Page 31

Behind him, Rurik steps out onto the porch, easily finding him as he runs through the barren woods.

The man limps, but he’s still getting a good distance away. Why isn’t Rurik going after him? He’s obviously here for him.

My thighs burn keeping their crouched position, butwhen I try to move back, to stretch out a leg, I stumble. Falling back onto the forest floor, I land on a pile of dried leaves and branches. Making about as much noise as possible in a forest.

When I look up, the man who was running from Rurik stands over me.

“Who the fuck are you?” He looks to his right then back down at me.

He must realize I’m with Rurik, because he launches himself at me, grabbing my arms and yanking me to my feet. He’s not as big as Rurik, but he’s got strength. I can’t get free of his grip as he yanks me completely from the blushes and out into the open.

“This your bitch?” He shouts at Rurik, who is now taking long, steady strides toward us.

“Just let me go,” I try to wrench myself out of his grip again but then he presses something sharp against my throat.

“You’re my way out of here.” Spittle lands on mycheek.

Rurik catches up to us, and I take a chance at looking directly at him. Ice drags down my spine at the pitch blackness of his expression. His jaw is set firm; his eyes fixated on the asshole holding me. Maybe to someone else he’d look calm.

But it’s the calmness that sends another shiver through me.

“I’m gonna take that car over there. She’s gonna come with me, I’ll drop her at the end of the road so long as you don’t follow.”

“That’s not going to happen.” Rurik lifts a shoulder, like this is the most boring conversation he’s had.

“I’m leaving.”

“Again. Not. Going. To. Happen.” Rurik’s gaze flicks to the knife at my neck.

“I’ll cut her.”

“Seems likely.” Rurik agrees with a nod.

“I’ll stab her. She’ll be dead before she hits the ground.” He’s panicking now.

His grip on the knife gets shaky. I wince as the tip of it pricks my skin. He puts a little more pressure, and it sinks in deeper.

I wrap my hands around his arm, trying to pull his hand away from my neck, but his terror is giving him hulk-like strength. The knife twists thanks to me, and I groan from the pain of it.

“Just let me?—”

His knife falls away, followed by the rest of his body as hehits the forest floor with a thud. I suck in air as my heart gallops up through my throat.

My face is hot. Warm liquid covers the right side of my face. When I wipe my hand across it, I see all the blood dripping from my fingers. As though my brain still can’t comprehend it, I turn just enough to see the man crumpled on the ground at my feet.

A single hole between his eyes. His blood pools around him, staining the leaves as the ground sucks up as much as it can.

I jump back, away from his body.

For a moment, my brain changes this man’s face with Nico’s. Bile rises up and I have to take several steps away, still trying to suck in enough air to calm the heated nausea rolling through me.

“Mira.” Rurik’s voice is a football field away.

I make it back to the bushes before I double over and vomit.

His hand rests on my back until my body finally realizes everything inside is now out, and my muscles stop spasming.

“I’m okay,” I say, turning to him.