Page 34 of Dark Possession
I park down the street and send a quick message.Got him. Here’s the location.
Then I wait. I give it a few minutes, watching the window where the light flickers on. I don’t need to see inside to know what’s happening. My grip tightens on my gun, but I don’t draw it. Not yet. Timing is everything.
I step out of the car, moving quickly but quietly. I walk the length of the motel before stopping at their door. I knock hard.
“Room service.”
A beat of silence. Then a gruff, annoyed voice from the other side. “Go away.”
Not happening.
I take a step back, plant my foot, and kick. The cheap wood splinters under the force, swinging inward. I step inside, gun raised, prepared for whatever comes next. But I’m not prepared for what I see.
Sergei stands there, gun pressed to Alina’s temple. Her dress is torn, one breast bared. In the scant second it takes for my gaze to take it in and my rage to rise, Sergei’s hand rises to take her flesh in a punishing squeeze.
Her eyes lock on mine. Wide and afraid, but steady. She’s holding it together. Barely. But I see it—the momentary flicker of relief in her expression. She knows I’m here. She knows I won’t let this end with her blood on the floor.
I tamp the rage down. Time enough for that later.
“You were right,” I tell her now. “I should have bought you more of a dress.”
She shrugs minutely.
The bastard smirks, pressing the barrel harder against her skull. “You think I’m stupid?” His voice is slick with venom, his confidence an ugly stain in the room. “You think I don’t see how you look at her? She would never have come to me willingly.”
Fuck. He knew all along.
I bare my teeth anyway. “It crossed my mind that you might figure it out.” I take a careful step forward, keeping my gun steady. “So—”
Before I can finish, footsteps echo behind me. Heavy. Measured. I don’t need to turn around to know who it is. I shift to the side, giving him a clear path into the room.
Ivan.
He steps in like he owns the place, his presence sucking all the air from the room. He doesn’t look at me. His focus is entirely on the man now standing frozen in place.
“Hello, Sergei.” Ivan’s voice is almost friendly. Almost. But there’s an edge beneath it, a promise of violence that makes even me tense. “You’re a hard man to get alone. It always takes a beautiful woman, doesn’t it?”
Sergei pales, his cocky smirk cracking like cheap glass. His hands tremble, just slightly, but it’s enough. Enough for me to know he’s already lost.
“Ivan—”
Ivan doesn’t give him the chance to finish.
“I’ll take it from here.” The finality in his voice leaves no room for argument.
The moment Sergei shoves Alina away, I catch her, pulling her to me as Ivan steps closer to his prey. I don’t stick around. I don’t need to. I know exactly how this ends, and when Ivan’s done, there won’t be enough of Sergei left to identify.
I get Alina into the car. She’s shaking, but she isn’t crying. Not yet. I reach out and cup her face, my thumb brushing against her cheek. She leans into my touch, and that’s all it takes. I pull her in, pressing my lips to hers, needing to remind her—remind myself—that she’s safe now. That it’s over.
“It’s over,” I whisper against her mouth, but the words feel heavier than I want them to.
She nods, but the fear is still there, lingering in her eyes like a shadow that won’t leave. Seeing a gun to her head tonight? That nearly broke me.
I can’t lose her.
Not now. Not ever.
And if anyone tries again?
