Page 198 of Born in Depravity

“Shh, princess. It’s okay. It’s me.”

I opened my eyes and looked up to clear green eyes.

Nikolay.

I didn’t think. I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him close to me. I didn’t care that there were gunshots booming out the small room and bullets flying everywhere. He pushed me against the wall, covering my body with his.

I looked up and tried to meet his eyes, but Nikolay wasn’t looking at me. He looked off to my right and nodded at someone before bringing his attention back at me.

My heart raced at the expression on his face. Part relief, part anger, part desperation.

He cupped my cheeks with two large hands, opened his mouth, but nothing came out. For once, it was him who was speechless.

Tears blurred my vision, just as he stood up.

“Cover your ears, sweetheart.”

I did as he asked as he aimed his gun at the chain, away from me.

The bullet hitting the chain vibrated through my arm, but it didn’t come loose like I’d expected. Nikolay pulled it out from the wall with both hands, his muscles straining. The chains rattled, and I didn’t think he could pull it out from the wall. I opened my mouth to tell him that, but it suddenly gave way before I could speak.

I was free.

I was still shackled, but at least now I could move around. Nikolay pulled me up and pushed me back to the wall so he was in front of me.

“Hold on, princess. I’ll get you out of here.”

It wasn’t me I was worried about. He was acting as my human shield. I was afraid he might get hit, or Damien, or Mikhail.

The thought of them lying dead on the ground was almost too much to bear. I grabbed the back of his shirt with one hand.

I still held the blade, only now it was tinged red from Henry’s blood.

I stilled, remembering.

I looked around Nikolay and found Henry in the corner, inching closer to the door to make his escape.

I tugged on Nikolay’s shirt frantically and when he turned around, I pointed at Henry.

He cursed under his breath.

Henry was going to escape before Damien could get his justice. Damien, who was busy fighting another man with his bare hands.

I didn’t think.

I took aim and threw the blade. It hit him in the back, the tip sticking there.

Henry let out a loud scream while Nikolay said, “Fuck, that was hot. How did you know you would hit him?”

I shrugged. I was actually aiming for his leg. I didn’t know how I got his back.

I ran to Damien before Nikolay could stop me. He yelled out for me, but this was too important. Damien saw me coming and he cracked the neck of the man he was fighting. I ignored the feeling of nausea building in my throat at the sight.

Damien opened his arms and I threw myself at him.

“What are you doing, pet?” he said, his voice tinged with anger. “Stay with Nikolay.”

I shook my head and grabbed the collar of his shirt, pulling him down, whispering in his ear.

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