Page 87 of The Russian Retribution

I barely remember Rocky dragging me out from underneath the rubble, never mind the commotion with the gunman. Everything passed me by in a daze. Erik tried to fight, I think, but it was useless. The gunman wasn’t afraid to shoot Rocky again, and the sound of the gunshot rings in my ears even now as Erik and I cuddle together in the trunk of a car being driven to God knows where.

“Anastasia?” Erik whispers softly in my ear.

“Yes?”

“Oh, thank God.” It’s impossible to make out his features in the dark, but I feel his body aligned with mine and his arms tight around me. “I hadn’t felt you move in so long, I was scared.”

“Sorry, I’m just…” I have no words. It doesn’t even feel like I’m really here. Maybe I died under the rubble and this is some kind of passive hell that I’ve woken up in.

“It’s normal to be in shock,” Erik murmurs. “But I promise, I’m going to get us out of this.”

He speaks with confidence I don’t share. Everything is falling apart in ways I never even imagined. Viktor was supposed to get arrested at the gala and I was supposed to start my new future as a Godmother without snakes in my garden.

Now all people will remember me for is the Godmother who got countless people slaughtered at her gala. The noise of the explosions still rings in my ears, and if I breathe too deeply, I can still feel the wooden beam that landed on my chest and crushed me. My entire body throbs like a bruise in time to my heartbeat, and even Erik’s comforting touch isn’t enough to keep the looming sense of dread at bay.

“I don’t think we'll make it out of this one,” I whisper. “Not this time.”

“Don’t say that.” Erik’s grip around me tightens as the car rumbles and lurches. “We will.”

“To what life?” Warmth surges behind my tired eyes. “Anyone who was on my side was in that hall, and now they’re all most likely dead. All those cops are dead too, and Rocky… God knows if he’s even still alive. You know the Italians will hunt me to the ends of this earth for hurting him.”

“I will protect you,” Erik insists.

“You can’t protect me from everything. Not this time.” A sob forces a wobble into my voice, and I screw up my eyes, tuckingmy face into Erik’s neck as if I’m even deserving of such comfort. He curls around me like a shell, as if his very body can protect me from whatever’s going to happen to us. Despite his lies, despite how he came into my life… I’m glad he’s here.

“Why were the cops there?” Erik asks, caressing the back of my head. “Tell me.”

“I…” There’s no point keeping it a secret now. “Cormac put me in touch with Rocky, and I took a risk. I needed help, and Rocky… well, you know how the Italians have the cops in their pocket? I still had the letter opener I used to kill my father. He was going to plant it in evidence and make sure the prints pointed at Viktor. I thought if he were publicly arrested, his reputation would be ruined even if he got out of it.”

Erik chuckles softly. “Wow. I’m impressed.”

“Hardly matters now, though. Viktor clearly had his own plans for the gala. Or the Cartel. I don’t even know who did this.”

Erik murmurs softly in the back of his throat. “I know you won’t believe me, but I am going to get us out of this. I promise. I’m going to protect you, even if it’s with my last breath. And then I’m going to make sure everyone knows that Viktor holds the blame. Especially if the Italiansneedsomeone to blame.”

“Don’t say that.” I curl one hand into Erik’s shirt and grip tightly, soaking up the warmth from his body.

“Say what?”

“Until your last breath. Please. I saw so many people die tonight and I can’t… I can’t even think of anything happening to you.”

“I thought you hated me,” he murmurs, his lips lightly skimming across my forehead.

“Hurt, yes. Hate? Never. And if this is the last moment we get to spend together, then I need you to know that I like you the most out of everyone.”

“Oh, wow.” He huffs out a soft laugh. “I like you the most, too.”

The car rumbles and creaks, then suddenly falls silent. All motion comes to a dead stop and fear curls its cold fingers around my heart.

This is it.

This is the end.

Even together, we don’t stand a chance against whoever has kidnapped us. Reaching up through the dark, cramped space, my fingertips skim Erik’s jaw. His head tilts down into my touch, and I tilt my head up to meet him. Our lips skim over one another, seeking each other out and after the first touch, we lock together in a deep, needy kiss.

I pour everything I have into the kiss. All my adoration and love that I can’t voice, everything I wish I could say but we don’t have the time, every good feeling I’ve ever felt about him and an apology for being the reason he will die.

Erik’s kiss is just as intense, and it lasts until the trunk is opened and Erik is ripped away from my arms.

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