Page 67 of No Promises, No Lies

“So, this is the little Russian angel everybody’s talking about?” He leans in, his breath a mixture of cigarettes and vodka. “The one whose hand will pay off all of daddy’s debts?” He looks me up and down and bile burns the back of my throat when his hand grips my hip, tugging it closer.

“Don’t touch me,” I bite out, still able to find some defiance in my terror.

He just smiles, and I recoil from his cold eyes. “Daddy should’ve paid his bills… Don’t think you’ll be worth very much once I’m done with you. You know what they say about putting all your eggs in one basket…”

I let out a strangled scream as he grabs hold of my hair again, hurling me onto the bed. Stalking after me and unbuckling his belt, his lips curl up, showing off a yellow-toothed grin. But my eyes go to the dark shadow closing in fast behind him.

Ivan’s smile fades a second before his head twists violently, a little too far the right. A shiver runs through my body and I push myself as far back as I can go on the bed. Watching as Ivan falls to his knees, the light gone from his eyes, dead before his face hits the ground.

Shaking uncontrollably, I stare up at the dark figure standing feet from the side of the bed. Two familiar green eyes stare back at me. My heart is pounding with a mixture of relief and disbelief.

Aidan.

He came.

40

NO LIES

AIDAN

“Did he hurt you?” I have to ask twice to get a response. Relief courses through me when Rory slowly shakes her head no. Her blue eyes—wide and full of terrors—are fixed on mine. I look down at Ivan’s body with an overwhelming desire to kill him again.

She’s lucky I was so close. After dropping her off, I pulled off down the next street, waiting for her text before leaving the area.

Gunshots ring out from the floor below and she jumps.

“Stay behind me,” I order. I hold out my hand to help her off the bed. Trying to keep my eyes on both her and the hall.

She hesitates for a moment, staring at my hand and back into my eyes before taking it.

I pull her up, keeping her behind me while not letting go of her soft hand. Moving cautiously back toward the hallway.

The shouts and gunfire exchange continue from the first floor as Koen takes on the rest of Volkov’s men. I’d heard their bikes arrive right before I found Rory in the guest room.

“Follow me and stay close.”

Her hand tightens around mine as I take us down the hallway, stepping around the body of the other Russian I took out before Ivan. The gunfire from downstairs has quieted.

When we reach the top landing, I peer over the edge.

“Koen?” I shout into the dark silence.

The familiar deep cadence of my brother’s voice yells up, “It’s clear. Come on down.”

I relax, turning back to face Rory. A mix of shock and confusion mar her beautiful face.

“Are you okay?” I ask, unprepared for how close to me I find her.

She nods her head quickly, her eyes darting around as she surveys the empty foyer from the upper landing.

I grip her chin, and she freezes while I bring her gaze to mine. “No lies,” I remind her.

Her eyes well up, but she blinks away the tears before shaking her head slowly back and forth.

With my free arm, I wrap it around the back of her and pull her into my chest, keeping her there until her breathing finally levels out.

“Aidan?” Koen calls up and I peer over the railing, spotting him at the bottom of the stairs watching us.

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