Page 43 of Intolerable Bishop

“Does your aunt make it a habit to come over this early, sounding panicked,” Blake asked.

“Well, no. But she’s my aunt. I’ve known her my whole life.”

“Then let Myles answer it,” he said flatly, pulling me back from being in direct line of the door. Myles had already slipped silently away and stood off to the side. My heart was a steady drum, a pounding that was as loud as Nadia’s knocking.

“Ren, please! I need to speak to you. It’s urgent,” Nadia yelled. I wanted to go to her, but Blake held me firm to his body.

“Here, put this on,” Theo whispered, and I stared at a black backpack. I didn’t bother to question it. I knew that Theo wouldn’t tell me to do something unless it was necessary. “You remember the plan,” he asked, and Blake nodded. What the hell did they know? “Ivy, get your shoes on now,” Theo ordered, and she sprinted off the couch like a rabbit.

I stared up at Theo as he clipped the straps across my chest for the pack. “What do you think is happening?” He looked at me but didn’t say anything. “Theo?”

“What do ya want,” Myles yelled through the door as he peeked through the hole.

“Please, Myles, I don’t know how much time we have. I need to speak to Ren,” Nadia said, and my worry turned into panic.

“Do ya have a gun?”

“No.”

“If you do, I’m puttin’ a bullet between yer eyes. Do ya understand?” His tone left no room for confusion. I knew he’d do it.

“Yes. I don’t have one, I swear.”

Myles opened the door, and as soon as I saw Nadia’s stricken face, I went into full freakout mode. I yanked away from Blake and ran the few steps to greet her just inside the door. We hugged tight, but her body was trembling.

“Ren, I’m so sorry. You need to run. Please forgive me, you need to leave now. I didn’t mean to,” she cried, tears streaming down her face, but it was her accent that threw me. I’d never known Nadia to have one before, but she had a distinct one now.

“Mean to do what? What are you talking about?”

She was hyperventilating as she grabbed my shoulders. “You were right, I lied. I know about the pictures and who is in them, and I messed up. I messed up so bad. I called home when you questioned me. I didn’t know what else to do, but I didn’t know they were listening. I promise you that I’d never purposely lead them to you. All I’ve ever tried to do is protect your mum and you.” Her eyes were wild as she pulled back, fingers digging into my arms. “I just got a warning that they’re here. You need to go. Leave and never come back. I’m so sorry, Ren. I’ve always loved you like you were my own, but I need to run, too, or they’ll kill me. I can’t let them capture me.”

Kill her? What the hell? Nadia kissed my cheek and pulled me into a quick hug. “Nadia, please tell me why my mother was killed. Who’s trying to kill me? Is my mother a Mikhailov?”

“I don’t have time to tell you the whole story. They could be here any second, but yes, you’re a Mikhailov.” She looked over her shoulder at her car. “Go, go pack. I’ll find you and tell you everything as soon as we get to safety. It’s time you knew the truth.”

Nadia stepped back, her eyes filled with love and sadness. “Please go, now.”

The words had no sooner left her lips when a black vehicle roared up the street. Shock and fear twisted my stomach as loud banging erupted before anyone ever jumped out. I screamed as Myles dove for me. Grabbing me around the waist, he tackled me to the ground. All the air was forced out of my lungs as his body covered mine. He lifted himself up just enough that I could move. I flipped over onto my stomach, covering my head as pieces of drywall and wood trim rained down on us.

“Go. Crawl to Blake,” Myles yelled over the deafening noise. I looked back and wished I hadn’t.

“No…Nadia.” Nadia’s body was on the ground, her eyes sightless as she stared at me. Blood poured from her mouth, and her hand was stretched toward me, like even in death, she was trying to touch me.

“Go, Ren, go now.”

I closed my eyes, trying to get control of myself.

“Come on, Ren,” I saw Blake’s outstretched hand and did as Myles ordered and crawled as fast as I could down the hallway as more bullets rained on the house and flew through the open door. Picture frames smashed and fell, and glass scattered in all directions. I covered my head as the chandelier in the foyer exploded, sending little bits of crystal everywhere. Blake grabbed me and pulled me around the corner.

“We need to get the fuck out of here,” Myles said, checking his gun. “This isn’t enough for what they’re packin’. Fuck, all the good shit is upstairs, but we’d be torn apart tryin’ to get to it.”

“Oh my god, oh my god, my aunt, I can’t leave her.”

“She’s dead,” Theo said, grabbing my arm and yanking me to my feet. “We need to go now. Myles, you good?”

I looked at Myles and covered my mouth as he stood, red sprayed across the front of his hoodie and face. “Ya, it’s not mine. Go.”

Ivy was holding the door to the garage open, her eyes mirroring the terror that I felt. Theo grabbed my helmet off the bike and put it on my head.