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It’s a pathetic attempt to goad me. “We just tried that. As it turns out, you’renota man. You’re a fucking ghost.” I cock my gun and take aim.
His eyes veer to Josh. “You’re really gonna kill me in front of the kid?”
“Josh, look away.”
“No,” Josh replies firmly. “I’m not afraid.”
I nod. I want to give Adrik the death he deserves—long, messy, painful. But I’m not about to traumatize Josh that way. So even though he doesn’t deserve it, I give Adrik the same death I gave Vadim. Quick and clean.
But I make sure he sees it coming. I want him toknowthat death has come for him.
“Goodbye, cousin.”
He opens his mouth to say something, but I don’t give him the chance.
I shoot once.
That’s all it takes.
He flops back against the floor as blood pools around his head in two long streams like devil’s horns. I drop the gun and grab hold of Josh, who returns the hug with a force I’m not expecting. Somehow, now that he’s in my arms, the stab wound doesn’t hurt quite as bad.
“Are you okay?” I rasp.
He nods against my chest. “I am now.”
58
RUSLAN
I get myself bandaged up as tight as I can before I approach the girls.
Emma is sitting on the grass outside the house, holding both of them tightly. They’re clinging to her as if their lives depend on it. I take a painful knee in front of them, Josh joining me at my side.
My eyes meet Emma’s and something passes between us. An electricity that’s charged with heat, but also, something else.
Gratitude? Understanding? Hope?
I couldn’t say.
“Reagan? Caroline?”
They turn to me, their little eyes wide for a moment. Just long enough for me to wonder if things are too broken to ever be repaired.
And then both girls jump on me at the same time.
“You saved us!” Reagan cries.
Reagan’s knee is currently digging into my freshly bandaged stab wound but I don’t care. Because this is the best feeling in the world.
Caroline pulls away from me. “Did you kill that bad man?”
I shouldn’t be surprised by the question. I’d basically promised as much back in that room. I glance at Emma, wondering how I should answer this.
“Ruslan said he would always protect us,” Emma says gently. “And he did. Now, you’re safe—so let’s focus on that, shall we?”
I loop an arm around the two little girls and hold them as tight as I can manage. “I owe you an apology. All of you. Last week, I said some things that I shouldn’t have said. Some things I didn’t mean. I was having a bad night and I was behaving badly. Selfishly. And I can promise you this—” I can’t stop myself from looking at Josh when I say this next part. “—it willneverhappen again.” I squeeze the girls’ hands, remembering something Emma told me a while ago. “Meeting you three has been the great privilege of my life. And if you’ll let me, I want to be your father. I would be so honored to have you as my children.”
When I glance up, I see tears in Emma’s eyes. She’s trying hard to keep it together but her chin is working overtime.
