Unholy Tsar: A Dark Mafia Romance (Ruthless Dynasty Book 4)

Chapter 33

Water drips from the ceiling of the filthy bathroom, landing directly on the toilet I’m supposed to use.

“I don’t have all day,” Viktor growls, glaring at me. I thought he’d at least look away, but I guess that’s my own naivety shining through.

“What about the—”

Before I can finish, the sound of a door bursting open echoes down the quiet hall.

“Who the fuck…” Viktor is immediately on guard, knife raised.

My heart jumps with hope. Maksim. But that hope is quickly dashed when a woman’s voice calls out. “It’s just me, you oaf.”

“Fucking hell,” Viktor grumbles. Hurried footsteps grow until a woman appears out of the shadows. She’s tall and beautiful, with short dark hair cropped to her chin. “What are you doing here, Vera? Where’s Maksim?”

Vera grabs her hair in obvious frustration. “He escaped.”

“What?” Viktor explodes.

“We were ambushed.”

“I thought you took care of Maksim’s men?”

“We did. These weren’t his men.”

“Who the fuck were they then?”

“I don’t fucking know! And I didn’t stick around to find out… or would you have rather I died out there in the Gulag, brother?”

“Coward. This is your fault. How could you be so stupid? What—”

“Did you just call me stupid?” Vera screeches. With a wild look in her eyes, she reaches into the small of her back, pulling out a gun.

Shit, shit.

I quickly back away, carefully fumbling inside my back pocket for the shard of glass I managed to pick up from the floor earlier. Somehow, I’m able to position it high enough to start rubbing against my restraints.

Ahead, Viktor and his sister break out in a fiery fight. Their screams echo through the bathroom, but I ignore them. Oh God, please let this work.

Slowly, I start to feel my ropes loosen. Just a little longer…

“Hey, what the fuck do you think you’re doing?” Vera suddenly demands, those wild eyes looking right past Viktor to lock on me. “What’s that in your—”

She doesn’t get a chance to finish. Out of nowhere, a massive explosion rocks the palace. We all fall to the ground, my glass shard just barely missing an artery as it slices out of my back pocket. Viktor crumples in the doorway. Vera is thrown further back into the hallway. Her gun clatterers to the floor. They still block my escape.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

“Fucking hell, you led them straight to us,” Viktor growls, his eyes falling to Vera’s gun on the floor.

There’s a brief silence as they both consider what to do next. I guess they decide on the same thing because the next thing I know, they’re both diving for the gun.

I blindly search for my shard of glass, not daring to take my eyes off them.

My heart tightens when Viktor gets to the gun first. Picking it up, he points it at Vera, who grins sadistically. “You’re not going to shoot me, Viktor, so put the gun down. You are nothing without me.”

“No. I am fucking sick of listening to you. All you do is talk, talk, talk. I want some silence.”

“Viktor, darling brother, I—”

Before Vera can finish, Viktor shoots her right between the eyes.

I nearly choke on my shock.

“Goodbye, sister,” he murmurs as her body thuds to the floor. “Now, where were we?”

He turns to face me, and I gulp, freezing like a deer caught in headlights.

“Ah, you. I guess I don’t really want to listen to you anymore, either.”

He trains his gun on me, and my life flashes before my eyes. It all happens so quickly: cold days filled with despair, loneliness, and pain. And then time stops, and I see a familiar pair of deep brown eyes.

Maksim.

A warmth spreads through me. The past month shines like a beacon of hope, drowning out the darkness and despair of my past. Hot tears stream down my face as I close my eyes and wait for the pain. For it all to end.

I hate that I couldn’t tell him what he means to me, that I never got to say how he feels like the only home I’ve ever really had. How I freaking love him.

I held it back. And now I’m going to die.

“Maksim…” I whisper, wanting him to be the last thing on my lips before the pain.

But the pain never comes. Instead, there’s an audible thud, and at first, I think it’s my heart, but that thud is followed by a grunt and the distinct sound of a fist meeting flesh.

My eyes snap open, and I see Viktor and Maksim rolling on the floor, both of them grappling for the upper hand.

If it weren’t for what they were wearing, I might have a hard time telling them apart. Luckily, I can tell when Maksim gets the upper hand.

He gets on top of his brother and starts punching him in the face. Over and over and over…

“You don’t get to have my life. My empire. My girl,” he booms, smashing in his brother’s face. The face that looks just like his. Viktor struggles, trying to fight back, but Maksim’s too strong, too angry.

Slowly, Viktor’s hands fall to the ground; his body goes limp, his nose splinters, his cheekbones crack.

Finally, Maksim pushes his lifeless body aside. His face splattered with blood, he looks up at me.

To my surprise, a faint smile lifts his perfect lips.

“Called for me?”

I’m too stunned to respond, but as he stumbles toward me, the ice that I was frozen in melts away, and I come back to my senses.

“You came for me…”

That little smirk grows wider. “Don’t I always.”

Part of me wants to roll my eyes and snuggle into his chest, but then I notice the blood. So much blood. And it’s not just from Viktor. “You’re hurt.”

“I’m fine,” he says raggedly, pulling me into a hug so fierce I lose my breath for a moment. Then he lets me go so he can untie my hands. “Are you okay? He didn’t hurt you, did he? You—”

A deafening shot rings out, filling my ears. Maksim’s body jerks beside me before hitting the floor. “Maksim!” I cry out in horror, grabbing his body.

He’s not moving. I look up to see Viktor swaying on his feet, the gun in his hand still smoking.

He’s still alive. Barely. And he looks like he’s about to pull the trigger again.

I scream, and suddenly, I’m not in control of my own body. Fear and rage pulse through my veins as I reach for the gun in Maksim’s hip holster. Viktor fires at me, but he’s so unsteady on his feet that the bullet flies over my head.

“You piece of shit!” My voice is raw, shaking with fury. Cocking Maksim’s gun, I aim at Viktor and pull the trigger.

“Missed me,” he laughs, blood gurgling through his swollen lips.

I roll to the side as he fires another shot. It hits the floor where I just was. Gritting my teeth, I get to my feet. I’m about to fire again when I remember what Maksim taught me.

It’s all in your stance. Stand up straight and face the target squarely with your feet spread shoulder–width apart…

“Just like this,” I mumble, digging my feet into the dusty floor. Viktor fires another shot. This one hits the ceiling, and debris falls over my head. But I don’t get distracted.

“This is for Maksim.” I take aim, steadier this time. Then, with a deep breath, I take my shot.

It hits Viktor square in the chest. He stumbles, but I don’t wait for him to fall. “Take this, you bastard!” Rage propels me as I empty the magazine into him, each shot a release of everything I’ve been holding back.

“I think he’s dead, dushen’ka,” Maksim coughs from the floor.“He was dead from your very first bullet. Hell of a shot.”

I throw the gun away and rush to his side. His clothes are soaked through with blood. And it’s still coming out.

Shit, shit.

I strip off my shirt, not caring that it leaves me in only a bra and leggings. The cold barely registers as I press my shirt desperately into his wound. I stare helplessly at his arm, then frantically look around for something else I can use to stem the flow of blood.

When I glance back at him, my heart lurches. His skin has gone so pale, his eyes are shut tight, and each breath he takes is heavy and labored.

“Maksim! Don’t you dare leave me like this. I-I love you.” When he doesn’t respond, I shake him. “I said I love you, okay? You made me fall in love with you and now you can’t ever leave me. Don’t you fucking dare leave me.”

He groans, and I’m immediately flooded with so much relief I get a little lightheaded.

“Is that true? Or are—are you–” he coughs. “Are you saying all this because you think I’m dying?”

My heart wrenches. “What? NO! You’re not going to die. I’m not going to let you leave me, okay? I’m not going to let you.” His face blurs as hot tears sting my eyes and stream down my face.

“I’m just joking, don’t cry, dushen’ka. Shhh. I’m not going anywhere, not as long as you keep me in your heart.” He coughs again, and I increase the pressure on his wound.

“Forever,” I promise feverishly. In the distance, I hear approaching footsteps. “I’ll kill whoever I need to kill to keep you safe.” Leaning over Maksim, I pick up Viktor’s fallen gun. It’s covered in blood, but I’m pretty sure he still had some bullets left.

“No,” Maksim whispers, lifting his hand on top of mine. “Friends. Family.”

“How do you know?”

“Ya tebya lyublyu. I love you, dushen’ka.”

His fingers lift to my cheek, and he caresses me weakly, marking me with blood. His blood.

I grab his hand before it can fall away, pressing it against my skin. “I’m never letting you go,” I sob. I finally have a home. A family of my own. No way I’m going to lose him.

He gives me a weak smile just as he loses consciousness. I gulp and glance up at the people that step in. I almost immediately recognize Rian Kilpatrick. Bree’s cousin.

“Help us,” I plead.

He’s way ahead of me. Rushing to Maksim’s side, he falls to his knees and feels his pulse.

“Call a doctor!” he bellows as more men rush into the hallway. Together, they lift Maksim up and start to carry him out of the ruined palace.

I trail behind them, heart in my throat.

Please be alright, Maksim, I quietly beg. Please.