Page 141 of Scarlet Vows

A gun goes off, and everything turns black.

When I come to,I’m inside on a sofa, and voices are arguing.

I recognize them.

All of a sudden, a figure looms as a kid starts to cry.

Albert barks.

“Ilya.”

“Demyan.” My head pounds, and my mouth is dry.

And everything rushes back.

The terror.

The panic.

“Where’s Melor?”

Where the fuck is Alina?

Fuck. Now the events sort themselves out sickeningly.

“Your maid shot at your second after he hit you with the tire iron,” Demyan says coldly. “She called the number on your phone that you started calling. Then she called me. As did Pavel.”

“How long have I been out?”

“Not a huge amount of time. We were coming back from the airport. I cut my trip short. Things didn’t seem right here. And they’re not.” Demyan leans in close, his face an inch from mine. “What the fuck is going on? Where the fuck is my little sister, Ilya?”

I stare at him as he straightens, and with great effort, I sit up.

“Demyan…I’m so sorry.” My voice cracks. “She’s been kidnapped.”

TO BE CONTINUED