Page 74 of Then We Shatter

I’m about to check my cell when Vasili confirms what I’m already dreading.

“Oh, and if you were hoping to send a distress signal to the Griffins, we’ve blocked your network. No one else can see or hear what’s about to happen.”

“My earpiece is dead too,” Calder tells me.

My head spins as I go through our ever-decreasing options. Below us, there’s a whispered exchange in Russian that I don’t much like, but stress always did help me focus.

“There were flares in one the crates,” I tell Calder, having taken inventory of the Moncriefs’ mini arsenal. “Can you get to the roof?” He nods. “Then fucking move. I’ll deal with the guards on my own.”

I hurry towards the west side of the gallery. I’m careful not to make a sound but my pace quickens when I hear Katarina’s plea.

“Please, Uncle,” she says, voice quaking with fear. I don’t like it. I don’t like it one bit. “She’s not–”

“Shush!” he snaps.

I halt next to another spy hole to see what’s happening. Shit. Andrey appears from the terrace holding a gun to Grace’s head.

“No one move,” Vasili orders when Duke goes to reach for his weapon. “We haven’t finished talking.”

“I’ve finished talking,” Duke replies with impressive control, but I doubt it’ll last for long.

I check where the guard on my side of the gallery is standing, then continue towards the hidden door while Vasili sets out his plan to force Duke to marry Katarina tonight.

My fingers tighten on the latch to open the hidden panel when Vasili addresses Katarina. “You’re such a disappointment. Men are supposed to want to marry you. I shouldn’t need to threaten them.”

I open the secret access just a crack and Vasili’s voice is more distinct as he continues.

“Let me be clear. If the shooting starts, it won’t be contained to this room. Can you imagine what would happen to the Moncrief market value if every last person you’ve invited here were slaughtered? And rest assured that’s exactly what will happen. No one will be showing up to stop us.”

I have to swallow a laugh as the crack of a flare exploding above our heads ruins Vasili’s fine speech.

“This is so tiring,” he complains. “Let’s speed things up, shall we?”

I couldn’t agree more. I’m done staying in the shadows. If this is turning into a shit show, I want to be front and center.

With my rifle strapped to my back, I select a throwing knife and open the oak panel wide enough to see the back of the guard who’s blocking my view. His weapon is aimed at the enemy below, as is that of his counterpart opposite. Neither notice me.

“Marmaduke, you have two choices,” Vasili is saying. “You either marry my niece or I take her back, and I’m starting to think that might be preferable. It’s time to break that wild streak of hers once and for all.” There’s a pause. “I do believe I promised you the task.”

I open the door fully to get a glimpse of the man Vasili has turned to. Danyl.

“She’ll break for me,” he says.

My focus immediately sharpens with lethal intent. Every move I make is meticulous, and in two steps, I’m behind the nearest guard. I slice his throat before he can register my presence and with a hard shove, he topples over the oak balustrade. His body hits the floor below, sending a shockwave through the hall that’s accompanied by a series of clicks as weapons are drawn.

The guard opposite is swinging his rifle in my direction when I flick my wrist to hold my bloodied knife by the blade. “There’s just one problem with your cunning plan, Vasili,” I call out as the knife flies through the air.

The guy opposite shouts something in Russian, but his words get cut off as my knife embeds in his throat. He fires off a shot that hits the ceiling before dropping dead on the platform.

Vasili has recognized my voice. “You reject us, but count the McConkeys as your friends?” he asks with genuine shock.

“It’s a bit of a sore point at the moment,” Rory replies, and I’m impressed by his light tone given the circumstances. All the Moncriefs have weapons drawn, and Andrey still has a gun to Grace’s head. “Friendship might be stretching it, but I do believe Killian owes me a favor.”

While Vasili’s men create a protective barrier around their pakhan, I take out a small remote that’s linked to a device I planted in Katarina’s cake. The Russians haven’t jammed all the frequencies and it’s time to create a little chaos.

“As I was saying,” I continue. “Unlike the Moncriefs, I come from a family that isn’t concerned about public image. In fact, I’d say our image will be improved if we take you down.” Assuming Dad doesn’t disown me, but Vasili doesn’t need to know that.

“You can try, durak.” Idiot.