Page 5 of Scarlet Promise (Yegorov Bratva #4)

I grab the gun from the bread and check that it’s loaded. It’s an easy enough pistol, so I rush back to Alina in the bedroom and put it in her hands.

“You know how to shoot.”

“You know I do,” she says, her voice wobbly, thick.

“This one is easy. Point and pull the trigger. Stay down and shoot anyone other than me or Demyan if they come in. Okay?”

“Yes, Ilya… Alb?—”

“He’s good.”

A tear rolls down her cheek, and I brush it away.

“I will always protect you, malyshka .”

With that, I creep toward the front door. More men than I originally counted lurk outside. Three hide near the cabin behind bushes, and they’re doing a good fucking job of trying to pick off Demyan and his men.

I shoot them all dead. One shot each in fast succession, and the gunfire continues.

A creak behind me makes me whirl. There they are, the fuckers. Melor and Simonov.

I dive behind the couch, shooting.

They shoot back.

Simonov darts out the door. Melor comes at me, and I shoot him in the leg.

He screams and turns, limping out the door. I come after them, shooting.

Demyan breaks cover to chase them. “Stay with Alina!”

Fuck. I go back inside and remember the gun I gave her.

“ Malyshka , it’s just me.” I push the door open and hurry into the bedroom.

She takes one look at me and then bursts into tears, limping into my arms and hugging me tight.

I stroke a hand through her hair, moving her so we’re to the side, out of the way of any intruder who may dare to come in.

Outside, the gun battle ebbs. Then it ends.

It might not be over. Whoever’s left could be reloading, but Alina’s my concern right now.

Slowly, I raise her face to mine and kiss her softly, a gentle, sweet kiss. When I break away, I find my smile.

“You’re safe, Alina.”

“A-and you’re sure Albert’s safe?”

I laugh. “Unless Sasha’s loved him a little too much and squished him. But he’s a smart dog. He’d hide if he thought there was danger.”

“I was so worried, Ilya. I was an idiot. The man floored me when he mentioned Max. Said you knew who his real killer was, and before the shock wore off, he’d shoved and locked me in the car. And you came. I was just scared they’d hurt you, Ilya. I can’t lose you. I just can’t.”

“You won’t.” This time when I kiss her, the passion blooms.

She kisses me with everything she is, and the heat of her envelops me. Our tongues dance, and all I want to do is?—

“If you’re quite finished,” Demyan suddenly says.

I spring back a little, even as she still clings.

Demyan’s cold eyes fall on me, looking through me, then he turns to Alina, taking her hand and hugging her.

“Angel, I came as soon as I could. Come on. We’re going home.”

“But—”

“Now, Alina. I have your bag and phone.” Demyan touches her face. “We’ll get the doctor in. Come on.”

“Demyan,” I say as he starts to lead Alina past me. “What happened with Simonov and Melor?”

“They got away.” He glares at me. “Catch a ride with my men. I’ll deal with you later.”

I know these men, and they wisely stay quiet for the long ride back to my mansion. Anger and frustration stay with me the entire time, and most of it’s at myself. Most? Fucking all of it.

For being na?ve, for letting the situation get so bad.

I make them drop me at the front gate. The mess has been cleared, bodies are gone and I imagine Svetlana made the relevant calls.

When I walk up the drive, Isaak’s waiting outside his red Porsche, holding a miserable-looking Albert.

Albert wiggles down and dances and barks at me, excited and bewildered. No doubt he can smell Alina.

Isaak looks about. “What the fuck happened, man? I thought you were dead or something. Demyan’s wife said something about chasing after Alina?”

“I might as well be dead,” I mutter, going past him inside.

We head into the nearest room with booze, and I pour us both a glass of whatever my hand lands on. I explain what happened, and later, he helps me bleach and hose down the blood. We then go back inside and continue to drink ourselves stupid.

But through our drinking and my raging, I can’t help thinking dark thoughts.

“Demyan will get over it,” Isaak says.

I point my bottle at him, having abandoned my glass. “First, you’re staying. You’re in no condition to drive. I’ll have Svetlana make up a room. Actually, it’s probably ready. Second, you don’t know what you’re talking about. Even if Alina forgives me?—”

“For what?”

“—there’s no way in hell Demyan’s gonna let me anywhere near her now.”

“She’s of age, dude.”

“He’s Demyan, bro.” I take a swig. “And it is my fault.”

“Shit happens, man.”

We drink some more.

Later, after Isaak’s in one of the guestrooms, I stagger to mine. Albert’s already waiting, still miserable. I know how he feels.

“We should call her,” I say, now very drunk.

So I do. But Demyan answers.

“Alina is asleep. She left her phone with me, and I want you to leave my sister the fuck alone.”

“Put her on the phone, Demyan.”

“It’s 1:00 a.m.,” he snaps. “And you should have seen this coming. All of it. What the fuck is wrong with you? She lost Max. You want her to lose someone else? Lose her life? A wife of a pakhan’s going to be in danger. You put a target on her back the moment you married her.”

I don’t know if Demyan hangs up or the call cuts out, but I throw my phone across the room, making Albert whimper.

“Sorry, little buddy,” I say. “I tried.”

Albert snuggles in next to me, a doggy sigh escaping him. I stroke his fur. Just because I’m in the doghouse, that doesn’t mean he should be, even if he is a dog. He misses his Alina, and he was brave when she got kidnapped.

I’m not going anywhere tonight.

I feel like utter shit. More shit. Shittier shit.

Demyan’s right.

I should have seen this coming.

And the fact I didn’t?

It means I don’t deserve Alina.

I never will.