‘Then do what you must but do not take her…’ Alistair says, looking at Roman, shifting tone as if remembering they aren’t alone, ‘from yourson.’
‘Papa, please,’ Roman begs.‘I love her.’
‘I know,dorogóy moy.That is why I must.’
No longer connected to the IV, Savannah is waking, trying to speak.Her movements draw fresh tension between Alistair and Mikhail.
Lachlan inches closer.
‘Sorrenko,’ Lachlan says, gun aimed squarely at his head.‘Don’t.’
‘You will take care of my boys,’ he tells Lachlan.
‘Otets, pozhaluysta, ne delai etogo!’ Roman begs and then he flinches as a voice calls out from above and Lachlan’s heart backflips hard.
‘DANYA!WE’RE DOWN HERE!’
Alistair seizes the opportunity when Sorrenko looks up, briefly distracted.He throws himself at his friend, the two tussling while Lachlan drags Roman closer, preparing to cover them all, keep them all safe.
Danya is here.He brought backup.
Alistair grabs Sorrenko by the mangled hand, twists it viciously, the pair speaking in some language Lachlan doesn’t recognise at all.
In Roman’s arms, Savannah is almost fully awake.
‘Alistair,’ she croaks, reaching weakly for him.
This time it’s Mikhail who takes the distraction and uses it, punching Alistair hard in the mouth.He then looks at Savannah, swinging his gun outward towards them all.
‘Stay back!’
‘Mikki, you cannot take her from me again.’
‘Stay the fuckback,and don’t play your tricks with me!’Mikhail snarls.‘I already killed my tether in Rozhenska.There is no coming back this time.’
‘I will never let you go,’ Alistair warns quietly, gaze lowered.‘Never.’
Mikhail’s wrist tendons flex.‘My fate is my own.’
Lachlan has to make a choice who to cover in the moment.
The gun is pointed at Savannah.
His instincts kick in, no time to compare outcomes.
Lachlan covers Jules.
A shot is fired.
Danya comes down the spiral and yells, ‘FREEZE!’
With Jules covered, Lachlan spins around and shoots Sorrenko in the chest.It knocks him down, his handgun clattering onto the burned concrete.
Jules lets out a strangled noise.
Lachlan turns to see why.
Sorrenko shot Savannah in the heart.
