Page 89 of One of Them

Not willing to let her out of reach, I sat on the white couch in the sitting room. Gently readjusting her position to make her more comfortable, I covered her with blankets. She slept soundly, her breath steady.

Since I hadn’t witnessed everything that transpired, I was worried shitless.

Was she hurt? Did something happen to her?

It wasn’t supposed to go like this. As many times before, we had the same idea: strike today. Except this time, I had a way in through Orest, a guy I met in the military. We served together at the front and stayed in touch.

When he reached out a couple of weeks ago, I couldn’t believe Malek was his cousin. Their connection played to my advantage.

Whatever happened between them had to be worth blowing his cousin’s brains out.

Malek was dead.

My sister handed me a wet cloth to wipe Taya’s face. She hadn’t stirred since we arrived, and I knew she was at the end of her rope, if not past it.

I scanned my siblings before searching the room for the man, the cause of her troubles.

“Where is Ilya?”

Alisa’s eyes gave the answer away, but I needed to hear the confirmation out loud. “Alisa? Where is he?”

“He took off,” my sister admitted, chewing on her thumb.

“What do you mean, took off?”

Andrei answered for her. “He’s gone.”

“Motherfucker,” I hissed, my voice barely contained. Instantly, I scolded myself for being too loud.

“We have bigger things to worry about.” Luka nodded toward the woman in my arms. “What happened?”

I told them what I knew. None of them were aware of my plan. I didn’t want them to worry or to get involved, for that matter.

The doorbell rang, interrupting our conversation. I cursed whoever dared make a sound loud enough to wake her.

Alisa stood up to answer, with Luka following close behind as a precaution.

Furious, Lorenzo stormed inside, dragging a young man behind him. The Italian hauled the seriously injured boy by the collar. Blood, old and new, stained the front of his white t-shirt, dark red soaking into the fabric. I eyed the stranger, piecing together the connection, the reason behind Lorenzo’s unannounced visit. But it came as no surprise, the man had an annoying tendency to pop up wherever Taya was.

Lost in my thoughts, I didn’t anticipate his approach until he was right next to me.

“Cazzo,” Lorenzo swore, his voice tight with something raw. “Is she…?”

“No,” I answered sharply, offended by the thought.

I leveled him with a glare, pulling Taya even closer to my chest, her fragile form warm against me. A growl might’ve escaped me, a warning to stay the hell away.

I knew they loved each other, but it wasn’t registering. My brain had overridden all logic, operating purely on protective instinct. All that mattered was keeping her safe. In her fragile state, she trusted me, of all people. I would sooner unalive myself than disappoint her.

“Who’s that?” Luka asked from behind, addressing the issue at hand.

“Wonderful question.”

Lorenzo dragged the boy to the center of the room, forcing him to his knees.

“Thisstronzoshowed up at the docks, asking for me. He claims he was advised to do it.”

The room’s attention shifted to the stranger as he stood, awkwardly straightening. “I’m Lev. Me and…” He glanced at the woman in my arms, but his words trailed off.

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