Page 158

Story: Climbing Everest

Gunshots ring out from somewhere outside. Not close enough, or maybe too close depending on who’s doing the shooting.

Fuck. This was an airtight plan. What the fuck had we missed?

Of course, we hadn’t really planned on Ada Sidorov being present, nor had I planned on the sneer, the look of pure, unadulterated disdain as her eyes roam her daughter. She’s literally looking at Everest with nothing short of hate and disgust.

Yeah. This bitch will definitely die right beside her husband.

I’d really wanted to take my time, make them and the asshole guards suffer before ending their life. But as that fucker points the muzzle in Everest’s direction, I’d settle with a quick death. Anything to get her out of the path of destruction.

Inching closer to my wife, I try to keep my attention split between the four people here to take away the only woman I’ve ever loved. Fuck, no doubt I’ll be up next.

And maybe it’s selfish, but I’d much rather go first – the thought of seeing the life bleed out of Everest’s eyes does something dark to my insides.

I don’t know how much time has passed, but it feels like an eternity.

There’s got to be something I can do or say to distract them, something to give Madd and Brix time to get in here, time for the guards to get in here…if any of them are still alive.

The thought of losing my two brothers is nearly as painful as the thought of losing my wife.

When I glance in Everest’s direction, I do a double take. Instead of the fear I expect to find, I see nothing but anger and a tiny, satisfied smirk as she glares at Bloody Face.

“How’s your nose, Eriks?”

“Fucking cunt,” he grits out as he moves forward as though to lunge for her.

But Dima stops him with a raised hand. “No one dies until the other two are dragged in. I want her to watch them die first.”

Eriks. He was one of the three men who’d beat her, who’d killed our child.

So who is the other guy?

“Is that Mikhail?” I ask her while keeping my eyes pinned to him since he’s currently staring down the sight of the gun. Eventually, his arm will get tired. He’ll have to either switch hands or drop his arm.

That could be the single moment I need to get the upper hand.

“That’s him,” Everest practically snarls.

Okay. That means all the people who need to be dead are in the same room. I just need my backup, or a single moment.

The problem, though, is Dima and Eriks are both armed. I’ll have to act fast.

“Let me guess – one of these two pricks will pull the trigger? You’re too much of a fucking coward to look me in the eye and kill me yourself,” Everest says to Dima.

He merely scoffs at her. “I pay people to do the grunt work,” he says.

Ada rolls her eyes. “Just get it over with. The other two are probably already bleeding out somewhere out there.”

“Or they’re seconds away from blowing your brains out.” I blink at Everest as my eyes go wide and a proud grin stretches across my face. “What’s it like?” she asks her mom.

Ada rolls her eyes and crosses her arms. “What? What is what like? Be more specific.”

“To hate your own daughter so much you asked your husband to have her killed?”

My wide eyes narrow and I frown at Ada. “What?” I growl.

Ada turns and glares at her husband. “Do you spew monologues with every mark?” she asks.

“I didn’t say shit to her,” Dima says.