Page 23 of Wicked Refusal

Then I give chase.

Desya is almost at the bottom of the stairs. I fire two warning shots, but he doesn’t stop. Instead, he fires a shot right back and ducks for cover in the foyer, crouching behind a marble column. “Sorry, Yuli boy. Can’t afford to let you put me back in the dirt yet. I have to destroy your life first, you understand.”

“I understand I won’t miss next time.”

“You say that, but that’s twice you’ve let me go already. When will you ever learn to aim for the head?”

Desya.My oldest friend. My deepest betrayal. I don’t have the luxury of lingering on the tornado of conflicting emotions inside me right now, but one stands out above all of them: regret.

I should have made certain he was dead.

I should have put a bullet in his brain twenty years ago.

I shouldn’t have given him that 1% chance.

More bullets come hurtling my way. I jump over the railing and duck behind the staircase, paying his fire back with more fire. The foyer of my late family’s home fills with holes and the stench of gunpowder.

Just like back then.

That thought turns my focus razor sharp. The next time I shoot, I don’t miss.

Desya howls. He clutches his shoulder, roaring with pain. “You bastard,” he spits. “You really are heartless.”

“Takes one to know one.”

I step out of my hiding place and take aim. Desya’s gun is out of bullets—I counted them. Me? I’ve only got one left.

But one’s more than enough.

“Wait,” Desya gasps. “You’re serious? You’re just going to kill me?”

“I’d have thought the gun made it obvious.”

“No, no, no. That’s so boring! You’re not even going to hold me captive? Torture me? Ask me about Prizrak?”

I freeze. “What the hell do you know about Prizrak?”

“What doIknow?” He flashes me a bloody grin. “Didn’t you hear? I’m with them now.”

Kill him,my instincts scream.Kill him now.

Kill him, and be done with him.

But then,the vengeful part of me whispers,how will you ever get to the others?

Before I can make up my mind, a scream comes from the top of the stairs. “Yulian! Are you okay?!”

Mia’s voice.

Desya takes that window of opportunity. In the split second of my distraction, he rushes towards the exit.

I fire my last bullet?—

“Blyat’!”

—and miss.

Mia comes down with Nikita in tow. She’s swaying slightly, an ugly bump on her head, but otherwise okay.