Page 86 of The Siren's Call
I open my door and sneak a peek around it. I see two men coming out of the first room on the corridor, so I grab two of my throwing knives and aim at my targets. I throw and get two bull-eyes, right in the middle of their foreheads, before they drop to the floor. Gun fire continues in the living room as I creep out of the door, heading towards Luka.
I get to the end of the wall and look around the corner, to find Luka firing back at the gun men. Then he gets shot. He falls back and I cry out, before the gun man can get another shot out. He has one of my knives in the back of his skull and falls forward. I grab my guns and fire, killing the remaining gun men in the room. I run over to Luka and find him unconscious, sprawled on his back.
As I’m about to check the exit wound on the back of his chest, I hear more men enter. I peek over the bar to find the room full of men again. At least fifteen are flooding in. I fire off some more shots before ducking again from returning fire. As I peak over the bar again my blood runs cold as I see Nikon enter the room. I grab one of my knives in my hand. I’ve run out of bullets; I know I don’t have a chance at escaping from all these men.
I can only hope that either Kai has my message or Bear is on his way back with help. As Nikon walks towards the bar, I get ready with both my fighting knives in my hands. As he reaches me, I dive out and jump on him, toppling him back with my weight and the added wedding dress.
I grapple with him, slashing at his arms and I manage to bury one of my knives deep into his collar bone. All he does though is laugh at me as I’m dragged backwards by my hair and thrown into the waiting arms of two of my Papa’s soldiers.
The man that threw me grabs Nikon’s hand to help him up. My brows furrow together as I scrutinise his appearance. Why is he not in Papa’s tell-tale uniform? He turns to me with a sadistic smile and I gasp, shocked beyond belief. How could he betray Kai like this? I actually liked him.
“What a vicious little hellion you are, Valentina Ivanov. Your Papa will be so pleased to see you again, for he wishes to repay you for the betrayal, shame, something something, dishonour you have brought to your family name and blah blah blah… it was a long speech. If I’m honest, I checked out in the middle and forgot some, but you get the jist of it,” Pasha states sardonically.
“Fuck you, you dare talk to me about honour when you’ve betrayed Nikolai like this? You’re scum and I wish I were going to be there when you get your comeuppance,” I spit out.
“I have no loyalty to Nikolai whatsoever, I infiltrated his kingdom for a different reason. I have been here for some time and, unfortunately, that path has paid no dividends. Then you, my dear Valentina, fell into my lap with double the bounty on your head. I can’t understand why your Papa is paying such a price on a disgrace like you. His only heir, opening her legs to the enemy so willingly?” Pasha tuts at me, shaking his head before continuing. “It’s quite shocking, how much you have shamed your family name. However, the world will recover.”
“If you’ve chosen to get into bed with my Papa, you’re a fucking moron. He will betray you at the flick of a wrist, or kill you when you’re of no more use to him,” I spit.
“I have chosen no sides; all of this is for my own ends. I’m the best tracker and bounty hunter available… I pick my pay day. I have no allegiances, no family, no links,” he snarls. “One day I could be working for someone and the next day I could be killing them,” he replies coldly.
“Let the monsters kill each other off to their heart’s content. Do the world some good and my bank balance a favour.”
I’m about to reply when we hear several shots out by the lifts. Pasha grabs me and holds me in front of himself, aiming a gun at my temple.
“Put down your weapon Misha, I know it’s you, I was waiting for you to arrive. I have Valentina here and, if you do not wish her pretty little head to be blown off, I suggest you give yourself up,” Pasha shouts.
“Don’t do it Bear!” I shout before Pasha pushes the gun into my temple hard, silencing me.
Misha walks in with his hands up and moves over to us. He’s looking around, trying to assess the room. I know what he’s planning and I can’t have him dying on me too.
“Hold him back as we take Valentina to the helicopter, make sure you get Luka as well. Mikhail wants to kill him personally,” Nikon states.
“He’s dead by the looks of it, or he’ll die on the way. We’ll be quicker just leaving him and taking Valentina,” Pasha contradicts.
“Fair enough, let’s get the bitch back to Mikhail,” Nikon orders.
“Argh…” Misha roars and all hell breaks loose. I try to get free from Pasha but I’m unable to.
Men go flying across the room as Misha goes on a rampage, like a Viking berserker, in an attempt to stop them from taking me. Nikon raises his gun and I scream so loud it deafens everyone.
“No Bear, please stop,” I cry. “Promise me you’ll leave him alive if I come with you willingly.”
“If you come willingly then yes. It’s a deal. Lower your gun Nikon,” Pasha orders, then address Bear.
“Misha, take some advice from… what is it the kids call it… ah that’s it, a frenemy… retreat now and live to fight another day. Dying won’t help anyone will it?”
Misha gives a roar of outrage.
“Stick your fucking advise where the sun don’t shine, you fucking Judas!”
“Now, now my grizzly friend… let’s not make this personal. Where were you all when my entire world was taken from me? I didn’t see your glorious boss charging to my aid when I lost my everything. So here I am, a man made by men just like him, taking what’s due. Just like he does and not giving two fucks who pays the price for my choices, just like they don’t. Men like him don’t care when innocent people get hurt. Well, I’m not innocent now, am I? They made me, so they have to live with the consequences of their actions,” Pasha spits.
“I’m Judas, am I? No, my friend, you have the wrong biblical tale. No… this is an eye for an eye.”
“Bear stop, please listen to me,” I shout.
Misha slams another two men’s heads against the wall with a sickening crunch. He looks over at me with rage filled eyes.
