but at least we’ll know it’s in the right hands.’
‘Oh.’ Intellectually, I accept that, but I just don’t like the thought of it being out there.
Lucy gives me a sympathetic look before walking off.
‘Don’t worry,’ Milosh whispers into my ear. ‘I burned the real formula and replaced it with a fake before I left the safe house. Let them come up with their own toxins.’
‘You really are as good as they say you are, aren’t you?’ I murmur, my heart growing tenfold.
He shrugs, smirking. ‘Apparently so.’
Gosh, I love this man.
Oh my gosh, I love this man.
Huh.
What a way to end the day.
Three hours later I walk into Milosh’s room at the hospital, surprise coasting over me when I open the door to find my Uncle Leo, Uncle Jonathan and Auntie Emily inside.
They all turn as I open the door, relieved at the sight of me.
‘Daphne, are you all right?’ Auntie Emily asks, walking over to me and giving me a hug.
‘Yeah, I’m fine.’ I glance between Milosh and them. ‘What are you guys doing here?’
‘A woman called Lucy contacted me to let me know what’s been going on and to tell me that your father’s in hospital,’ Uncle Jonathan explains. ‘I called Emily and Leo and we all came down to see him. He told us the whole story from the beginning and explained how good Milosh was at keeping you safe. We were already thinking of starting up a security division at Greenway, but this situation settles it. George told us that he thinks Milosh should run it, so we all came in here to ask him if he’ll accept our offer.’
‘I’m sorry, you want Milosh to run a Greenway division?’ I ask. Greenway divisions are only run by Greens.
‘Yes.’ Is his oh-so-simple reply.
‘Really?’ I start to smile as it all sinks in.
‘Daphne, this man saved your life multiple times, has good contacts in the US military and is highly skilled. Which one of your cousins has that resumé?’ Uncle Leo chirps.
He’s not wrong. All of my cousins are very book-smart but when it comes to strength and agility they are severely lacking.
‘Anyway.’ Uncle Jonathan looks back over to Milosh who’s sitting on a hospital bed, legs swung over the side. ‘Give it some thought. No need to give us an answer now, so take your time.’
‘Okay,’ Milosh responds. ‘Thank you for the offer.’
They nod and once they’ve given me a quick hug they depart, leaving me and Milosh alone.
‘Mr Petrov,’ I say, walking towards the bed.
‘Miss Green.’ His eyes soften as they meet mine.
‘You just got offered a job, huh?’
‘It definitely looks that way.’
‘So… what are you thinking?’ I walk up to him, settling between his open legs.
‘I’m thinking that I want to build a life with you,’ he answers, his hands landing on my waist, pulling me closer. ‘And that this offer could help me give you the life you deserve. What do you think?’
My mouth pulls into a smile. ‘I think I love you, Mr Petrov, and I think you love me too.’
‘Is that so?’ He smirks.
‘Mm hmm.’ I nod, wrapping my arms around his shoulders.
‘You’d be willing to bet money on it?’ His hands move and tighten around my hips.
‘A significant sum, yes.’
‘Well then, I guess you just won big, because I do.’ He brings his lips to mine.
‘I love you, Miss Green.’ He starts dotting kisses across my face and neck. ‘I love your face, I love your hair, I love your laugh, I love your smell, I love your mind, I love your voice.’ He cups my face in his hands, those beautiful green eyes boring into mine. ‘I. Love. You. And I will continue to love you until I have no more breath in my lungs.’
And just like that.
I found my Henry.