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A string of Russian leaves Pavel as he drops to his knees, crazily hunting through the open duffel bag.Now that we’ve got light, we can all see that something else is missing—the bomb. It doesn’t take us long to piece together what’s going on when a discarded bulletproof vest lays haphazardly in the snow.
All of us turn to watch the scene before us.
The gunshots came from the hundred or so men who stand beyond the trees. The lights are thanks to the headlights of the cars lined up like regimented soldiers. I don’t know what to process first. There is so much going on.
The reason the gunfire stopped is thanks to Ingrid, who floats through the snow, arms raised in surrender, not appearing concerned that she’s about to face the devil or, rather,devils.Oscar and Astra stand feet away from her. He looks regal in his furs and shit-eating grin. Astra, however, looks different. She is sporting a cane, an eyepatch, and has a blue silk scarf wrapped around her head.
Regardless of her new look, she still reeks of power. And the reason for their supremacy kneels in front of them with his hands tied behind his back—a beaten and bloody Alek.
Honestly, I’m surprised he’s still alive.
A low growl erupts from Saint as he focuses his attention on Oscar. This is going to get messy.
I have no idea why Oscar and Astra’s goons have yet to haul our asses away. They clearly know we’re here. I suppose we’re all waiting for what comes next because as Ingrid approaches Oscar and drops to her knees, it seems anything is possible.
Serg is standing off to the side, eyeballing Alek. I wonder if he played a part in inflicting those wounds.
“You’ve been a bad, bad girl,” Oscar chides Ingrid who bows her head. “What are you doing here?”
“I came to ask for your forgiveness,” she replies softly, which is a load of shit. She wouldn’t have a bomb hidden under her jacket if that were true. “I want to come home.”
Oscar peers down at her, eyes narrowed. He doesn’t buy it. “You betrayed me. Why would I give you another chance?”
“I know, and I’m sorry. I was scared. After what happened to Dominic, I thought I was next.”
“Dominic wasn’t of value to me any longer. He served his purpose. Out with the old and in with the new,” he says arrogantly, staring into the distance. He does this with intent to piss Saint off because he knows we’re here.
Saint advances, but I grip his bicep, shaking my head. It’s time he listened to his own advice. We don’t know what’s about to happen. What we do know, though, if we traipse into the madness, we won’t be leaving in one piece.
We have to be smart about this because Ingrid is there, with a bomb, for a reason. We need to figure out what her game plan is. And we need to uncover why the gunfire stopped.
“I was wrong. I beg for your forgiveness,” she pleads, linking her hands together.
Oscar appears to mull over her request. “Why should I forgive you?”
“Because I’m not here alone.”
“What the fuck is she doing?” Zoey hisses, crouching low to get a better look at the scene yards away.
We’re all wondering the same thing.
Oscar looks at Astra whose interest is definitely piqued. “We know you aren’t, sweetie,” she says with a patronizing smile. “So if there is a point, make it.”
“Saint didn’t blow up Alek’s home.” Astra’s fists clench as this blast was the reason she looks like the wicked witch she is. “Pavel and Zoey did. And they are planning on doing the same thing now.”
Astra’s ruby lips part while Oscar tugs at the fur on his jacket collar. This is a curveball they did not see coming. But neither have we because she’s the one who’s packing, not us.
“What’s going on?” Sara whispers, eyes the size of saucers. Max rubs her back.
I wish I could shed light on our current situation because I have no idea what she’s doing. Pavel, however, does.
“She’s bait.”
“What?” I question, not liking the sound of that. He doesn’t have time to answer me.
“Seize them,” Astra commands with a wave of her hand. She’s ready for her revenge.
Just as I’m about to reach for my other gun, Oscar reaches into his jacket and produces a gun of his own. He presses it to Ingrid’s temple with a grin.
