Page 36 of Dark King Daddy

“Door.”

“Gusev used the rear passage.”

His fingers moved against the floor. Searching.

I gave him my wrist.

He gripped it.

Even dying, Lev held hard.

Footsteps sounded in the rear passage.

I turned my weapon toward the opening.

Anton appeared alone.

“Lost him,” he said. “Outer door was open. Guard’s down.”

His gaze found Mikhail.

He stopped.

Ksenia looked at him. Whatever he saw in her face made him cross the room without another word.

He knelt beside his father and took Mikhail’s hand.

“I’m here, Papa.”

Mikhail looked at him.

Then at Ksenia.

His breathing had changed. Long pauses between shallow pulls. The wound had stopped pulsing because his heart no longer had enough force.

Ksenia pressed harder.

“Papa.”

Mikhail’s eyes moved between his children.

“Together,” he managed.

Anton bowed his head over their joined hands.

Ksenia shook hers once. A refusal. Small and fierce.

Mikhail exhaled.

He did not inhale again.

Ksenia went still.

Her hands remained on the cloth. Blood reached her wrists.

Anton touched two fingers to his father’s throat. He held them there far longer than necessary.

Then he closed Mikhail’s eyes.