Blood key?
Pain must be scrambling my thoughts, because I’m completely lost.
While trying to comprehend all these twisted revelations, I almost miss his next words.
“Right after we finish my first objective. That gives you a couple of days to get used to the idea.”
First objective? Blood key? I still don’t understand any of this. “You’re twisted.” I kick out again.
He’s ready for my attempt and backs away. “Keep talking like that, keep fighting me, and I’ll toss you to the guys first. Maybe letting you see how bad it can be will help you appreciate my love.”
That shuts me up.
Dimitri reaches down with his good arm and hauls me up by the bicep. “Come on. It’s time to go.”
Not fighting him is the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but I force my body to stay limp and pliant. “Where?”
“Where it all started, of course.”
I plant my feet, jarring us both. “What? You can’t be serious.”
Dimitri pivots back to me, his eyes sparkling with triumph. “Isla de Huesos.”
The name freezes my blood. “Why?”
Dimitri gestures for his henchmen to head for the door. “Family business.”
Max
I finish counting to one thousand in the silence. That’s enough time for the rumble of the engines to have long since faded. I roll my shoulders forward and bring my knees up to my chest.
Behind my back, the plastic keeping me in this hogtie snaps. Now that I can straighten, I kick one leg out and push up on my elbows and climb to my feet in the snow as the remaining restraints fall off.
The zip ties added a few more cuts to the rest of the mess they made of me.
For a moment, the world wavers, my vision spinning from loss of blood.
Inhaling slow breaths, I catalogue my damage. A broken rib or two, a weak ankle, and cuts and bruises that I can more than handle.
I take all that pain, shove it in a bag, and drown it deep in the ocean of my mind so I can focus on my two current priorities.
Protect Nika.
Kill Dimitri.
Not follow Roman’s orders or carry out the family’s mission. This is mine alone, the only thing that matters in a world that’s gone sideways.
They’re going to Chaos Island, and so am I.
This time, I’ll save Nika and bring her back to the Kozlovs.
Chapter 36
Nika
Our jet descends quickly, and my ears pop with the change in pressure. I swallow hard in an attempt to equalize them. The cut on my cheek throbs.
If I had any energy, I’d be miserable. Right now, I can only endure.
