Page 41 of Ruinous Need

VIKTOR

MY FATHER FORCED me to go to this church every Sunday throughout my childhood.

Religion was crucial to being Pakhan, he said. Not that he truly believed in anything — the church attendance was important purely because he wanted to keep up appearances. We presented the image of the happy family every Sunday, maintaining that facade for the benefit of the outside world.

The place was designed to intimidate. The spires are tall and spiky with massive stained glass windows in deep crimson and royal blue. The stone is dark and thick, like it’s survived for centuries. I can smell the incense from here.

The bells are ringing, signaling that there’s a wedding about to take place. A long procession of people is headed inside. That means we’re here just in time.

I’ve had no time to arrange more backup, no time to see whether Markov is still around or even alive.

I’m going into this alone. But I’m banking on the fact that we had recruited some support for overthrowing Semyon. If half of the wedding guests secretly supported me then, maybe they’ll make themselves known.

Logically, I know this is an uphill battle. I’m attempting the impossible here: stealing the Pakhan’s fiancée in front of a church packed full of the New York Bratva. Their wedding outfits may be easy on the eyes, but every man in that church will be armed to the teeth, and half the women as well.

My only edge is that everyone believes I’m dead.

I’m entering a den of vipers and trying to steal their prey. But it’s the only way.

Once the last stragglers have made their way into the church, I throw open the door of the car, ignoring the ache in my muscles as I stand up.After weeks of hard labor, sitting still for a few hours has left me sore.

Leon, the guard who agreed to help me get here, is close behind. I still don’t know whether to trust the guy, but at the moment, he’s the only person on my side. Or at least pretending to be.

The second we emerge, a bullet pings off the car behind me. Like they’ve been waiting for us.

We don’t have the element of surprise.

I use the door as a shield and yell at Leon. “Those your friends?”

“I didn’t sell you out. You were next to me in the plane the whole time.”

That’s true. I relax with a deep breath and try to follow the loose plan I’ve arranged in my head.

If I make it to the steps of the church, I’ll be completely exposed. I turn around and try to see who has shot at us, but there’s nothing to see. Must be a sniper.

I think the only way I make it to those steps is by blind luck. I grab Leon by the elbow. “Cover my back,” I tell him.

Then I sprint towards the steps. I pound the pavement in a mad rush with one goal in mind.

However much my muscles protest at the sudden movement, I keep running.

“Duck,” Leon yells in Russian, and I don’t have time to second guess him.

I dive at the steps of the church, landing hard, half a second before a bullet thuds into the door of the church. Pain explodes in my right knee.

There’s a murmur from inside the church that’s audible even out here.

I stand up and dust myself off, ignoring the weakness where my knee connected with the stone. The pain throbs up my leg, but I will myself not to limp.

Leon nods at me. “I’ve got it out here.”

The crack of the gunshot was my entrance cue.

I push open the double doors and the room echoes with the sound. But I can’t pause. I keep going, taking advantage of the split second of surprise I have right now.

The place is packed, and every face in the room is turned towards me. Except the one I want to see.

There is mass confusion in the church as I run down the aisle, my gun in front of me.

Chaos runs free.

Shouts of greeting. Curses on my name. Gunshots. After the uproar, the congregation freezes as though they’re not sure what to do.

Even the priest on the stage looks confused. I’m halfway to the altar by the time Semyon’s guards spring into action.To my surprise, they’re not firing at me. No, instead, they’re bundling Lisette away into the back of the church.

I catch a glimpse of her blonde hair shining on the altar even in the dim light of the church. But she doesn’t see me.

Vadim holds Lisette’s head down so she can’t see what’s happening as he drags her off the altar and out a side door.

I run faster, willing my aching legs to carry me, but she’s already gone into the depths of the church. Where are they taking her?

A gunshot sounds, this one from inside the church, and I redirect my focus. I can’t get carried away just because I’ve seen a glimpse of her.

Stay alive first. Find Lisette second.

There’s mass confusion in the crowd now as people try to head for the doors. People are screaming. Men draw guns. Others duck underneath the pews that line the church as though the mahogany will protect them from a bullet.

The stained glass window at the front cracks and shatters into the building as a team of guards from outside enter, decked out head-to-toe in protective gear. So Semyon had prepared for this eventuality, after all.

I clock one guard taking aim at me from the stage, but as I lay eyes on him, he goes down. Followed by the man next to him.

Thank fucking God.

Someone’s on my side. Someone with good aim. I don’t know where the bullets are coming from, but I think whoever is shooting wants to clear a path to Semyon.

My cousin is turning his head, speaking into the radio rapidly. He’s not looking at me, and he hasn’t noticed his guard go down beside him.

Unearned confidence until his last breath.

I drop the gun as he turns towards me, his mouth falling open. I’m sure there’s a twisted insult on his tongue, but I don’t want to hear it.

“This is for Lisette.”

I pull the knife from my belt and slit Semyon’s throat as though he’s an animal to be sacrificed, the hot blood gushing over my hand.

As my cousin collapses against me, a hand closes over my shoulder.

“Knew you’d make it. I’ll clean up in here. Go find her.”

I turn to Markov, the constricting tightness in my chest finally loosening.

“First, I’ve got a special request.”