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Luna’s life is on the line. This is her chance to escape. But she drops to her knees next to my little sister. She’s so focused on Mariya that she doesn’t notice the men creeping around the far side of the house. When Luna finally stands up, it’s too late.
One man grabs her around the waist while another puts a hood over her face. They bind her wrists and throw her in a van.
I have only one thought searing its way through the sky of my brain like a comet: they will die for this. Every single person who laid a hand on her is dead. Every single person responsible for this attack is dead.
Akim wanted me to suffer, but he has no idea the hell I’m willing to walk through to get Luna back.
I can’t lose her. I won’t.
Whatever it takes, I’m bringing her home.
73
YAKOV
The waiting room is empty.
It’s not the exact same room I sat in five years ago, but it might as well be. I’m surrounded by the same plastic chairs. Familiar machines beep somewhere down the hall, a consistent heartbeat.
I remember thinking how unfair it all was, knowing my father was dead and hearing someone else’s heartbeat carry on. The constant beeping, like a repetitive press on an open wound.
They rushed him back to the operating room like there was a chance, but I knew it was too late before the swinging doors even closed behind his gurney. Everything after that was a cruel charade.
Nikandr drove Mariya back to the mansion. He'd only had his license for a month. It wasn’t safe for any of them to be out in public. Not if the Gustev Bratva was willing to murder my father in the parking lot after a high school soccer game. He told our mother what happened. She called and called and called until I finally turned my phone off.
Now, I stare down at my phone, practically begging it to ring. But I know it won’t. Mariya is in surgery. Nik is with her. Our mother doesn't know what's happening. Luna is…
My knuckles turn white around my phone. The edges are still biting into my palm when the glass door to the waiting room opens.
“Mariya is out of surgery,” Nik says. He’s panting like he jogged here. “She’s going to be okay.”
I can only blink and shake my head slowly. “This can’t be happening again.”
Nik lets the door close behind him. “I said she’s going to be fine. Mariya is okay. Her shoulder is fucked for a while. She’s in a sling. But she’s okay.”
“I heard you. I just mean—” I shake my head. “When Otets died, I couldn’t even think about it. The only thing I could focus on was that I was in charge. It overshadowed everything else.”
It’s all my responsibility. All of it.
Nikandr, Mother, Mariya, the Bratva. People’s lives and safety were suddenly in my hands.
“That makes sense,” Nik says softly. “You had a lot going on.”
“When the doctor walked in here and told me he was dead, I wasn’t even sad. I was… I was fucking furious at him for dying and dumping all of this shit in my lap.” I clench my teeth. “Now, Mariya is here because of me, and all I can think about is finding Akim and…”
“Luna,” Nik finishes. “It’s okay if you’re preoccupied.”
“She’s our sister, Nik.”
“And I took care of her,” he retorts. “That’s what I’m here for. I’m here to be your second. To handle shit when you’re busy. Right now, you’re busy getting your woman back.”
My woman. I don’t even bother correcting him this time. Akim wouldn’t have gone after Luna unless she meant something to me. The reason she’s in danger right now is because I care about her.
The least I can do is finally admit it to myself.
“You shouldn’t even be here,” Nik continues. “I got Mariya to the hospital just fine on my own. If anything changes, I’ll call. You should be tracking down Luna.”
The blinds behind Nik’s head are half-opened. Through the slats, I see someone on the phone. A man. His arm is bandaged. I can’t see his face.
