Page 45 of Bratva Prince
“Would you look at what’s behind him,” I muttered, my voice low and holding a satisfaction as I pointed out the cave Ivan was so insistent existed, didn’t.
“Now’s not the time to get cocky,” he sang out quietly. His hand slid down to his pistol—the only gun we had besides a flare gun that contained two flares. He’d had it with him when the plane went down, and luckily, we hadn’t had a reason to use it.
Until now.
“Get up in the tree,” he whispered, aiming his gun at the boar.
“And leave you here?” I asked, a panic to my voice. Sure, I could climb a tree even in the rain, but not Ivan. For a guy who was skilled in survival, he was shit at climbing trees.
He gestured to the tree slightly with his pistol. “Go. I’ll be fine.”
Against a wild boar? Yeah, right. Even Ivan wasn’t that invincible.
“No, it could kill you.”
“Would you rather it kill us both?” he asked, totally serious.
The question took me off-guard. Was he willing to die but ensure my safety? Willing to sacrifice himself but allow me to live? After he explained in such colorful language how much he didn’t trust me and didn’t like me. Hated me, even.
And he was willing to save me?
“I can’t leave you,” I answered, a finality to my tone. I know I’d imagined killing Ivan—in some of the most creative ways, too—but when faced with the possibility of him actually dying… “Iwon’tleave you.”
Too late to decide now. The wild boar took off at a full speed sprint in our direction, heading straight toward Ivan.
“Watch out!” I cried out, backing up until my spine hit the tree behind me.
Ivan aimed his pistol, waiting for the boar to get closer.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
One shot. Two. Three.
Yet, the boar continued running toward him, not slowing down.
Two more shots, but he missed one. Still, that was four shots to the boar and it kept running, ramming its husk into Ivan’s leg, knocking him down.
If I remembered correctly, he had three bullets left, and shot another two into the boar. It hindered, wounded by the weapon, and ran off, circling back around to Ivan.
His spear! It was knocked off his back and was lying on the ground beside him.
I snatched the spear, trying to aim but failing miserably. The boar was too quick. And taking in the new threat, it veered off course, heading straight for me.
Panicked, I jumped onto the tree, climbing as high as I could in the few seconds it took to reach me. When it realized I couldn’t be touched, it turned back to Ivan, ready to charge at him again.
Pulling my hand back, I swung the spear toward the boar, not even aiming. The spear struck the pig, piercing through its center, slowing it down enough for Ivan to deliver the final blow, with his final bullet, between the eyes of the poor, predatory creature.
Holy shit.
Holy shit!
22
Ivan
My arms extended to Willow, and to my surprise, she allowed me to help her down from the tree. I lifted her waist, and she climbed into my arms, her gaze glued to the dead boar in the woods.
When the boar charged, it attacked me. Luckily, its tusks only grazed my legs, but the impact from its head was enough to bruise it instantly, and it had been throbbing since.
