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If Rurik’s dead, there’s no reason for me to be here. They don’t need to protect me. But then, wouldn’t Alexander keep me with Megan?

Or maybe Alexander believes this is all my fault. Maybe he knows how much of this is my fault and he wants to extract revenge for what happened to Megan because of me.

Maybe this elevator is taking me to my execution and not the dreamy pillow top bed I slept in last night.

Maybe when the doors open, I’ll find a gun pointed at my head.

And I’ll deserve it. But knowing that doesn’t stop my heart from jackhammering against my ribs.

This isn’t me. I’m not going to just take an execution lying down. I’ll fight them, whoever it is. I will claw their eyes out before I let them hurt me.

The ding signaling we’ve arrived echoes in my ears. I ready myself for a fight, putting my weight on my back foot and lifting my hands up to block my torso.

If Max considers my stance weird, he doesn’t say. He doesn’t do anything other than step out of the elevator when the doors open.

Rurik stands in front of me, his eyebrows shooting up as soon as he sees how I’m standing. Like I’m ready to launch myself at my attacker.

“What are you doing?” he questions, fighting back a laugh.

I take one look at him, and my stomach twists.

“Rurik. You’ve been shot!”

Blood soaks through the left shoulder and arm of his white button-down.

“Max!” I yell for my escort.

Where the hell did he disappear to? Blood drips from Rurik’s fingertips.

“Mira.” Rurik grabs me with his right hand, pulling me closer to him. “Max is getting the kit, it’s all right.”

He must have lost a lot of blood. He’s delusional.

“You’re not all right. You’re bleeding out.”

“It’s a graze. I’m fine.”

“You’re not fine,” I argue, inspecting his face and the rest of him for any other injuries.

As I maneuver my hands over his chest, all I feelis his hard muscles. He doesn’t wince once.

Max shows up a moment later carrying a medical kit.

“You need a doctor. We should go to the hospital.”

“No hospital.” Rurik shakes his head as he takes the kit from Max and dismisses him with a jerk of his head.

“Where is he going?” My voice rises, teetering on a shout as Max gets back in the elevator.

“I don’t need him right now. He has other things to do.”

“I hope getting a doctor is one of them.”

A hint of a smile pulls the edges of Rurik’s mouth.

“You’ll do fine.”

“Me?” My stomach is back to doing flips. “Why would I do it? You have men that can do it, and there are a million doctors in this city. Alexander had one come to the house for Megan; call that guy.”