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“Eden,” his tone is soft. “Nothing will keep me from you.”
He’ll have to fight my father, I know it. My emotions are in a scramble as happiness competes with fear. My heart tightens with dread as I watch Nikolai refusing to leave my window. I look back at the door again and pray that my father won’t discover us.
“Please,” I beg him. “I can’t lose you, Nikolai.”
“You won’t,” he says. “I promise.”
A snowball sails through the air, catching me off guard. Giggling, I duck, and it lands on my carpet with a soft thud. I look at Nikolai, and he winks. Immediately, his irresistible smile melts my knees.
“I love you, Eden,” he says, backing away from the window.
The sound of crunching snow tears apart the moment, and on alert, we both look toward the backyard. My eyes widen when my father emerges from the dark like a phantom conjured up from a deadly nightmare. Gun in his hand, his fevered gaze fixes on Nikolai.
Fear holds me tight as time slows to a crawl. I remember Sorokin’s chilling words.Zakhar Sergeyevich Budanov, you must swear on the Bratva oath that if Nikolai Starukhin sees your daughter, you will kill him.
Desperation floods my body as I lean too far out the window and shout.
“Dad, no!” I scream. “Don’t do it. Please!”
Dad doesn’t look at me; his gun is aimed at Nikolai.
“Eden, get back inside the window.” His furious tone leaves no room for argument.
My mind races, grasping at any possible solution to prevent disaster. “Daddy, please!” I plead. “I love him.”
For a split second, a flicker of doubt crosses my father’s face as Nikolai stands there defiantly. But then Dad’s features twist in fury, and there’s no turning back.
“I took an oath, Eden,” he spits out.
I watch as the horrible scene unfolds and darkness closes us in. I’m torn between my love for Nikolai and my loyalty to my father. I force myself to watch what my selfish actions have caused.
“Back inside, Eden!” Dad shouts. “This ends now.” He aims the gun at Nikolai, and Nikolai pulls his gun out a second too late.
“No!” I scream, but it’s too late.
The gunshot echoes through the night and shatters my world into a thousand broken pieces.
“Nikolai!”
My vision blurs as that awful sound rings in my ears. I wipe my eyes, and I see that Nikolai isn’t hit. Instead, he turns toward someone else lurking in the shadows and fires another shot.
Gunsyn staggers forward, clutching his chest. He collapses onto the ground, blood seeping into the pristine snow. He lies there, looking up at the sky, gasping. His breath sends a fog into the cold air as Nikolai and Dad approach him.
“Eden,” Nikolai calls up to me. “Inside!”
As they approach Gunsyn’s motionless form, a sense of unease grows. Is this another trap?
“Revenge is the sweetest flavor you will ever taste.” Gunsyn coughs as he speaks. “Isn’t it, Kolya?”
“Not revenge,” Nikolai growls. “Justice.”
Gunsyn’s eyes lock on his. “I care for no one but the Bratva, and love none other than the Bratva.” His voice is a choked whisper. He turns his gaze to my father, and with a final breath, he forces a bloody smile. “Merry Christmas, Zakhar.”
The red snow surrounds his limp body, and his vacant eyes stare at the sky. But it’s not over.
“Quick, my pakhan.” My father’s voice is tense. Nikolai nods, understanding the urgency of our situation. Together, they work to dispose of the body before anyone discovers what has happened.
I watch the street from my window, holding my breath as the minutes tick by. No one steps outside their homes to investigate the racket. No sirens blare in the distance. And with relief, I realize that we’re safe for now.
