Page 145 of Sinful Hearts
Just like all the other hotheads, Aleksy will die young.
Footsteps come from the foyer, and my back straightens. On alert, I step away from the door. I press my body against the wall, giving myself a clear view of the doorway. Lev strolls inside, whistling, and he halts. He scans the room in a single sweep.
The second his eyes hit Rurick’s dead body, his body tenses.
His jaw tics as anger flashes in his eyes.
“What the fuck did you do?” Lev asks Aleksy.
He crouches beside Rurick’s body to check his pulse. Shaking his head, he stares at Aleksy in repulsion and stands.
“I killed the king,” Aleksy says, booming with pride. “Which makes me the king of all kings. And you, Lev, you just got promoted.”
Lev bares his teeth. “That was a mistake, Aleksy.”
Aleksy is so caught up in his ego trip that he isn’t paying attention to the real problem.
He throws his head back in laughter and says, “I’m the fucking king!”
Lev withdraws his gun and doesn’t hesitate to point it at Aleksy.
Aleksy stops, and recognition dawns on his face moments before Lev pulls the trigger.
Aleksy drops to the ground.
Dasha desperately screams even louder as blood gushes from her brother.
Unlike him, I don’t give Lev the chance to kill me.
I raise my gun and put a bullet through the back of Lev’s skull.
He collapses on top of Rurick’s body, like a blanket.
Dasha suddenly goes quiet as she stands and walks backward, falling into the corner.
I walk over to her.
Her eyes are wide in shock and fear.
I lower my gun and motion for her to stand. “Come on. Let’s go.”
47
“Liliya! Liliya!”
At first, I think I’m dreaming of hearing Dasha’s voice.
Until it grows louder, almost a scream right in my face.
I blink, waking up from my nap. I dozed off while reading.
My book falls onto the ground, and I glance around the library.
When I hear my name again, I jump to my feet and sprint out of the room.
Dasha and Emilio stand in the foyer. My heart kicks up a beat when I notice Dasha covered in blood. Her breathing is ragged, and her body is trembling as she keeps yelling my name.
She doesn’t even notice that I’m right here.
