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Viktor gets closer to our hiding spot. Then all is silent. I have to calm my breathing to stop making noise. It’s like a ticking time bomb, just waiting to go off.
And off it goes.
The doorknob handle rattles, making Mia scream. I clamp my hand down over her mouth, but the damage has been done. Viktor knows we’re in here.
The terrifying sound of gunfire sounds off, hitting the door. He’s trying to shoot off the doorhandle. And he succeeds.
We all jump back as the door swings open to reveal a smiling Viktor. “Found you.”
I gasp as he grabs me. Mia wraps her arms around my waist, trying to help, but it’s futile. Francesca and Antonio join in, turning it into a tug-of-war made of my body between Viktor and them.
“Fine.” Viktor lets me go, and I fall back against Antonio. “Do we have to do this the hard way?” He lifts his gun and points it at Mia. She screams, covering her head.
“Don’t hurt her. I’ll go with you,” I yell.
Viktor lowers the gun. “That’s what I thought.”
I take a step out of the closet when Antonio says, “No. You’re not taking my sister.” He steps in front of me. “Fight me.” He raises his fists like a boxer.
Viktor takes one look at him and laughs. “Fight you? What are you? Ten?”
“I’m fourteen,” he grits out. “Now, fight me. You’re going to have to because I’m not letting you take my sister.”
“Antonio, don’t,” I say, grabbing his arm. “He’s going to kill you. Don’t.”
“Listen to your sister, boy.”
Antonio shakes his head. “If you were going to kill us, you’d have done it already. So, fight me. If I win, you walk away.”
Viktor looks too pleased with this predicament, which terrifies me. “And if I win?”
“Are we going to fight or what?”
“Fine.” Viktor sets the machine gun down and rolls up his sleeves. “Let’s.” He swings at Antonio, but Antonio jerks back, just keeping out of reach. Franco has been teaching him how to fight, so he isn’t a complete novice at least. Viktor swings again, and this time, his fist connects with Antonio’s face. Antonio smacks against the wall, panting.
“Stop!” Mia cries. “Stop!”
Antonio growls and charges Viktor, landing a punch to his side, surprising him. “You have spunk, kid, I’ll give you that,” Viktor says before kicking Antonio in the stomach, making him fall to the ground. “But you’re not a better fighter than me.” He brings his fist down onto Antonio’s face, a loud crack making me gasp. He will kill my brother if I don’t stop him.
My eyes land on the machine gun. Viktor was stupid to leave it for anyone to grab. I lift it up, shocked by how heavy it is, and point it at Viktor. “Stop,” I growl.
Viktor glances at me, a slow smile spreading across his face, which I didn’t expect after pointing a gun right at him. “So, shoot me, then.”
I blink. “What?”
He stands up, leaving Antonio groaning on the ground. “Shoot me. If you have what it takes.” He steps closer to me until the end of the gun is pressing into his chest. “I like a girl who has the balls to shoot.”
I gulp, my hands shaking. I’ve never even hurt someone before, let alone killed anyone. I wasn’t trained for this, and my body refuses to cooperate.
Viktor frowns. “I’m disappointed.” He pushes the end of the gun away before taking it from me. “But oh, well. Are you coming with me or not? Or do I need to finish with your brother?” He nods at Antonio, who’s bleeding, his nose broken and his cheek already bruising.
That snaps me out of it. “No. No, I’ll go with you. Don’t hurt him.”
“There. That wasn’t so hard.” Viktor slings the gun around his back. “Come on.” He holds his hand out to me.
Mia throws her arms around my waist. “Don’t go, Gemma. Don’t go.”
“I have to. I have to protect you. It’s … it’s what Emilia would do.”
