Page 36 of Darkest Game (The Dark Mafia #3)

Chapter Nineteen

Irina

“ H ow did you get in here?” I demand.

Elaine holds up the grenade. “I will set this off if you scream.”

“How did you get in here?” I ask again.

“I knew you’d come back here at some point. With Liam in the hospital, it was the only logical place. Since Denis killed all of Mikhail’s guards, it was easy getting in here. All I had to do was wait. I saw you come in here and now, here I am.”

“If you set that grenade off, we’re all dead, you know that? Yourself included.”

“I know. You have taken everything from me. My husband. I have nothing to live for after you’re dead. Might as well die alongside you.”

“Wait,” I say. “I’ll go with you. Just don’t kill my family. They had no part in this. I’ll go with you, Elaine. We can die together. Just away from this place.”

“Deal. Let’s get going.”

She makes me walk ahead of her. Luna and Bear follow behind.

We reach the foyer and run into Nico. It only takes him a beat to realize what’s going on and pull out his gun. “Drop it.”

“You really want me to drop this grenade?”

“Don’t,” I gasp.

My mom and sisters run into the foyer from the commotion. They all freeze when they see what’s happening.

“Don’t shoot her,” I tell Nico. “Not when she has a grenade in her hand. I’ll go with her.”

“I can’t let you do that,” Nico says.

“I can’t let my entire family die for me. I may not have chosen to be involved with Liam or Jack Finnigan but I am now. And I need to deal with Elaine. So let us go.”

“No,” Natalya gasps. “Irina.”

“I have to go,” I say, not looking at my sisters. If I look at them, I will break down and I won’t do what I have to do. “Elaine, keep walking. Nico, do not shoot.”

Nico doesn’t shoot but he does keep his gun trained on Elaine until she and I leave the house. My dogs continue to follow.

“Mutts,” Elaine mutters. “I don’t know why you took them. My husband hated them.”

“They just needed love. Now, let’s go. Drive me far away from this house and then you set the grenade off.”

“Or I’ll just do it right here.” Elaine pulls the pin out of the grenade.

I scream and dive to the side.

But then something shocking happens.

In perfect sync, Bear and Luna tackle Elaine to the ground and the grenade in her hand goes flying away from the direction of the house. It lands in the middle of the street.

An explosion rocks the entire ground but I’m far enough away to not be hit by it. Luna and Bear rip Elaine’s throat out and they don’t stop until she’s dead.

The dogs turn to me, waggy their tails, blood covering their mouths. They saved me. These dogs that Jack and Elaine thought of as beasts. They saved me because I showed them kindness.

Nico runs out of the house and stumbles to a halt when he sees what just happened. I’m alive. Elaine is dead. And Luna and Bear sit there, wagging their tails, proud of themselves.

My sisters and mom come running out after and all of them wrap me into a hug when they see that I’m all right.

Elaine is officially dead.

This nightmare can end.

I go to Liam in the hospital the next day. He’s already looking much more alert and awake then he did before.

“Elaine is dead,” I tell him, describing the grenade and the dogs and how she died.

“All because you saved those dogs. They saved you.” He takes my hand in his and kisses it. “I never would have thought. Your kindness saved yourself.”

“You saved me too. I think my mom is coming around to the idea of you. When you’re out of the hospital, there’s a chance we could move in together… if that’s what you want?”

Before Liam can reply, someone else enters the room. A young woman. Pretty.

“I was told you were in here,” she says, ignoring me as she rushes to Liam’s side.

“Amanda? What are you doing here?”

“Jimmy said you were in the hospital when I showed up for work. I had to make sure you were ok.”

Liam glances at me and that makes Amanda realize I’m here.

“Oh,” she says, pulling away from Liam.

“Amanda, this is my wife. Irina. The one I was telling you about.”

“Oh. Hi.” She gives me a small wave but there’s a sadness to her face that speaks to how unhappy she is. “The one you met in Vegas?”

I frown. “Vegas?”

“Yes,” Liam says, giving me a pointed look. “In Vegas. We’re making it work. I appreciate you coming to check on me but I just need you to know that we’re done. For good. I’m just your boss and you dance at my club.”

“I get it. I wouldn’t want to interfere. And I don’t want to be with a man who doesn’t want to be with me anyway.” She turns to me. “You’re lucky. Liam is a good man.”

He huffs. “I wouldn’t go that far.”

“You are,” I tell him. “You’re a good man to me.”

“Well, I’ll leave you two to it,” Amanda says. “You know, I’ve never seen you look at a woman like you’re looking at her.”

Liam flushes slightly. It’s the first time I’ve ever seen him look embarrassed. “Guess there’s a first time for everything.”

“Guess so.” Her smile this time is much more kind. “Bye.” She hurries out of the room before I can say anything else.

“You’re the only one for me now,” Liam says. “I promise. And I would love to live together now. You’re my wife. It’s right that you should move in with me. Your mom will be ok with it?”

“She has to be. You’re my future.” I grab his hand. “This is my future. I… I know we haven’t known each other long in the grand scheme of things. But I need you to know… I love you, Liam. I know I do.”

“Irina. I love you too. I’ve never been in love but I know it’s love. I know it.”

I give him a tender kiss and infuse as much of my love for him into it as I can.

I enter the ballet studio for the first time in two years. My heart is pounding and my underarms are sweaty but I’m ready for this. Ready to dance again. Ready to reclaim my own life for myself.

My previous dance instructor, Camille, welcomes me inside with a large smile. “It’s nice to see you again, Irina.”

“It’s nice to be back. I’ve missed dancing.”

“I’m glad to see you’ve returned. This is your home here.”

It’s not fully my home. My new home is with Liam. Dance is just an added bonus.

He’s still recovering from his gunshot wound and I know is getting antsy to get back into work. He encouraged me to return to dance so I could perform for him while he’s stuck in bed most of the day.

My mom still hasn’t fully come around to the idea of me and Liam being together but it’s getting easier for her.

My sisters have accepted him. Even Mikhail, who’s out of the hospital now, and Nico, have agreed to continue their alliance with Liam.

All the pieces are fitting together. I knew that dance was the last piece for me.

“Ready to start?” Camille asks me.

“Ready.”