Page 70 of Darkest Sin

“Think of it as a peace offering.”

“So I do all the hard work and you get all the reward? I don’t fucking think so. What’s going on here, Cillian? You can’t pretend everything is normal when you’re acting fishy as fuck.”

Cillian drops his chin to his chest and sighs. “I am sorry, Mikhail. I considered your offer. I really did. But Nico had already offered me a better one.” He whips out his gun and points it at me.

“You’re working with Nico?” I hiss. “For how long?”

“This whole time. You were just a fun amusement to pass the time.” He fires his gun right as I dive behind my car. His men fire at the car, blowing out my tires so I can’t use it. Liam shoots Aaron in the head. Cillian starts firing at my men and they fire back. A few of my men are killed while they kill some of Cillian’s men. It’s another fucking bloodbath.

And I’m caught in the middle of it.

In the past, I would be laughing as I shot down men but all I can think about is Natalya and getting back to her. I can’t protect her if I’m dead.

My car is shot. There’s no way I can use it. My eyes flick to the woods across from me. All I have to do is run. Cillian’s men will hunt me down but I’ve been in worse scrapes than this. Not actually but I have to tell myself that. I have to have hope or I will not make it out of here alive. I will not make it back to Natalya.

With a deep breath, I keep low and lunge for the tree line. Bullets whizz past me but none of them hit. I use the trees as protection as I run with all my might. I can hear Cillian’s men following me into the woods.

I keep running until I come across a large mossy boulder. Ducking down, I hide and wait.

Two of Cillian’s men walk right past the boulder, giving me the chance to shoot them both in the head. With my silencer in place, it helps muffle the sound. That doesn’t mean I won’t be caught sooner or later.

I know some of my men already killed some of Cillian’s men so there’s only so many that can be coming for me. I doubt Cillian will. He won’t want to put himself at risk. Nor will Liam, since he’s the next in line for the Irish mob throne.

I ease away from the boulder and take off running again.

“Hey!” someone shouts.

Fuck.

I hide behind a tree right as a bullet whips past me. Cillian’s man stops. We’re both waiting for someone to make a move.

I don’t have time all day. I need to get back to Natalya.

With a growl, I look past the tree and see Cillian’s guy waiting for me. He fires right as I do. His shot misses.

Mine doesn’t.

I shoot him square in the chest, sending him to the ground. I don’t spare him a second look as I start running again.

This time, no one follows me.

I head deeper into the woods, knowing I’m getting lost. I don’t know this area all that well. But I have to keep moving. I have to find a highway and walk back to the city. I have to get back to Natalya and nothing will get in my way.

Natalya

Mikhail has been gone for hours. It’s the longest he’s gone without returning home to me. I wasn’t sure how much I cared for him before now but I know that I truly care for him. I want him to come back. Not just to save my family but because I want to see him. I want him to hold me. I want to feel loved by him.

I want to be dominated by him.

I pace around the living room until midnight rolls around. I keep trying his cell phone but he doesn’t answer. What happened? Why hasn’t he come home?

It was a routine meeting, he told me. He said he’d be back within a few hours. It’s been over ten hours by now and he still hasn’t come home.

There’s no way I can fall asleep wondering what happened to him but I force myself to the bedroom. I need sleep. I need a clear head. Because if Mikhail is dead, then I need to figure out how I’m going to save myself and my sisters.

And that’s when I hear the front door open.

I rush downstairs and stop when I see Mikhail looking haggard, dirty, and tired. His shirt is rumpled and he has dirt stains on his face. I don’t see any blood on him, so at least there’s that.