Page 61

CHAPTER 60

MIKHAIL

“Tatiana? I didn’t expect you to be so…short.” I try to smile, but all I want to do is rip Zoya in half.

“Oh, funny guy.” She turns to Drago. “You didn’t tell me he’s a comedian,” she says sarcastically.

She tugs on her blond hair, pulling the wig from her head revealing her black locks and folds her glasses.

“I’d like to know how you plan on getting out of your little—” She waves her hand vaguely towards my cuffed arms. “—predicament.”

“I’ll be fine.” I know her tactics too well. If I ask for her help, who knows how I’ll end up owing her?

Zoya steps closer, her face pale.

“Natalia?” she whispers, reaching for Tatiana.

“Who?” Tatiana scoffs, stepping away from her.

The door flies open, making everyone turn towards it.

Alexei?

What the fuck?

Hades pads in behind him, and my stomach sinks.

No, not Ana too.

“You were supposed to stay home.” I watch her eyes flick from me to the barely clad Zoya, and anger darkens her features.

“This bitch made it hard to do. I found proof she’s working with Ivan this whole time.” Ana rests her palm on Hades’ shoulder.

Nikolai and Jax crowd the entrance.

“Niki, Ivan is on his way,” I grunt, gesturing with my chin for him to go out.

Nikolai nods, then grabs Jax’s elbow and drags him outside.

“I’ll go with them.” Drago steps past, following my brother.

“Tatiana, always a pleasure.” Alexei steps away from her to move closer to me. “Do you want out?” He doesn’t wait for my answer, leaning forward he pulls out a handcuff key from his pocket and starts to unlock my wrist.

“You always carry one of those?” I blink up at him as a slow grin forms on his face. “You know, I don’t really want to know why.”

“Your sister is feisty.” He chuckles as he moves to the other side.

“I’m so done with this family!” Zoya screams, and dives towards a drawer in the table.

Before any of us move, she’s brandishing a short pistol.

But then she points it at Ana.

We all freeze, watching her.

“Mikhail, we could have overtaken Ivan and ruled together. Maybe if this fucking brat wasn’t in the way.” She waves the barrel over Ana’s bulging belly.

“Zoya, no!” I cry out, still locked by one arm. “I’ll kill you myself!”

“You’re just a jealous bitch.” Ana raises her jaw defiantly.

It makes me love her even more. She’s brave beyond measure in the face of danger.

“I was first. ” Zoya spits. “Always remember that.”

“Put the gun down.” Tatiana demands. The tone of her voice tells me she’s used to having her commands followed.

Hades growls from next to Ana, but doesn’t move.

“Why should I listen to you? You’re in no position to make demands either.” Zoya waves the gun towards her, then recenters it on Ana.

“You’re going to shoot a pregnant girl? For what? Some unfounded search for glory?” Tatiana raises her palms. “Maybe we can make a deal?”

“No! It’s my right! I deserve it!” Zoya’s mouth wavers as she wildly swings her weapon around the room.

“She’s crazier than I am,” Alexei whispers as he fumbles toward the other cuff.

“Alexei, you need to get her out of here!” I shake my arm, holding out my hand for the key.

He drops it into my palm, but it falls into the cushion of the couch.

Fuck.

Alexei scrambles, running towards Ana.

Zoya glances at him, then squeezes the trigger.

It’s like the world slips into slow motion as my eyes lock onto the look of fear and shock frozen onto my wife’s face.

“No!” Tatiana jumps towards Ana.

Ana and Tatiana tumble to the floor. Alexei pins Zoya beneath him, prying the gun out of her hand and shoving it towards Drago.

“Ana!” I shout with my ears still ringing from the blast.

But I can’t see her. My hand dives into the cushions to try and find the key, but it’s nowhere within my reach.

“Natalia!” Zoya screams, drowning out any other sound with a high pitched keening as she pulls herself away from Alexei.

With all the rage and strength in my body, I strain against the cuff until the bolts pull from the wall, bouncing off the floor when I jerk it loose to slip myself free.

Then a tiny voice breaks through my fury when I hear Ana saying the words I taught her.

“Mayday. Mayday. Mayday.” She falls limply back to the floor as I rush to her.

Hades leaps away from the wall and grabs Zoya’s shoulder in his crushing jaws, shaking his head, his teeth rip into her flesh as her new shrieks of agony fill the room.

He tackles her down, pinning her to the tile, jaw gnashing, he slings chunks of skin and muscle, spraying everyone near with blood.

I barely notice, collapsing to my knees next to my pale wife.

“Ana, please, are you okay?” My thumb brushes her cheek, then I wrap my arm behind her head, shielding her from the ravaging dog and the mess he’s making of Zoya.

At least the screams have stopped.

All I can hear is his growling and tearing as he pulls her throat free from her body.

“Abort,” I say softly, staring only at Ana’s closed eyes.

Hades drops to his haunches, licking the gore from his lips.

“Mikhail? Tatiana got shot. What do you want me to do?” Alexei presses a corner of her shirt into her shoulder.

“Get Drago. She saved Ana. She deserves anything she wants for that.” I pull Ana up onto my lap, rocking her slowly against my chest.

“Come on, iskorka, wake up.” I can’t see any injuries.

All I can hope is that she and the baby are okay.

Alexei scoops up Tatiana and darts out the door.

I can hear the wild revving of the engine when Drago leaves. I’m guessing he’s rushing Tatiana to a doctor.

Maybe I should have carried Ana out there too?

Hades whines, sniffing her arm, and bumps it with his bloody nose.

“I know, buddy. I hope she’s okay.” My palm rests on her belly.

I can feel my baby moving. I just need her to wake up.

Gunfire outside makes my heart race, but I don’t move.

Ana is my priority now.

My brother and the rest can take care of everything.

Until a slow clap comes from the door to the house.

“Well done, son.” Ivan grins, watching me. “You’ve saved me the trouble of killing her myself.” He pushes himself away from the frame and holds his arm towards the porch.

Galena moves closer, gripping his finger in her tiny hand.

“How did you get past everyone?” I growl, hunching myself over Ana.

“Oh, they’re currently, hmm, preoccupied.” He strokes his gray beard, then squats next to Zoya’s body, while pulling Galena onto his knee. “Your mommy was a very bad girl,” he says.

I wish I could send Hades on him as well, but I’m not sure that Galena wouldn’t get hurt in the process.

Galena buries her face against his shoulder, and her back shudders with sobbing.

“Stop crying,” he snaps. “She’s gone.”

Ah, there it is. The loving father.

I hate him.

“What do you want, Ivan?” I growl.

“The same as I’ve always wanted. My daughter, and my wife. Now that you’re mongrel has killed Zoya, I’ll take yours instead.” He stands, smirking as he looks down at Ana.

“I don’t think so.” The words to send Hades after him sit on the tip of my tongue.

If only he wasn’t using Galena as a human shield.

There’s more sporadic gunfire outside.

Fuck, I hope Niki and the boys are okay. My bastard father has already caused so much pain, I can’t handle any more loss by his hands.

“Do you hear that? That’s the sound of your men falling, one by one.” Ivan bends and grips my chin, but I smack his arm away. “Your scars didn’t heal quite as nicely as mine. That little bitch needs to pay for what she did to me.” He points at his own cheek where a pucker sits above his lip.

“It’s too bad she didn’t aim for your heart, but the target is too small.” I feel her shift on my lap.

A small moan escapes her lips before she opens her eyes.

She rubs the back of her head and looks up at me. “Mikhail?”

Relief floods through me. “Are you hurt?” I ignore my father.

Whatever he’s planning is nothing compared to the ache of having her unconscious.

“No, I think I just got the wind knocked out of me.” She glances around and cringes when she sees the mess of Zoya lying just a few feet away.

But she freezes when she sees Ivan.

“Galena, baby? Are you okay?” Ana calls out.

“Mommy’s gone,” she sobs.

Ana takes a deep breath. “Do you remember that game we played, when you hid from me?”

“Yes.” Galena’s voice is hesitant.

Ana stares into my eyes, and winks. “Do that one thing,” she calls out to Galena.

“What are you up to?” Ivan stalks closer, just as Galena twists in his arms and runs towards her room.

“Mayday!” Ana screams, but before the next can follow, Ivan cuts away, running out of the house.

“Go, Mikhail. End this.” Ana shoves at my arm, pulling herself away.

I bolt up and chase my father outside.