Page 139 of Beguiled

“Stash,” she muttered.

“Shut up!” he snarled while pressing his face into her ear. I had no idea what was being said, but whatever he was telling her, her body stiffened and her eyes grew wide.

When he lifted his head, he also pointed the gun toward me.

“Don’t! Don’t you do that,” she exclaimed. “I love him. You might not have the capacity to love anyone, but I do. Don’t take him away from me.” She wiggled in his strong hold and I was closer to losing my shit.

I’d do anything to protect her. I threw my arms out further.

“Don’t,” Kazimir hissed.

“It’s alright, Kaz. I know what I’m doing.” I took a step closer. Then another.

In those few seconds, I was able to see the level of despair in a man who’d once adored his family.

And maybe for a few seconds, still did.

With a strange smile crossing his face, he shoved her away and before I could dive for my weapon, he did the unthinkable.

He shoved the barrel into his mouth.

Pop!

EPILOGUE

Saige

“Grief, I now understand, is a sort of madness, in the same way that falling in love is madness.”

Patrick Swayze

I was lucky in that both my parents and my brother were still alive. When I’d lost my grandparents, the pain had been horrible, but I’d known they’d all lived long, wonderful lives. Maybe the realization had offered some comfort.

With the death of a child or a sibling, things hit differently. Also with a close friend. After what had occurred on the terrace the night before, I’d called my brother. Just to check in. He’d told me he’d tried to find the anonymous person who’d bailed out my parents, but was convinced there were real angels on this earth.

Maybe there were. Tonight dressed in an Armani tux.

I stood across the ballroom from where Stash held court with his brother, cousin, and Kazimir’s second in command. I’d grownto like Kirill and could see why he was thought of as a family member.

They’d all taken Mikhail’s suicide very hard, although I knew instinctively they would do their best to hide their grief.

“They look formidable. Don’t they?” Rafaela asked. With her on one side and Vivian on the other, we had the best location in the ballroom to enjoy the party from afar. Close to a champagne bar, where I had consumed more than one glass.

I’d spent some time with both ladies, one happily married to Kazimir, the other to Kirill. They were goofy and intelligent, powerful in their own right. A telling of how things could be inside the Chertov family.

“Yes, they do,” Vivian said from the other side. “But we know their secrets and can set them straight when necessary.”

“I’m not sure about that. I don’t know Stash very well.” Sighing, being able to study him from afar was distracting.

“Oh, you know more than you think you do. Besides, he can’t make a move without you.” Rafaela laughed. “Just like Kazimir was with me.”

“Please. Stash is his own man and I can honestly say he can be a pain in the ass.” Even though the words slipped from my mouth, I was mostly teasing. He’d taken me on a tour of my new office earlier. I should say a christening of my new desk.

I shuddered from the thought, my pussy aching from his… rough hands.

“She doesn’t understand,” Vivian cooed.

“She will. Very soon,” Rafaela said, laughing and lifting her champagne glass.