Chapter 33 Duke
Duke
The moment the first soldier drops with his throat cut, I snatch the extra gun from my waistband and pass it to Fitz.
“On Vasili,” I say as I switch my aim back to Andrey.
I have to block out Grace. I need to tamper down the rage that had my hands shaking when I’d seen her injured face.
My focus stays on the man I’m going to kill.
“There’s just one problem with your cunning plan, Vasili,” Killian calls out.
The second soldier up in the gallery shouts something in Russian.
He’s the only one to have eyes on Killian, but just as he fires off a shot, he makes a gurgling sound.
I glance up briefly to see a throwing knife embedded in the guy’s throat as he stumbles back.
The thump of his body hitting the gallery floor isn’t as dramatic as Killian’s first kill, but the soldier isn’t getting up again.
I’m back on Andrey, but I feel the glare Vasili directs at me. “You reject us, but count the McConkeys as your friends?”
There’s genuine shock in his voice. The all-seeing Vasili didn’t know about Katarina’s involvement with Killian.
“It’s a bit of a sore point at the moment,” Rory says, far more jovially than the situation warrants. “Friendship might be stretching it, but I do believe Killian owes me a favor.”
Danyl steps in front of Vasili to cover him and they back away until they’re beneath the platform where Killian remains hidden.
The pastor has retreated to the furthest corner of the hall, close to the doors where I suspect reinforcements of one form or another will arrive soon.
Vasili’s men are nearest, but Max could try to launch a counter attack.
If it is Max, he won’t know exactly what to expect. It’s about to get very messy.
“As I was saying,” Killian continues. “Unlike the Moncriefs, I come from a family that isn’t concerned about public image. In fact, I’d say our image will be improved if we take you down.”
“You can try, durak.”
“Oh, I intend to,” he says. “This could be the start of something special, Kitty.”
Two things happen at once. Screams erupt from the marquee, and something starts to roll over the timbered gallery floor above us.
I whisper a warning to Fitz. “Smoke bomb.”
I don’t have time to imagine what horrors are facing our guests in the marquee. My attention has to remain in the hall. The rolling stops, signaling the canister is in midair. I hold my exhale and tense my trigger finger.
When Andrey tries to pull Grace in front of him to use as cover, I take my shot and he flies backwards with a bullet in his head.
He almost pulls Grace with him, but she stays upright as thick smoke starts to fill the hall.
As I race towards her, Vasili’s men open fire and a bullet zips past my ear.
I don’t slow when I reach Grace and I don’t sweep her into my arms. There’s no time for a reunion.
I push her in front of me and steer her towards the nearest corner.
With zero visibility, Vasili’s men have assumed we’re heading for the terrace and glass shatters nearby.
Before the breeze can sweep away our smokescreen, I open a hidden door in the oak paneling and force Grace inside.
The warren of secret passages is created from the gaps between the mansion’s inner walls, interspersed with the occasional ladder to provide access to the floors above and below.
This section is only one-body-width and there’s no lighting.
Fortunately, I could navigate this maze with my eyes closed.
I guide Grace forward, desperate to get her away from any rogue bullets that might make it through the walls.
We stay as quiet as we can, but we’ve both taken in a lungful of smoke, and Grace chokes back a cough. There are footsteps overhead and she freezes.
“It’s OK,” I whisper.
It has to be one of my brothers. Len and the rest of the staff were instructed to take cover once the Bratva arrived, and it’s too soon for our enemy to have figured out our secret escape route.
“Duke?” Calder asks just above a whisper.
“Yeah,” I say raising my voice as much as I dare. He’s on the floor above and as I reach a ladder, I see his shadowy form in the gloom. “I’ve got Grace. Are Rory and Fitz safe?”
There’s more shuffling. “I’m here,” says Fitz. “Rory too. He’s promised not to talk.”
We know from experience that even a whisper in Rory’s deep baritone voice risks giving away our position. “Does anyone know what’s happening in the marquee?”
“It’s not as bad as it sounded,” Calder replies. “Killian blew up Katarina’s cake remotely. He was planning to use an explosion of buttercream as a distraction so he could steal Katarina away.”
I curse under my breath, but it’s relief I feel as I rope my arm around Grace, her back pressing to my chest. She strokes my forearm, calming me a fraction. I’m going to have nightmares about those screams from the marquee, not to mention seeing Andrey press his gun to Grace’s temple.
I want to protect everyone, but I can’t do it alone this time. “Fitz, go find Max. Help him get everyone down to the lake and out of the way. The rest of us can deal with the situation up here. The Griffins will be close by now. If we can help Killian keep Vasili and his men occupied…”
“You stay with Grace,” Rory orders, his voice echoing through the timbers.
There’s a series of shushes.
“I can’t leave you to fight my battles,” I argue.
“This is our battle too, and we want you to keep your girl safe,” Calder insists. “Besides, we’re more than equipped to deal with the Bratva. Someone stashed all kinds of gear up here for a war the rest of us didn’t know was coming.”
I deserve the dig, but it’s Max we need to credit for storing weapons and supplies between the walls. I can’t believe I thought he was being overcautious.
“Need anything?” asks Fitz.
“Two vests and a couple of Glocks.”
“Here, take these,” he says, his face appearing as Calder moves out of the way.
I smile as I take the guns and bullet-proof vests. “It’s good to have you back, Fitz. Just stay safe. All of you,” I add. “See you guys on the other side.”
Footsteps scatter in all directions, but I don’t move off until Grace and I have put on our vests.
Once I’ve made sure her straps are tight and secure, we continue our journey.
I release a catch in a wall and open the panel a fraction.
The unlit billiards room is silent and we take a chance and step out.
Keeping my weapon raised, I slip my free hand into Grace’s and lead her to a supply closet. It’s rammed with gaming supplies and once we’re inside, I lock us in.
“Are you OK?” I ask, swiping a lock of Grace’s hair from her face. I wince at the damage. Her cheek is bruised and one side of her mouth is swollen.
“I’m fine,” she says, putting her hand on mine.
I rest my forehead against hers and allow myself to breathe. “That was too fucking close,” I whisper. “I’m sorry for not keeping you safe.” I’m sorry for bringing this war to our very doorstep. For putting my family in danger.
“You saved my life, you idiot,” Grace says, pulling away.
She searches my face, reading the worry I’m failing to hide.
We’re no longer in immediate danger but I can’t say the same for my brothers.
“I’m safe now, Duke.” Her lips purse. She knows what I have to do and she’s struggling with it too.
“You don’t have to babysit me. It’ll eat you up if you hide away when the others need you. And they do need you.”
She’s right. Leaving the others to fight my battles would haunt me forever.
“Go.”
I take a breath, the decision made. “No one hurts you ever again,” I say, handing her one of the extra Glocks.
Her look of alarm tells me she’s never used one before, and I give her a quick demonstration of the basics.
“Don’t forget the safety. Don’t aim it at the good guys. And if you’re under threat, don’t think about the consequences. Just point and shoot like I’ve just showed you,” I say. “The Russians will be wearing body armor too, so aim low, or go for a head shot if you’re close enough.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll stay out of trouble,” she promises. “You need to go.” She grabs my arm, but instead of pushing me away, she pulls me closer. “But first you need to kiss me. Please.”
I don’t want to hurt her, but I need that kiss too. Our lips press together gently, but it isn’t enough. Our kiss deepens until we’re both wincing from our matching split lips.
As we pull apart, there’s still one question I haven’t dared ask. “What happened to Ed?”
“Andrey hit him over the head with something,” she says. She goes to bite her lip then thinks better of it. “He was out cold when… when Andrey took me.”
That’s when he hit her. I wish I could kill Andrey all over again. “I’ll come back as soon as I can.”
“Make sure you do,” she says, voice catching.
I put my hand on the door handle, but I don’t turn it. “You do not move until I say, Grace.”
“I won’t.”
When I leave, I can’t shake the feeling I’m going to regret it.