“I have my own power,” Alexei says. “My own men who stand behind me. If you kill me, they’ll be pissed off. But it’s a price to pay to see you dead. That’s how much I fucking hate you.”
“Why? I’ve never killed anyone you care about.”
“No. But you walk around with everything while I have nothing. It pisses me off so I’m doing this. Come with me, Nik.”
“Drop your gun,” one of the guards at the club says, rushing forward.
Nik raises his hand. “Don’t shoot him. I don’t want anyone else getting hurt. I’ll go with you, Alexei. To stop a panic from arising. But Irina is not coming with.”
“No. She’s coming. It’s either you two or I shoot up this place.”
A pained expression crosses Nik’s face before he looks at me. Guilt flashes in his eyes. “All right. Me and Irina. Just us.”
“Nik, no,” Maksim breathes out. “This fucker is going to kill you.”
“And then you’re going to have to deal with the fallout of it if he does. Call your father, Maksim. Let him know what’s happening. I’ll be fine.” Nik turns to me and holds out his hand. “I will protect you.”
All the numbness I’ve been feeling for days disappears and is replaced with an icy fear. Not for me. But for Nik. I can see the anger on Alexei’s face. He wants Nik dead and he’s going to make it happen. Am I going to lose my husband right after I lost my dad and my innocence?
But I know there’s no choice. I can’t be responsible for more blood on my hands so I take Nik’s instead of fighting. He pulls me to my feet and into his side, trying to keep me as safe as he can.
We walk with Alexei out of the club. Neither Maksim nor Nik’s guards stop it. Nik won’t let them intervene.
The moment we step foot outside the back door and into a dark alleyway, Nik runs at Alexei but Alexei already has his gun drawn.
And points it at me. “I will shoot her. If you don’t get in line.”
Nik immediately stops. He promised to always protect me and he’s still trying to do it now.
“Now, come along you two.” Alexei keeps his gun pointed at me as he leads us to a car parked in the alleyway. We’re forced into the backseat. Alexei whips his gun against Nik’s temple, knocking him out.
I gasp.
“I’m guessing you’ll stay in line,” Alexei says to me. I can only nod. “Good.”
I stare at Nik’s unconscious body as Alexei takes us somewhere. Nikolai, my strong, powerful husband, now unconscious. Weak and vulnerable.
Yet, I’ve never cared for him more.
Nik told me to move on from what I did to my father. That it would weigh me down forever. My life with Nik will never be a peaceful one. His darkness is too ingrained inside of him and his enemies will always come for him. And for me too.
But looking at my husband, hurt and unconscious, all I know right in this moment is that I never want to be without him.
That I love him.
He’s partially the reason I’ve been put in danger but I was always going to be in danger because of my dad. Nikolai helped me the best he could and he’s shown that he’ll fight for me.
So now it’s my turn to fight for him.
Alexei parks outside a rundown warehouse in the middle of nowhere. For it being close to the city, there’s no other people around. The perfect spot to kill us.
My heart is pounding as he opens the back door and slaps Nik’s cheek, waking him up. Before Nik can react, Alexei points his gun at him. “Get out of the car and don’t make a scene.”
Nik does as he’s told. I’m sure it’s taking everything out of him not to fight back. I follow behind the men as we’re led into the warehouse.
Alexei throws rope at Nik and tells him to tie his own hands. Nik hesitates and Alexei points the gun at me once more. Nik ties his hands without hesitation after that.
I’m his weakness, I realize. Nik is going to let himself be killed just to save my life. I have to do something. Now.