Page 106 of Darkest Sin

“We can’t stay here, Natalya. They’ll attack sooner or later. It’s better we take this risk so they don’t know where we are. We’re doing this.” Mikhail’s dominance is back. He’s calling the shots and I feel a wave of relief. If he’s in charge, then it means everything will be fine. I have to believe that.

We each pack a bag and hurry to the car. No one attacks us, not when we leave the driveway, not when we drive down the street. But Mikhail is tense. I can see it in the way he holds the steering wheel. His knuckles are paper white.

I keep my eyes out but even I can only do so much. I have a gun in my hands. Mikhail was reluctant to give me one but I reminded him that I know how to use one.

We’re driving through Brooklyn when Mikhail tenses even more. “We’re being followed.”

“…ok. So what do we do?”

“We stay calm. We keep moving forward and we try to lose them.”

Mikhail takes a hard right turn but the car continues to follow. They’re not being subtle about it. They want us to know they’re right behind us.

“Who is it? Can you see?”

“I don’t recognize the driver but that’s Liam in the passenger seat.”

So, the Irish then.

“They really want you dead, don’t they?”

“They really do.” He speeds up trying to lose them but they only speed up too. Mikhail continues to try and evade them but they’re not giving up.

“I have an idea.” He pulls into a nearby parking garage, plowing through the barrier gate. He speeds around the corners and finds a parking spot. The Irish drive right past us. Mikahil pulls out and follows them.

They try backing the car up but Mikhail rams right into them.

“Sorry, baby,” he mutters as I let out a small yelp.

The Irish surge forward in their car, driving towards the exit. Mikhail follows.

“I’m going to kill these motherfuckers,” he states.

We both make it back out of the parking garage. Mikhail rans his car into them again, making them grind to a halt. Liam storms out of his car, firing off his gun but Mikhail is ready. He fires right back.

Liam ducks behind his car.

Mikhail backs his car up, ready to take off… when the car stalls. “What the fuck?” He tries getting the car to move but it’s not moving.

“Mikhail? Is this part of the plan?”

“No. Natalya, get out. Run.”

“But, Mikahil -,”

“Get out. Run.” He practically pushes me out of the car. I take off running as Mikhail gets out to fight Liam.

Then I remember the gun in my hands. I can help.

Liam hides behind his car as Mikhail fires round after round at him but he doesn’t hit him. The driver gets out and starts shooting, making Mikhil duck behind his own car.

I fire at the driver and miss. It draws his attention to me and he tries shooting at me. I drop to the ground and crawl away.

Mikhail can’t take on both the driver and Liam, which gives Liam the chance to run after me. Now is the time to run, I realize.

I take off down the street but Liam only follows. I have to get in a good position so I can turn around and shoot him but there’s too many people around. I don’t want to accidently hurt someone.

My hesitation gives Liam the chance to grab me. He pulls me down an alleyway so no one can see us. Before I can scream, he hits me over the head with his gun, making me dizzy.