Page 103 of City of Salvation

“No running into a burning fucking building this time, Scar, or I’ll tie you to a chair again,” Kenji said, cupping her face. She smiled, but her eyes drifted over to Niko, lookinghim up and down. “That goes for you too, big guy. Hard to fill her up if we’re down a dick.”

Gunner choked out a cough.

Scar winked, but moved straight back into business mode. “Okay, we’ve got rides parked outside. Ryan and Gunner, you’re with Niko. He knows the place like the back of his hand since it’s a Bratva building.” She turned toward me. “You’re with us, Romeo. Let me know right now if you can do this or not, because if you can’t keep your shit together, Iwillhave Kenji tie you to a chair.”

“I’ve got the good rope, too.”

There was no way in hell I was staying behind. Her weapon to wield, that was what I’d promised. I yanked the ballistic vest over my head, grabbing a handgun and tucking it into my waistband.

As much as I wanted to be up close and personal, my specialty was long-distance. There was a reason I was the one up on top of the shelving units waiting to take out Mario.

“Yeah, I’m sure I can do it,” I said. “But I’ve got a few tactical suggestions. You got a sniper rifle somewhere?”

Kenji full-on beamed at me. “I fucking knew you were cool as shit. We should get best friend tattoos after we get your woman back.”

CHAPTER 43

NIKKI

FYI- I ALMOST JUST ENDED IT HERE. OR LIKE WITH A “THANK YOU FOR COMING TO MY TED TALK” SO EVERYONE GO THANK MY EDITOR FOR TELLING ME NO

“I’m going to kill you.”

Yuri’s words burrowed themselves beneath my skin as he shoved a gag between my lips before pushing me into the trunk. Tears streaked my face, and it pissed me off because they were a result of my anger,notof my fear. I’d always known this was a potential outcome. The union my father had arranged for me was always destined to end in a funeral.

I’d hoped that it would be Yuri’s, but knew it was more likely to be mine.

All I could hope for now was that my death would mean that my friends would be safe.

The next tear that fell wasn’t fear, either. It was the heartache of knowing what my death was about to put Dex through again. My heart clenched.

I hoped he knew this wasn’t his fault, that he wouldn’t find solace in the oblivion. That he would live life for the both of us.

More tears ran down my face as I curled up in the trunk of the town car, thankful for the silence and my last few moments alone.

Fuck.What was I going to do?

We’d been in the car long enough for my hip to hurt from lying on it, but I could tell by our speed that the wait was due to traffic as opposed to distance.

Would they come for me? How would they even know?

That thought caught my attention.

How the fuck had I gotten text messages from them this morning saying they were going to meet us at the rendezvous point if Andrei was planning on betra…

“Death before betrayal, zaika. Remember that.”

Was this whole thing part of a plan? Katya’s words came flooding back.

“Peter and the Wolf, Natasha. You remember the story, no? Change the ending, Nikki.”

“Kill the wolf,” I breathed out, a resurgence of hope filling my spirit.

I was going to kick Andrei’s ass, and anyone else who was in on this fucking plan to leave me in the dark, but that would have to wait until after we murdered Yuri.

The car rolled to a stop, light blinding me as one of his men popped the trunk. “Time to get out, bitch. You’re going back home.”

My arms ached where they gripped my biceps, hauling me out of the car and carrying me between them into what looked like a warehouse. Doubt crept in as we neared Yuri. His lips were pulled back in a snarl, eyes gleaming with malice.

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