My brow furrows as we stare at each other, a strange feeling of familiarity washing over me as I watch her jerk against her restraints, crying and screaming against the cloth in her mouth and when she kicks Hayk in the shin, stomps on his foot then races toward me, that’s when it clicks.
Tatiana.
She knocks the air from my lungs as she crashes into me, scrambling onto my lap, lifting her bound wrists above my head until her arms are looped around my neck. The little girl hangs onto me for dear life, squeezing so tight it's hard to believe she’s so young.
“Tatiana?” I whisper and she nods as I breathe in a scent that’s both new and familiar. It’s sweet and soothing, a bit spicy, and something about it has my heart screaming that this little girl is mine. “Tatiana, honey, are you okay?”
She nods again as she buries her face in my hair, her sobs calming to a steady stream of tears falling against my neck.
My gaze swings toward Rune again, my alpha’s thoughts mirroring my own.
She looks just like both of them.
Tatiana acts like them, too, and if we weren’t very literally in a life or death situation right now, I’d have to wonder which one of my mate’s she’s going to favor long term.
Hopefully, it’s Niko.
“It has been a very long time since I’ve seen you, Rune,” Hayk says with a smirk as he rubs his shin. “I was sorry to hear about your master.”
My alpha slowly changes positions so one SIG is still aimed at any number of these bastards but the other is pointed at Hayk’s shiny, bald head.
He lifts his hand to keep his small army at bay, laughing as he comes closer to Tati and I. “I was also extremely impressed. It’s not every day that you hear about a man being bent, broken, and torn into pieces like his joints were perforated like a roll of paper towel.”
Well, that’s a very colorful way to get confirmation on how Rune got out of The Circuit. Not that I doubted him and his ability to kill anyone with his bare hands, I just didn’t realize he was able to dismember with them, too.
“That’s why I’m going to let you decide on how this game comes to an end.” Hayk reaches into the back of his slacks and pulls out two handguns. “Olive and Tatiana.” He points one at the two of us and I try to turn the four year old away from the line of fire the best I can. “Or your fucking dogs.”
Think before you act, I say through our link. At least, I try to. I repeat it over and over, knowing damn well Rune will choose us despite how much he loves those dogs, just like I know Hayk is going to shoot everyone regardless of the deal he swears he’ll honor.
My alpha stares at me, dark eyes boring into mine, and just as I see his decision and apology flash across his face, everything stops when the warehouse starts to shake.
Windows rattle, doors swing open and slam closed. The chains hanging from the ceiling start to vibrate and spin. It’s almost like an earthquake but I didn’t think they had those in Minnesota. Not to mention, earthquakes don’t make noise. A noise that’s a weird combination of screeching tires, crunching metal, and something plummeting from outer fucking space, and it’s growing louder by the second.
Hayk scowls as he looks around the room, searching for whatever is causing it. “What the fuck is?—”
A goddamnairplanecomes crashing through the side of the building, bricks and dust exploding into the open space, glass spraying everywhere while the tires squeal and smoke, and they mow over close to two thirds of Hayk’s men.
The force of the crash sends my chair toppling backwards before it falls to the side, my shoulder popping as my head hits the concrete floor.
“Are you okay?” I quickly ask Tatiana as she pushes herself up the best she can, unlinking her arms with a nod. “Do you think you can untie me?”
She nods again and scurries behind me, her tiny fingers working the rope around my wrists free. The little girl crawls in front of me again, going for the restraints at my ankles but I stop her.
“I need you to say the words for me, okay? Tell me if they hurt you.” I reach out and remove her gag, my eyes searching hers, the same color brown as Niko’s staring back at me. “Tell me if Hayk hurt you.”
“No,” she whispers as she shakes her head.
“Promise?”
Tatiana nods and leans into my touch as I cup her cheeks. “I promise.”
“Okay,” I say as I untie her wrists and we both make quick work of my ankles. “Things are about to get very messy, but I need you to trust me, okay? I’m not going to let anything happen to you.”
“I trust you,” Tati whispers as I get to my feet. “I trust you lots.”
“Good.” I quickly scoop her up into my arms, ignoring the way my shoulder screams and start running as Hayk’s men start to regroup.
I can hear him barking orders, hear them trying to get their shit together enough to follow them, but that isn’t what makes me turn and look over my shoulder.
