Chapter 34
CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR
LYLA VOZNESENSKY
Bang!
“Lev! Stop!” My brother didn’t even flinch at the warning shot I’d just aimed over his head. He remained calm and still, glaring at Lukyan. His eyes cut to me, burning with hatred and vengeance.
My heart pounded in my chest so loud as we stared at each other across the yard.
I almost didn’t make it. We had burst through the gates of Sergei’s estate not long after Lev’s necklace had activated with a great, almost blinding white light.
My brother didn’t elaborate on its meaning.
Only that it was some sort of signal. And then, next thing I knew, we were all piling into cars and taking off before I’d even had the chance to blink.
If I was being honest, I didn’t care enough to ask any questions.
We were going to see my Lukyan, and that was all I needed to know.
I couldn’t break into Sergei’s fortress on my own.
I needed my brother’s help and the help of his men, so regardless of the why or how, I was going, and that was that.
When we arrived, we separated, me taking the house and Lev patrolling the outside.
He promised me. Lev fucking promised me that if he came across Lukyan, he wouldn’t hurt him. He wouldn’t kill him.
And I believed him.
Like a fucking idiot, I believed him.
I’d been halfway through clearing the house—which had turned out to be pretty useless because everyone inside was dead anyway—when I caught a glimpse of them through the window. Lev, holding Lukyan at gunpoint.
I’d never run so fast in my fucking life. I made it outside just in time to fire a warning shot over my brother’s head before he pulled the trigger.
“Lev! Stop!” I yelled out again, trying to keep the tremor out of my voice.
The gun didn’t move, still aiming unwaveringly at Lukyan. I had to remind myself to stay strong, despite the fear almost smothering me.
“Turn away, Lyla,” Lev said, voice rough.
I shook my head. “No. Lev, don’t do this. Put the gun down.”
“Turn. Away. Lyla!” he roared, moving forward quickly to shove the gun right up against Lukyan’s temple, making him wince. Lukyan didn’t move otherwise, his hands remaining in the air, palms facing outward, showing he wasn’t a threat.
Panic gripped me tightly in its claws. One wrong move, one wrong word, and Lukyan would be dead.
Behind them, I could see Dimitri and Autumn. Dimitri was lying flat on his back, unconscious or dead, I wasn’t sure. The front of his shirt was drenched in blood. Tears streamed down Autumn’s face as she tried to stem the blood pouring out of Dimitri’s chest like a free-flowing river.
He’d done it.
He’d fucking done it.
He’d shot Dimitri. Most likely killed him. And it still wasn’t enough for him. Lev wanted more.
“You promised me,” I cried.
That seemed to be the wrong thing to say. It only angered him further.
“You promised me!” he snarled, the gun almost shaking with fury. “You promised me you would always have my back. That you would help me—”
“I did help you! Even when I didn’t agree with your plan, I helped you, Lev. I helped you more than anyone because you don’t have anyone else. I’m it. All you have. And if you do this—”
“What?!” he roared. “You’ll what?!”
I moved my gun an inch downward, letting my movement speak for itself.
His eyes widened. Realization snaked into his features, making his face drop slightly. “You’d…kill me?” he breathed out in shock.
I said nothing, unable to even voice the words. The truth of it was, I wasn’t even sure if I was capable of killing him. He was my brother. I loved him. But I loved Lukyan too.
Lev shook his head. “You’d choose this lying sack of shit over me? Your own fucking brother?!”
“Don’t make me choose,” I whispered softly.
Begged. Tears stung behind my eyes. I was powerless not to let them fall.
The whole thing was tearing me apart from the inside out.
I hated the position Lev was putting me in.
The choice he was forcing me to make. To save someone I love by killing another person I love.
It was an unimaginable choice, an impossible task, and he was asking it of me regardless.
It wasn’t fair.
Lukyan’s eyes were on me. I could feel them, even if I wasn’t looking directly at them.
I always knew when his eyes were on me. It was a feeling I got, deep in my soul.
In my heart. I moved my gaze to him, and he smiled sadly.
“It’s okay, baby. It’s okay. Just go. Get out of here.
Quickly. I don’t want anything to happen to you. ”
He wanted me to go? To just leave him? To die? I couldn’t do that.
Lukyan didn’t move. Didn’t attempt to get away. Whether that was because he knew there would be no escape, I wasn’t sure. He just stared at me, eyes sad and filled with unshed tears. The smile was still on his face, almost as if he had accepted his fate, and was resigned to it.
The pain of seeing that look from him hurt more than words could ever describe.
“It shouldn’t even be a choice, Lyla!” Lev blasted. “I’m your brother. I’m your family.”
“He’s my family too! He’s the only one who understands me!” I shouted, moving closer. “And you would know that if you gave a crap about anyone but yourself,” I seethed.
“You barely know him!”
The fucking audacity. “I’ve been following him for nearly two years. There isn’t a soul on this earth who knows him better than I do.”
Lev scoffed. “Well, he doesn’t know you, does he? He doesn’t give a shit about you. If he did, he wouldn’t have left you.”
His words hurt like a fucking knife to the heart.
“No!” Lukyan yelled out. It was the first time during the whole ordeal I caught a glimpse of fight in him. “That’s not true. Don’t listen to him, baby—” He winced again when Lev grabbed a fistful of his hair.
“Shut the fuck up,” he hissed. “I’ve had enough of you manipulating my sister.
Don’t you hear him, Lyla? Don’t you hear how full of shit he is?
He’s only saying this crap so you’ll stop me from killing him.
He doesn’t care about you. Not really. He’ll never fucking choose you over his family. You’re nothing to him.”
“Would you choose me?”
His eyes narrowed thoughtfully. “Of course I would. I love you.”
“Then put the gun down and just walk away. Walk away from this.”
Lev didn’t move, just staring at me. I already knew he wouldn’t do it before I even said the words.
I took another step. “You won’t, will you? Because despite what you say, you would never choose me over your revenge.” I’d known it all along, but it still broke my heart.
“Enough,” Lev growled. “Just stop talking. Just stop—”
My brother’s gaze whipped upward, and his eyes widened in shock.
People came pouring in from all sides, armed to the tee.
I stayed exactly where I was, my gun still aimed at Lev as I watched person after person approach us with urgency.
I recognized some of them. Lukyan’s family—Aleksandr, Nikolai, Illayana, and their partners, Drea and Arturo.
They came rushing toward us, their guns drawn right at my brother.
Panicked, Lev grabbed Lukyan, moving behind him. He wrapped an arm around his neck and pressed the gun deeper into Lukyan’s temple in warning. “Stop! Stop where you are, or I’ll fucking kill him!”
As one, they all halted immediately, skidding to a stop.
Anger burned in all of their eyes. There was nothing any of them could do.
They were too far away to try to rush him and take the gun before he shot Lukyan.
I was the closest one to him, apart from Autumn, but she was far too busy doing CPR on Dimitri to do anything to help.
“Put your guns down!” Lev commanded.
Everyone looked at Aleksandr. He was the oldest. The leader. The one they all turned to for guidance. I could see why. He stood there, strong and powerful, like a bear guarding its cubs. This was the first time I’d ever been scared of him. That look—that fucking look on his face was terrifying.
“Do it! I’ll blow his goddamn brains out. I will,” Lev warned.
“Then you’ll die too,” Aleksandr said roughly. It wasn’t a warning or a threat, but an absolute. Lev would die a painful and horrible death if he did it. There would be no stopping it.
Lev laughed maliciously. “You think I fucking care? I died a long time ago. I’ve accepted my fate.
” He leaned forward slightly, but was smart enough to keep most of his head behind Lukyan’s to act as a shield.
“I can see it in your eyes. You’re wondering if you can get me before I get a shot off.
” He laughed again. “Take the risk. Go on. Let’s see who’s faster,” he taunted.
There would be no way to shoot Lev without shooting Lukyan too. No way.
Aleksandr must have realized it, too, because he let out a frustrated growl before tossing his weapons in front of him. One by one, the others did the same until they all stood there, unarmed.
Lev ducked out from behind Lukyan, face full of triumph. “You’re all so goddamn predictable. Now, I get to kill you all—”
“Don’t, Lev. Don’t do it.” I never dropped my gun, keeping it aimed at him, but I knew he wasn’t the least bit concerned. He didn’t think I could really shoot him, despite the fact that I had already threatened to do so. That was evident based on the knowing smile on his face.
“I’m sorry, little sister. I am. Not for killing this fucking family—I’ll never be sorry for that—but for the pain it will cause you. I don’t want to hurt you.”