They drag me backward. One arm around my throat. The other pinning my arms.
I watch helplessly as Patrick breaks free from Lev. Grabs the gun. Stands over Lev with blood streaming from multiple wounds.
"This ends now." Patrick raises the weapon. Points it at me instead of Lev. "Watch her die, Volkov. Watch your unborn child die."
Lev's eyes meet mine across the destroyed foyer.
I see devastation. Rage. Love.
Then he moves.
Despite the gunshot wounds. Despite the blood loss. Despite being too weak to stand.
He throws himself between me and Patrick's gun.
The shot rings out.
Lev jerks. Blood sprays. He goes down hard.
"NO!" The scream tears from my throat. "LEV!"
I fight harder. Bite the arm around my throat. Taste blood. The grip loosens.
I break free. Stumble toward Lev.
He's on the ground. New wound in his chest. High. Near his heart. Blood pumping with each beat.
"Lev, no, please no—"
Gunfire erupts. Close. Deafening.
Patrick's men holding me drop. Dead before they hit the ground.
Mikhail bursts through the smoke. Yaroslav is right behind with several of their men. Their weapons are raised, and they begin to fire.
Patrick's remaining men scatter. Some return fire. Some try to run.
But they all die.
Mikhail, Yaroslav, and the reinforcement cut through them with ruthless precision.
Patrick tries to escape. Stumbling toward the door. Leaving a blood trail.
Mikhail pivots and fires.
The bullet catches Patrick in the spine. He goes down screaming.
"That's for the boss." Mikhail stands over him. Fires again. Headshot. "And that's for trying to hurt his family again."
Patrick O'Rourke dies choking on blood and broken promises.
But I don't care about Patrick.
I'm kneeling beside Lev. Hands pressed to his chest wound. Blood pumping between my fingers.
"Stay with me." My voice breaks. "Don't you dare leave me. Don't you dare."
His eyes flutter open. Unfocused. Glassy. "Valerie..."
