Page 7 of The Games of Madmen

The fight fades from her body and she slackens. Rodion stands, keeping her secure in his grip.

“There,” he barks out, pointing to the hidden exit with a jerk of his chin.

I move a chair out of the way and begin tearing at the paneled wall until the door we paid a hefty price to make sure was added here appears.

“Let’s go.” I gesture for them to slip through first and then follow after, closing the exit behind me and latching it shut.

“L-Let me g-go,” Alyona slurs, attempting to lift her head and failing. “Let m-me g-go or I’ll c-cut your b-balls off.”

Both my brother and I chuckle at that.

Always a feisty girl.

“Is she sniffing you, brother?” I ask when Alyona buries her face in his armpit and inhales numerous times.

“Hmmm.” He grunts. “Indeed, she is.”

Maneuvering our way through the tunnels toward the underground basement parking garage, excitement sparks in my chest. This was easier than I thought it would be.

Because only a madman would attempt it.

“There.” Rodion jerks his chin to the blue sports car waiting for us.

Once I get situated inside, I hold my arms out for her to be transferred to me. Our prize is finally in my arms. She doesn’t fight it when I smooth her hair from her face.

“Y-You stole m-me,” she murmurs.

I grin, though she still can’t see me. “Someone had to save you, princess.”

“T-That’s queen t-to you, asshole.”

The engine roars to life and vibrates through me. Rodion peels out of the parking garage. We move fast and take back routes wherever we can.

“Y-You broke the r-rules,” she grumbles, hazy with the effects of the drug, her eyes barely open.

I rip off the gloves I’m wearing to feel her skin against my palm. So soft and sweet. We did it. We fucking got our girl.

“Rules were meant to be broken,” Rodion tells her, reaching his hand over to also touch her. To make sure she’s real.

She’s okay. She made it out.

Tugging off my mask, I lean over and slip Rodion’s off too, so we can breathe. Alyona’s mouth pops open, gaping like a fish back and forth at us.

Who the hell was she expecting?

“Y-You can’t just s-steal me,” she snips, hoping and failing to sound haughty.

I smile down at her. “We just did.”

“B-But…”

“Shhh,” Rodion croons, “you’re our bounty.”

“You can’t k-keep me,” she argues.

I clasp her cheek. “Oh, but we can.”

Rodion adds, “Oh, and we will.”