Page 78 of Cruel Russian Pakhan

I drove the hair stick deep into the neck of the man closest to me. He screamed and stumbled back, crashing into the second man. A gun went off, and a groan followed, but I didn’t stop to check who got hit.

I ran down the hallway, my bare feet slapping on cold cement. My heartbeat thundered in my ears as I turned a corner and saw a heavy double door at the end.

Please, God.

When I reached it, I grabbed the handle, yanked, and it opened.

A bullet whizzed past my face. I screamed and bolted into the night.

Outside, the air was freezing, stinging my lungs. I had no idea where I was; an abandoned warehouse, maybe? Industrial district? The area was half-lit by flickering streetlights and trash fires in metal drums.

I looked over my shoulder, trying to gauge how close the man who had fired at me was. That was when it happened—a blinding flash of headlights. Tires screamed and a car skidded to a stop just inches from me. I stumbled back, panic woven in every heartbeat.

I barely caught myself before hitting the ground and scrambled upright. I darted toward what looked like an alley between two buildings, praying it would give me cover.

But I never made it.

A broad, tall shadow peeled itself from the darkness, and a gun rose, pointed straight at my chest.

My breath caught. My body froze.

Instant flashbacks of Lev saving me the last time a gun was pointed at my chest ran through my mind. How he got us to safety and shielded my body with his.

I wanted him here so badly it hurt. Even if he couldn’t save me this time…I just wanted to see him one last time. Because I knew only a miracle could save me now.

With trembling hands raised, I stepped back slowly, my eyes locked on the barrel of the gun trained on my heart.

Then everything happened at once.

A strong arm wrapped around my waist, yanking me back just as a deafening gunshot rang out. The man who had his gun trained on me dropped like a stone.

I was being carried, more like hauled, and I fought blindly, panic overriding logic.

“Katya! It's me. Marten. You're safe now, baby girl.”

A sob broke loose from my chest.

If Marten was here…then Lev had to be close.

Marten opened the door to the third SUV and gently pushed me inside. “Stay put. It’s armored, you’re safe. I’ll be right out here.”

He shut the door before I could even nod.

I curled into the seat, trembling, every muscle taut. I couldn’t hear anything from outside, and the silence only made my heart race faster.

After what seemed like forever, the door was yanked open, jolting me from my thoughts.

I screamed.

“Katya…”

My head snapped to the voice.

“Lev!”

I launched myself out of the SUV and into his arms. I couldn’t stop shaking.

“You came,” I whispered.