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But the man who appears in the doorway isn’t Petyr.
“Anthony!” I screech.
My ex-husband pushes the door closed and places a finger over his lips. “Are you trying to get us both killed?”
I clap a hand over my mouth and try to process what I’m seeing. “What—Why—How are you even here? Oh my God, are you… Are you still working for Petyr?”
“No,” he says quickly, his voice low. “I mean, I was. But that is done now.”
“Then why are you here right now?Howare you here right now?”
“I was in deep shit with your… yourhusband.” He says the word grudgingly. “He offered me a way to redeem myself.”
“Wait—Misha knows you’re here?”
“Yes. And he knows you’re here, too. He’s on his way.” Anthony doesn’t give me time to process any of that before he pulls out a gun and hands it to me. “Hide this somewhere. Misha told me you know how to use one now. We’ve got a small window of time. I need to get you out before all hell breaks loose.”
I check to make sure the safety is on before I slide it into the waistband of my maternity pants. “Is it a good idea to leave right now? The place is crawling with Petyr’s men.”
A layer of sweat coats Anthony’s brow, though it’s a cool night. He’s even more nervous than he’s letting on. “Petyr is going to walk in here with a bomb that he’s going to strap to your chest, Paige,” he says in a somber whisper. “Do you want to stick around for that?”
Well, that settles that.“You’re right. Let’s go.”
Anthony stops at the door and checks to make sure the coast is clear. He holds up his hand, indicating that we need to wait. The couple seconds of pause gives me a second to focus on the fact that Anthony is here.My ex-husband is here.And he’s putting his life on the line for me. I wouldn’t have believed it was possible an hour ago. Part of me still doesn’t.
“You said Misha offered you a way to redeem yourself,” I whisper. “What exactly did the two of you discuss?”
“I made a lot of mistakes, Paige. I fucked up big time getting involved with Petyr. By the time I realized just how bad, it was too late. So I left to protect you—”
“You left with all the money, Anthony,” I can’t help but hiss.
“Okay, so I wasn’t a total martyr,” he admits. “The thing is, I knew you’d find a way to survive. But without money, I just wasn’t sure I would. That’s a pathetic excuse, I know, but it’s the truth.”
I sigh. “I suppose I can appreciate that.”
Anthony checks the passageway again and then nods to me. “Okay, I think we’re in the clear. Stay close to me and use the gun if you have to.”
He exits the room first. I follow after him, taking his instructions to heart. I haven’t actually shot a real person before, and the realization that I might have to is terrifying. Lifeless dummies are one thing; human beings are another.
Every time he thinks he hears something, Anthony puts his hand out to stop me. The second time he does, I knock into his elbow. I’m about to tell him to give me a little more warning, but before I can get the words out, I hear the screech of tires.
“Misha,” I whisper.
His name is drowned out in a torrent of explosions and gunshots.
My husband is charging in, guns blazing.Literally.
“Quickly!” Anthony hisses.
We turn the corner just as a door flings open to the right. Before either one of us can back out of the hallway, Petyr steps in front of us.
His face twists in a vicious snarl. “Going somewhere?”
83
MISHA
“I have no interest in prisoners!” I roar at my men. “Bring me bodies, not captives!”
