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“Agreed,” he nods, his expression resolute.
“Gunsyn is still out there, Zakhar.” Alexander accepts his fate. “So go on, complete your vengeance.”
He tells us as if the thought hasn’t been tormenting me every moment since we snatched Mercy.
Wordlessly, Zakhar raises his gun and pulls the trigger. The sound of the gunshot echoes through the room, and Alexander slumps to the floor, lifeless.
I feel an odd sense of relief as I stare at Alexander’s body. We’ve avenged Eden’s mother and exposed the truth behind Matvei’s death. The web they weaved will take longer than we have to untangle it.
We still need to find Gunsyn before he destroys the Bratva.
“It’s done,” I say, turning to Zakhar and Pavel. “Let’s go home.”
As we make our way to the airport, my thoughts race through the events of the past few days. So much has changed so quickly. And yet, one thing remains constant. I will marry Eden. That won’t change.
“New York won’t be the same when we get back,” Pavel says, breaking the silence as he checks his phone. “Gunsyn’s been busy.”
“Busy?” Zakhar asks.
“Stepping up attacks against the Lanzzare,” Pavel replies. “He’s gaining support among the ranks within the Starukhin Bratva, and the violence is rapidly escalating.”
“Then we’ll put an end to it,” I say. “Anyone breaking the truce will be shot, starting with Gunsyn.”
As our plane takes off, leaving behind Alexander’s betrayal, I tap the screen on my phone but only reach Eden’s voice mail. I try Larissa, but there is no answer. Leaning back, I try not to panic.
I check my watch and see that time is up.
“Gunsyn,” I whisper to myself as the city’s skyline comes into view. “We’re coming for you.”
My phone vibrates in my pocket. I glance at the screen, and my teeth clench as I recognize Sorokin’s number. I relax my jaw and answer the call.
“Zdravstvuyte, Nikolai Gennadyevich,” Sorokin purrs. “I’m afraid you’re too late. You failed to achieve this in the seventy-two hours you promised, and so I have come to take my price.”
“Touch her, and I’ll kill you!” I snarl, my fingers gripping the phone so tight they turn white.
“Save your threats,” Sorokin taunts. “It’s over.”
He hangs up. I’m left staring at the blank screen, and my stomach tightens with dread. I can’t let him take Eden after everything we’ve been through. I promised to protect her.
In a frenzy,I race to Larissa’s home, praying I’m not too late. “Where’s Eden?” I demand the moment Rurik opens the front door.
Rurik shakes his head. “She’s gone, Nikolai Gennadyevich.”
“Dammit!” I shout, slamming my fist into the wall. “Why didn’t you stop Sorokin?”
“Stop!” Larissa races into the hallway. “Eden did the honorable thing. She left on her own.”
“What?” I choke out. “How can you say that!”
“Eden knew the risks,” Larissa says softly. “But she also knows how much you’ve sacrificed. This is her way of repaying that debt.”
“Repaying me by giving herself up to Sorokin?” I bellow.
“They would have come for you if she hadn’t, Kolya. All of them. Sorokin, Popov, Chuikov, and the rest.” Larissa’s voice is firm. “Eden bought you the chance to live. Will you let her sacrifice be in vain?”
“No.” I stumble into the closest chair and rest against it. “You’re right. I’ll think, and then I’ll shoot.”
Larissa nods. “Kolya, you could have so much more if you stopped to think for yourself.”
