Page 33

CHARLOTTE

“ D imi, behind,” I shout. He’s too slow.

With a sharp intake of breath, I heft a throwing star, its weight familiar in my hand, and take aim at the man rushing toward Dimi.

It lands right on the back of his neck. He grabs it and falls to the ground. Finally, Dimi turns and finishes the job by slashing his throat.

“You’re fucking welcome,” I mutter.

Moving forward through the woods, the last cabin comes into view, a lonely structure amongst the towering trees, where Ivan’s remaining men wait.

They’ve been in hiding since his death after his son, Mikhail, slaughtered him last month. Obviously, no one wants to take over his father’s vile operations. Vlad tasked us to wipe the rest out.

This way it’s easier for them to establish full control over Russia.

So here I am.

Ending their lives.

Flower by flower.

As the wind blows, I shiver, coming to a halt by the oak tree.

“You take the back, I’ll take the front,” I tell Dimi.

“How many have you counted?” he asks from behind me.

He’s there to keep an eye on me, a replacement handler while Drago is busy, but like every op I lead. He’s almost as useless as Misha was.

Except this one is less creepy. He fears Vlad, and that keeps him far away from me.

“Well, one armed guard is out front. Inside is anyone’s guess. You got enough ammo?” I turn to him, and he scratches his head.

“Yea. You?”

I nod, retrieving my gun and flicking off the safety.

“See you on the other side, I guess. Wait till my shot to go in,” I tell him and crawl close enough to get a shot on the guard.

Once I line it up, a wave of guilt washes over me as I watch him light a cigarette.

I wonder if he has a family?

Taking a deep breath, I shake my head. He’s a piece of shit like the rest of Ivan’s men. He wouldn’t hesitate to blow my head off, either.

The recoil jolts my shoulder as I pull the trigger, and I watch him crumple to the ground in slow motion.

One.

Two.

Three.

Bang.

Dimi is in.

The sharp crack of gunshots fills the air, and I react instantly, sprinting for the front door, snatching the guard’s AK-47 as I pass.

A heavy, expectant silence greets me as I push open the front door, the only sound the faint creak of the hinges. Two dead bodies in front of my feet.

Dimi grins and rubs his hands together. Of course he will be the one who gains from all of this.

As he opens his mouth to speak, a deafening shot rings out, sending him diving for cover.

Fucking pussy.

I fling myself behind the nearest wall, the sound of my breath echoing in the sudden silence, and peer around the corner, my eyes straining to see.

A tall, dark-haired guy emerges from one of the bedrooms, his presence filling the hallway.

With a ferocious roar, he lunges at Dimi, who, in response, immediately issues a bear hug to tackle him to the ground, the impact jarring. He’s also a fucking beast of a man.

I rush over as Dimi slams him to the floor, his neck pinned beneath Dimi’s weight, and the breath whooshing from his lungs.

His eyes are wide and filled with terror, pleading with me as I point the gun between them, the cold steel pressing against his skin.

“I’ll tell you everything,” he croaks.

I look at Dimi. Maybe we should listen. I wonder what tales he has about the organizations.

Any knowledge to me is power.

“Shoot him,” Dimi shouts, as the guy struggles.

He’s young. Probably only twenty.

I’m a monster, but part of me wants to leave him to battle Dimi.

What if he got the better of him? Another one of my husband’s men would be gone. The world would be a better place.

Then I remember what Vlad could do to my baby girl. I never know who is watching me anymore.

As I pull the trigger, I look away.

I’m a fucking monster, and I hate it.

“Took you long enough,” Dimi spits.

“You’d be dead if I didn’t help you earlier. Remember that before you speak again,” I tell him, tossing the AK next to the body.

“We’re done,” I huff, heading to the front door.

I want to get home and see Isabella and wash away my sins.

I wish survival wasn’t so damn hard. As we jog to the truck, I jump in the driver’s seat and start it up.

“If you’re nice to me, I won’t tell Vlad you almost got me killed.”

Visions of slicing Dimi’s throat flash through my brain.

I’m being sent away from my daughter on a fucking death mission.

Dimi is one of Vlad’s top new recruits.

“I’m sorry. Okay?” It hurts me to say it. But I did nearly leave him to die.

He sighs as I pull away.

“It’s fine. Let’s call it quits, seeing as you saved my life.”

I nod, heading back to my prison.

“Appreciate it.”

I had no idea I’d be going out on jobs so close to the Decadence Games. I want to spend every waking moment with Isabella. I have no idea how long I’ll be gone for.

And yet, here I am. In the fucking woods, freezing my ass off. I need to be in top shape to win these games, not exhausted and beaten up.

It’s almost like Vlad wants me to fail.