Page 105 of Twisted Pact

I tug on the handle, over and over as hard as I can, but nothing happens.

“The child locks are on, ma’am,” the driver informs me. “I have orders to keep you in this vehicle.”

“Then you better be prepared to shoot me, because I’m getting out if I have to break a fucking window.”

Before anyone can stop me, I wrench open the opposite door, the one next to Dr. Orlov, crawl over him, and stumble out onto the pavement.

My legs are jelly, but I force them to carry me toward the warehouse. Each step sends my pulse roaring in my ears, and the world narrows to a single, desperate thought—get to him.

Behind me, Dr. Orlov shouts something I don’t bother making out. The guards scramble to follow.

“Be careful!” one yells. “She’s pregnant, we can’t risk?—”

“Alexei will have our balls if we hurt her!” one yells.

“We can’t just let her run into gunfire!” Orlov shouts back.

They reach after me, but none of them tackle me. They’re too terrified of hurting the baby or facing Alexei’s wrath if they do.

Dr. Orlov isn’t far behind. He’s faster than I expect for a man of his age, and his medical bag swings from one hand as he shouts for the guards to cover us.

I make it halfway to the building before Boris appears in the doorway. He’s supporting Alexei, who has blood streaming down his left arm.

“Stop,” Boris orders when he sees me. “Get back in the vehicle.”

But I won’t stop until I reach them.

Alexei looks up and curses when he spots me. “What the fuck are you doing out here?”

“You’re bleeding.”

“It’s nothing. Graze from a ricochet.”

I grab his other arm to help support his weight. Blood seeps through his tactical gear, but not enough to slow him down. “You need medical attention.”

“I need you back in the vehicle where it’s safe.”

Dr. Orlov catches up and crouches beside him. “Superficial. Bullet grazed the outer muscle. No deep tissue damage. You’re lucky.”

“How lucky am I that my girlfriend refuses to follow orders?”

The good doctor shakes his head. “I’d say you’re very lucky to have a woman who cares enough about you to risk her safety.”

More men emerge from the warehouse. Some carry wounded comrades. Others drag bodies that won’t be walking anywhere ever again. The reality of what just happened settles over me with sickening clarity.

People died today. Good men who trusted Alexei to lead them. All because I needed my father rescued.

“Don’t,” Alexei says, reading my face. “Don’t take on guilt that isn’t yours.”

“How many?”

“Three dead. Five wounded. Could have been much worse.”

Three families just lost someone they love. Three men who won’t go home tonight because I convinced Alexei to risk everything.

“I need to sit down,” I mumble.

My knees buckle. Alexei catches me with his good arm while Dr. Orlov lunges forward to support my other side.