Page 76 of The Pakhan’s Heir

“Don’t you see, Nona, my darling? I can’t leave you alone. You’re my daughter. And this is a matter that must be resolved⁠—”

“Go away!” I scream it, my voice shaking with fear.

He goes silent and for just a second, I think that maybe, maybe he’s gone away.

Then the pounding starts again. The bathroom door’s much flimsier than the other one and almost immediately starts to splinter with every violent vibration.

I’m ready for him, though. The wood finally breaks after the third hit, his fist coming through the splinters already covered in blood and bruises. He reaches for the doorknob…

I slice into the back of his hand. He howls and draws it back. “You cut me! You little shit!”

His hand reappears and I cut him again. He draws it back faster this time, cursing.

“You’re going to pay for that, Nona. You’re going to pay dearly.”

The blood covered mirror in my hand shakes. I don’t know what comes next if he gets the door open. I’ve never stabbed or killed anyone before. I’m so afraid that I won’t be able to do it, even if it’s to save my own life.

I see movement through the hole… slow, then fast, and the door bursts open as he kicks it loose from the lock. His face is dark and twisted, eyes bloodshot with rage as he stalks toward me.

I swing the mirror, catching him across the face, then his hand. He jumps back, holding it.

“Drop it,” he growls.

“N-No.”

“DROP THE FUCKING GLASS, NONA!”

“NO!” I shout back at him. My voice sounds strong and confident as it bursts from my body. “If you want to end my life, you’ll have to take it. I will not give it over freely.”

He regards me with a shocked expression—eyes wide, mouth dropping open. “Just who the hell do you think you are?”

“I am a Bratva Queen,” I say through clenched teeth. “And I’m not going down without a fight.”

His face shifts. The shock slides away as his mouth turns up into a maddening smile as he starts to laugh. “You are nothing, Nona Sokolov. You are married to a weak Pakhan unworthy of this family’s legacy. And you have the nerve to carry his child with pride. When you are dead, I am going to give him your head and his dead baby and watch your great king break like the fragile little boy he truly is.”

He lunges at me, and I raise the shard up. It sticks into his shoulder, half in and half out of the bullet wound that’s already there. It doesn’t stop him, however. His hands are around my neck as we both fall backward into the shower.

I scratch his eyes, digging my nails across the lid of one and directly into the other. He releases me immediately and I lean in, kneeing him in the balls.

Down he goes, falling to his knees, grabbing his crotch. I dart around and way from him, running from the bathroom and out of my bedroom altogether.

“I’ll kill you!” he screams after me. His voice barely registers. I run down the stairs and to the nearest hall. There’s a panic room just past the parlor.

I make it there and press the wall open, slipping into the room and locking it behind me. The room is small, just enough for two, maybe three people. Metal walls, a small couch and refrigerator, monitors to the cameras around the apartment, and a landline to call for reinforcements.

I’m still shaking… but I’m safe for now. He can’t get in here once the door has been locked.

But now what? I look down at the landline and my heart sinks. I can’t even call Alex… He’s more than likely dead by now.

On the monitor and faintly echoing through the walls, I hear him screaming my name. He steps into view and onto the staircase landing, shard of glass in his shoulder, face and hands bloodied, one eye closed and irritated.

As soon as he realizes where I am, he’ll probably call his strongest men and have this hidden door ripped down. And then what?

My hand goes to my stomach, cradling my child. Then I’ll fight. I’ll fight right to the end.

I meant what I said. If he wants my life, he’s going to have to take it, and I don’t plan on making it easy for him.

He stumbles down the stairs, yelling my name. I wonder how long it’s going to take him to figure it out.