Page 92 of Captured Obsession

My jaw clenches. Logically, I know he won’t hurt Sienna, but my instincts to fight for her are still on high alert. I silently scoop her into my arms, ignoring her kicking and screaming as I look over my shoulder at Andrei and Agata, who carefully walk behind me toward the entrance.

I take two steps toward the hall, ignoring everything as I grit my teeth with determination to get her out safely, my leg dragging behind me.

“Let me down, Nikolai, please,” she begs.

The hallway becomes brighter as the room tilts.

“There are no snakes here. Put me down,” she insists as my strength wanes, and I can’t fight against her as she wriggles free.

I hear the click of a gun, and immediately whip around to protect her. But the red-gemmed hound isn’t pointing the gun at us; he’s aiming at Andrei and Agata. I go to step forward but stumble.

“No,” I rasp as Sienna moves in front of them, her gaze burning with rage.

“They’re with us,” she says.

“He’s one of The Wolf’s men,” Luca says from behind her, Dmitri and Dante flanking him.

“He protected us. They both did,” she says fiercely. I try to reach for her, but my knee gives out. I shove back up to my feet, though it takes longer than it should.

“Mishka,” I gasp. Luca’s gaze flicks to me momentarily. This is probably an ideal situation for him. He can easily get rid of any witnesses, including me, Agata, and Andrei.

Dante leans in and whispers something to Luca. Luca assesses me, then commands his hound to lower the gun. “Cuff them.”

Sienna goes to speak, but Luca quickly cuts her off. “If they are coming out alive, they will be cuffed until I know what to do with them. And if you want your lover alive, you’ll do everything I say.”

Her gaze burns, but she doesn’t speak, accepting it for the courtesy that it is. Dmitri is first to reach me as he tucks an arm around me. I try to shove him off but don’t have the energy as I focus on not dying.

Dante comes under my other shoulder, and they drag me out, my feet and legs hanging between them as Dante says, “Fuck, you weigh a ton.”

I go to insult him, but my tongue feels weighted either by swelling or simply all my energy going to keeping me conscious.

“Multiple bullet and knife wounds.Andyou gotbitten by a fucking snake,” he comments, his tone sounding like he’s been inconvenienced.

“You’re a doctor. Shouldn’t you be able to keep him alive?” Dmitri bites, and the two bicker between themselves as I clench my jaw, wildly pissed off if I have to listen to them while being dragged into the afterlife. Then again, I imagine this is exactly what hell feels like.

37

SIENNA

“Jesus, that man does not go down easily, does he?” the green-gemmed hound says, sounding impressed, as Nikolai walks ahead of me with my hand wrapped in his. He limps slightly but makes it look like nothing, which only worries me more.

He didn’t pass out, despite the craziness of three gunshots and two snake bites, and I’m starting to believeUdavhas a personal agreement with the grim reaper. All I want him to do is rest, but my heart spreads with warmth to know he’s okay.He’s alive.

I’d barely been able to see through the smoke to make out Nikolai and The Wolf fighting. And my heart stopped when I saw The Wolf pointing a gun him. That’s when I threw the knife.

My hand tightens around Nikolai’s. I killed a man today, or maybe I didn’t. Maybe I just slowed him downa little, and Nikolai finished the job. But now I’m an accomplice, my hands marred with blood. I also threw another three knives, though I’m certain none of them finished the job. But I found a killer within myself, if only one who protects those I love the most.

Yet I don’t feel any disgust with myself. Nikolai didn’t want me dirtying my hands, but he wouldn’t let me be defenseless either. It was my choice to fight by his side. But even then, it didn’t feel like enough. Especially considering how battered he came out.

We’re now at the Armani family mansion. Not Ara and Luca’s personal property, and I imagine it’s intentional in order to keep their baby safe. I notice the brown-gemmed hound is nowhere to be seen, most likely looking after her.

But I’m surprised to see Luca’s younger brother, Dario, who hasn’t been seen much since his rehabilitation. I wonder if he has just as much power as his brother. He seems quiet as he stands to the side as we’re escorted by Luca and Dante.

Dmitri left shortly after we arrived here, and when I notice Nikolai scanning our surroundings, I wonder if he’s looking for him. I’m curious as to what he felt in that moment, seeing his half-brother for the first time. But there are other more pressing matters to attend to.

Dante and Luca lead us to a room where Lily, Romi, and Ara spill from the doorway before we can enter.

“Oh, thank God,” Lily says as she runs over to me,but Romi stalks toward Nikolai, pinning him with a lethal glare.