Page 199 of Born in Depravity

“Henry’s the man.”

He frowned. “What man?”

I grabbed his forearm and pointed at his tattoo. Understanding reached his eyes before he hauled me up and brought me back to Nikolay.

“Watch her,” Damien said softly. I watched him approach Henry before Nikolay turned me away.

Another one of Father’s soldiers came up to us. Father was nowhere to be found. He had escaped along with Luis. I didn’t see Gabriel either, so I thought he might have given chase.

Nikolay pushed me away while he fought off the soldier. I watched the fight with wide eyes.

Nikolay was … good.

He was really good with his hands, and the other man fell to the ground in no time. Nikolay pulled out a knife from his boot and as he moved over the man, something to my left caught my eye.

Another man had his gun out and he was pointing right at Nikolay.

I jumped on instinct.

I didn’t—

Fuck. I didn’t want him to die. I got directly behind Nikolay as the man pulled the trigger.

I didn’t even hear the gun go off, but it must have, because a burning sensation took over, starting from my middle and expanding.

My eyes met Mikhail’s horrified blue eyes from across the room.

He yelled something—I didn’t know what.

The room, noisy just moments before, was encased in complete and utter silence.

Nikolay turned toward me, and I didn’t know why he looked like he was in pain.

I reached out my hand for him and missed by several inches, catching air.

I stumbled on my feet, feeling so dizzy.

So dizzy.

I just wanted to sleep.

Nikolay caught me before I fell.

He said something.

I smiled reassuringly at him.

He shouldn’t worry so much about me. He should watch his back.

I closed my eyes and he shook my shoulder hard. My eyes sprang open.

His face blurred.

Why was he blurry?

I took a deep breath and that was when the excruciating pain took hold.

I let out a loud sob, wishing it would stop. Make it stop …

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