Page 60 of Lost to Thievery
“How dare you come intomyhouse and stab one ofmymen?” Michael shouted at me. “You will die for that!”
Vlad pressed a gun to my temple. I started crying silently, my body shaking as I kept my eyes on Owen.
Owen’s eyes darted between me and Vlad. He was speaking in Russian, I realised—his words coming fast and desperate.
Vlad laughed cruelly. “You think begging me in my mother tongue is going to stop me from blowing her brains all over this desk? Have some dignity, brother.”
Owen sagged onto his heels. There were tears in his eyes. And defeat—the look of it turning my body ice cold.
This was it.
“It’s okay. You’ll be okay. Just keep your eyes on me. It won’t hurt, I promise,” Owen soothed me, tears falling onto his cheeks.
I tried to nod at him, my mind going still as I kept his gaze. I felt the slight shift and increase in pressure as Vlad pressed against the trigger. My eyes fluttered shut, bracing for death.
My first thought was of Rach, and how my death would crush her. She didn’t deserve to go through all this again. I wished I had listened to that little voice screaming at me not to climb through that window. Now Rachel and my parents would pay the price. And Owen. He didn’t deserve to die. He deserved a long, happy life with someone who loved him as fiercely as I knew he was capable of. But not me. He deserved more than I was capable of giving. My devil had made sure to leave me too ruined for a happily ever after with someone as special as Owen.
That devil’s painfully familiar laugh rang clear in my mind. I smiled through the tears, my heart squeezing. “Grayson,” I whispered, warmth spreading through my body.
It was done. I must be dead.
“Lookyhere! Everyone who wants me dead in one room.” Another laugh. “The Russian mob, the little witch…” he counted off. “How special you make me feel.”
My eyes snapped open and found a pair of dark, twisted eyes, staring at me. My breathing stopped. His eyes bored into mine, reaching down into the dark depths where my soul used to be.
Grayson blinked and a cold smirk spread across his stunning face. “Not exactly what I expected… I thought you’d be working together, not killing each other, but go on. Less enemies for me,” he shrugged, sauntering to the couch.
He was dressed in complete black, his suit jacket slung over his shoulder and his sleeves rolled up, completely at ease. But I knew better. His jacketon, would be a hindrance if he had to fight, but like this, it was a weapon. And by the hellfire burning in his eyes, he was itching for a fight. He wascravingthe release.
“Grayson,” Gemma warned, and my heart soared at the sound of her voice. She walked over to me in quick strides. “Let her go,” she said to Vlad, her voice icy cold, threatening violence.
Vlad didn’t respond.
“Ah, Grayson Varon. Still no manners, I see. Did your mother not teach you to knock?” Michael jabbed, through a clenched jaw as he watched Grayson make himself comfortable on the couch.
“Haven’t you heard? She died when I was young. There’s lots of things she didn’t get to teach me.”
Volkov turned his face away from Grayson, as if he couldn’t stand the sight of him. “Why did you crawl out of your hiding hole?”
Grayson laughed. “I never hide. I’m righthere, pakhan.” He threw his arms wide. “Waiting. It’s a shame the rest of the world is filled withcowards,” Grayson spat.
Volkov’s face went bloodred. Whatever the hell they were talking about; it really pissed Volkov off, and his reaction made Grayson’s eyes sparkle.
So it seemed they weren’t really working together as we had thought. Volkov hated Grayson.
“Enough, Grayson! Call your dog off, Volkov. Right now,” Gemma warned.
Michael looked between us and raised a brow at Grayson in question.
Grayson only shrugged. “Kill the bitch, I don’t care.”
Searing pain shot through my chest. Why did I expect anything else? Why did it still hurt so much to hear him say such things? I already knew he never cared for me. Butgods!
“No!” Gemma stepped forward, and I could feel her pressing against Vlad’s arm. “Grayson,please!”
“You son of a bitch!” Owen sneered at Grayson, struggling against the man restraining him.
“I’ll do anything.” Gemma’s voice broke.
