Page 104 of Her Darkest Possession

I close my eyes briefly, as devastating news hits me.

Vassily. Gone.

After we just started the path of returning to the same side again. And at Lola's hand. Grief claws at my insides, threatening to hollow me out completely. But I shove it away.

There will be time to grieve later. Right now, I need to focus on saving Indigo.

I force my eyes open and see my breath tumbling up into the wintry air.

The snow is starting to come down harder now.

"Listen to me," I say. "Stay put. I'm coming for you."

"Be careful," she says. "I see at least twenty that on the security monitors before they started burning everything."

I glance at the burning mansion, flames now licking up the east wing where our bedroom was. The place I'd held her just hours ago.

"I'll get to you, I promise," I tell her, forcing my voice to remain steady despite the panic threatening to overwhelm me. "That panic room is built to withstand anything. It's fireproof, and has its own separate air system. You'll be safe in there."

"For how long?"

"As long as necessary," I say firmly. "Trust me."

More headlights cut through the darkness behind us. Three cars pull up, and relief floods through me as more of my men spill out, rifles ready.

"More of our people are arriving," I tell Indigo.

Roma taps my shoulder, pointing toward the mansion's upper windows where Volkov shooters have positioned themselves. A muzzle flashes, and a stream of cracking bullets snap through the air over our heads, forcing us to scatter.

They've got the advantage of elevation working for them. And we have no idea where they might've set up more ambush points.

My men look at me, waiting for my orders.

"Indigo, I need your help."

"Anything," she responds without hesitation.

"How many screens are still showing live feeds?"

"Three are working. The one marked north, south, and east," she answers. "The main entrance one is gone, so are the ones for the cliffside and the west."

My mind races as I imagine the layout of the house in my head. It's an exercise that father has made me do time and time again since I was a kid.

I never thought that tonight will be the night I'll finally put that exercise to use. I can't send my men blind into places where Indigo can't give us information about. The straight route to the west is blind. If we try to go there, we'll get slaughtered.

We'll have to take the long way around.

"How many men do you see on the north and east camera feeds?"

She's quiet for a moment, her breathing audible over the line as she checks the monitors. "I see... six men by the east side, near the garden entrance. And three on the north side by the service door."

I motion to Kusma, beckoning him closer. When he crawls over to me, keeping low to avoid the steadythump-thump thumpof gunfire overhead, I point toward the western perimeter of the property.

"Take six men and circle to the north entrance. Go wide through the tree line, then close in fast. Three targets. Can you handle it?"

Kusma nods, determination hardening his features. "Consider it done, Pakhan."

I watch as he selects his team with quick, definitive gestures, and then they disappear into the darkness.