Page 116 of Wicked Vows (Suvorov Bratva 2)

No one checks on me.

I glance at my phone for the millionth time. The battery is at 10 percent.

What’s going to happen when it dies? How will Willow contact me?

I shudder as I clutch my phone harder.

She should be in New Jersey by now.

My core throbs when I stand. Ever since Pavel fucked my brains out at Blaczak’s, my insides have felt like they’ve been rearranged. I try not to think about how that might hurt the baby. It’s still a tiny clump of cells. Sex won’t hurt it.

I squeeze my eyes shut.

Don’t I deserve to suffer? After all, Janine died because of me.

Blaczak’s was our best option. I’m just grateful that Janine had the fortitude to wait untilafterZoya and Willow left to call the police.

She should have given me a few more minutes. She’d be fine now if she had. Her brains wouldn’t be all over the floor. Her life wouldn’t be snuffed out.

Selfishly, the shameful words swim to the forefront of my mind.And I wouldn’t feel so goddamn guilty.

My legs shake as I stand. I take a few steps toward the door. When I reach for the knob, I hear more noise from the foyer, boots clomping, and heavy objects dragging over the floorboards. Curious, I twist the knob and step into the hallway, shuffling quietly to the staircase.

At the top of the stairs, I have a full view of the foyer below. Kostya drops something on the floor. He says something in Russian to Gennadiy while gesturing to what he dropped.

And then what he dropped groans.

My eyes widen when Sharp’s bloody face comes into view.

I cover my mouth as I descend. I need a closer look. They can’t be doing what I think they’re doing.

I mean, hell, whatdoI think they’re doing?

When I reach the bottom, Gennadiy sticks out an arm and grabs my shoulders. “No, Liya Frankovna. This is not for you.”

I peek under his thick arm and gaze at the helpless man on the ground.

It’s Sharp.

My heart leaps into my throat. “Where’s Viktoria?” I murmur while pushing his arm. It’s a useless motion. I know that. He knows that. But he allows it. “Where is she?”

Sharp groans when Kostya grabs his legs. Kostya drags the beaten man through the foyer, leaving a streak of blood behind.

I change tactics. “Where’s Pavel?”

Pavel steps behind Gennadiy and clears his throat. Mechanically, Gennadiy removes his arm and steps aside.

I stare at my husband. “Where is Viktoria, Pavel?” I ask, demanding an answer that I dread.

“Go upstairs,Lisichka.”

“No,” I snap. “I want to be here for whatever you’re planning on doing with Sharp.”

“It doesn’t concern you.”

My expression sours. “Itmorethan concerns me and you know it.”

“You don’t need to be concerned about Sharp because he’s not going to make it through the night. Understand,Lisichka?”

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