Chapter 30
NIKOLAI
Song- Go To War, NOTHING MORE.
There’s a line between protection, and calling attention.
I feel like I’m leaning on the second.
But Mikhail insisted that I have all of the help I could get. I’d rather go in covertly, after all, I’m more than capable of taking care of myself.
Having everyone here just means more people can get hurt if things take a bad turn. There’s already an itch on the back of my neck when I think about how nerve-wracking this is.
Now, Jax, Alexei, and a handful more of our men are putting their lives on the line.
“I’ll meet you at the drop. And, I’m bringing Enzo.” Mikhail’s gruff voice comes through my cell loud enough Alexei glances at me from the passenger seat.
Great, more people.
“This is like the President’s motorcade.” I hate it.
“There’s almost half a billion[CJ1] dollars in diamonds in that van. It warrants the manpower,” he growls. “We have too much riding on this. Not only does this cripple Ivan’s power, it’s going to go a long way toward funding our arsenal so we can finally eradicate the Reapers.”
“I get it. See you soon.” I end the call. I don’t have the patience to argue with him. I know he has all of our best interests at heart.
It doesn’t change the fact my gut is sour about this.
“Two on our six, Niki,” Jax calls out through the radio from the van in front of me. He’s driving the goods while Alexei and I follow in my Hellcat.
Fuck.
“Who is it?” Checking out my rearview mirror, I catch a glimpse of black leathers as a biker on a racer streaks past me.
Another passes dressed in red, and they streak past Jax.
“Shit!” Jax yells, making Alexei jump in the seat next to me.
“Are they stopping us?” he asks, waving one of his pistols.
“Put that thing away,” I snap.
Alexei’s lower lip juts out, but he slides it back into his holster.
“Nikolai, are you seeing this?” Jax’s voice climbs in pitch as he slows down.
Veering, I get in the lane next to him.
Damn.
Ahead of us, a large group of heavy motorcycles turn into the road coming our way.
The two-speed bikes cut in front of Jax and turn broadside in the street. As if they’re choreographed, they pull out silenced weapons and start firing at the leather-vested group.
“Are those Reapers?” Alexei bounces up and down in his seat as I roll to a stop.
Jax stares at me through his side window while he parks next to me.
We’re in the back alleys of Vegas. How in the hell did they all find us?
The two helmeted riders back toward us, their guns firing in tandem at the growing horde of Reapers.
There are too many to count.
Some falter and fall off of their bikes, but most push forward, dodging behind their handlebars and returning the bullets that ping off of our cars.
“Okay, Alexei. It’s time.” We both spring out of our doors and start firing. Jax jumps to join us and the three men that were following in the car behind me leap out and add their firepower.
The oncoming crush of men slows, many peeling off into the side roads.
Shit, they might circle us.
Our two saviors continue to defend us, their covered heads swiveling as they work their way closer.
A swarm of enemies almost overtakes them, but the one in red grapples a man by the neck and flips him around, kicking another attacker during the move.
Impressive.
Maybe my brother hired them?
Their bikes fall within the crowd, and they run toward us.
“Don’t shoot them,” I bark to the others. They’ve been helping us, and are putting up a solid defense.
The one in red ducks on the other side of the van.
I fire three more rounds before I have to reload. When I do, I see the glint of the passenger door opening up.
What the fuck?
Darting past Jax, I rip open the driver’s side as the rider darts out the other.
With the bag of diamonds!
Absolutely not.
I run behind the van and catch the devil himself as they’re trying to get away.
Grabbing him by the throat, I sling him against the side of the truck, bouncing the helmet off the glass hard enough to break it.
“Give those back.” I’m reaching for the stolen gems when I feel the hot touch of metal against my chest.
The burning barrel of his pistol rests over my heart.
“You’re going to have to kill me before I kill you.” My grip tightens around their neck.
With the cloth container dangling from their hand, they flip up the reflective visor of their helmet.
“I can’t, Nikolai.” Melissa’s tear-filled eyes stare back.
Shit.
My fingers loosen, but her pistol doesn’t waver.
“What the hell are you doing?” I can’t breathe. My lungs are frozen in the shock of seeing her.
“I have to.” A droplet spills down her nose and disappears into the soft felt bridging it.
“Nikolai! Look out!” I can hear Jax scream from the other side of the van.
My head is so muddied up, I almost don’t turn to see Knox barreling toward me.
His bald head glistens with sweat, and his face is twisted in rage.
He should be mad, I already shot him once.
But, my hands are busy, holding this woman who I trusted.
Who I was falling for.
The person who I opened my home and my family to.
His gun levels with my head.
Squeezing my eyes shut, I expect the impact. This would be a fitting moment, when my heart is already shattering with betrayal.
Her pistol moves off of my chest, and the loud hiss of the silencer goes off.
Knox falls to the ground at my feet.
Pinning her weapon hand against the metal of the vehicle, I try to wrestle to get the bag from her.
“No, Nikolai! You don’t understand!” She dodges every attempt.
“The fuck I don’t! You lied to me, you betrayed me, and now, you’re stealing from me? I’d give you anything!” Rage burns through me. “Dazhe moyo serdce. Even my heart,” I mutter in Russian.
“Moyo prinadlezhyt tebe. You own mine,” she replies. In Russian.
I’m dumbfounded.
She’s known all along.
Stumbling backward, it takes me a breath to let the fury consume me.
Her face is full of despair, but I don’t fucking care.
“You gave me my seven minutes, Niki. I’ll always remember that.”
Seven minutes? What the hell is she talking about?
I shake my head as the blinding rage consumes me.
“You fooled me, but you won’t get away with it!” Slamming her back, my fingers work tighter around her neck, keeping the air from her.
“Joke’s on you,” she squeaks out. “I’m into that shit.”
Her arm snakes out, and piercing pain shoots through my side in rapid succession.
She stabbed me. The bitch actually stuck me.
A roar of anger echoes down the street as I bounce her off the van and knock her to the ground, pinning her beneath me.
I hate how hard I am. How I want to fuck her into submission.
And how I want to squeeze the life out of her for how badly I’m hurting.