Chapter 47
MILA
Shit.
“Nikolai.” A well dressed man with slick hair steps from the group, his pistol aimed low at Nikolai’s hips.
He better not shoot him there, that’s mine.
Nikolai presses me against his side, just like he did that night in the club when we met.
Well, officially.
“Vlad. Still my father’s lackey, I see?” Nikolai spits, waving his own gun to keep the men at bay.
Vlad calmly approaches. He might as well be at a bar ordering a drink, as nonchalantly as he’s acting.
I guess when you’re used to working with Ivan, there isn’t much that can phase you.
“You’re not in any position to be casting stones, Nikolai.” Vlad’s dark eyes shift to me.
My chin tilts all on its own in defiance.
“Your handler said you stabbed him and went off grid. Ivan will be happy to see you.” Vlad reaches for me, but Nikolai slaps his arm away.
“You’re going to regret that.” Vlad raises a finger, and all of the weapons pointed as us raise.
No.
I can’t let Nikolai die here. He has a bigger responsibility than me in his little girl.
“Let them take me, Niki. Think of Elena. No one needs me, not really.”
He growls before he turns, grabbing my face in his hot palm. “I fucking do. More than anything in this world.”
Dmitri clears his throat. “Well. Isn’t that…sickening.” He takes a step back behind the row of men. “Take them. Alive.”
Fuck.
Movement behind me makes me turn around as an overly burly guy launches himself at me.
Ducking, I manage to use his momentum to my advantage to push him past.
Nikolai begins to swing at him, but two more men jump on his back, grappling for his arms.
“Leave him alone!” I try to hit one in the neck, but Nikolai is jerked backward by the other man getting a grip around his throat.
Prying at the thick fingers, my leg works up to hit the goon in the groin.
But the sprawled one grabs my leg, yanking me hard enough I bounce my head off of his knee.
Dazed, I try to scramble up. I’m almost back on my feet when a palm reaches out and rips my ankle out from under me.
Four more sets of hands reach out and claw at Nikolai, swarming him until he falls next to me.
A leering Dmitri appears over us, with a pistol gripped by the barrel in his fist.
“All of the best romances end in tragedy,” he sneers before he slams the butt of his gun against my head.