Mikhail
“Ippolit shot the girl to wound her,” Alexander starts, his voice weak but steady. “You know how he liked toying with his victims. And Gunsyn.” He winces. “Gunsyn wanted to rape her. I was the only thing that saved her last bit of dignity when I sent him away to comb the grounds for you instead.”
A cold sweat appears on Zakhar’s forehead, and the memory of running from Gunsyn that night must be flashing through his mind.
“Once that pig was gone,” Alexander continues, “I looked into Aria’s eyes and saw a woman who deserved better than the fate that awaited her. And she was dying anyway. So, I gave her a dignified end. I shot her in the head.”
My chest tightens at the revelation. Yes, he gave Maria’s mother a merciful end, but he still played a part in her death. I feel a possessive anger flare up within me, demanding justice for her.
But it’s not justice for me to dispense.
“Should I thank you or condemn you?” Zakhar asks, his rage surpassing his bitterness. “You were my sworn brother, Sasha! I trusted you! Aria trusted you!”
“I know,” Alexander sighs, his gaze never leaving Zakhar’s eyes. “But what’s done is done. Now you do what you must.”
He’s right. There’s nothing any of us can do to bring Maria’s mother or Desmier back. All we can do now is make sure their deaths were not in vain and bring down those who tore our families apart.
For love, for revenge, for the future of the Bratva, I will see this through to the bitter end.
“Zakhar,” I say, turning to him. “We need to go. The clock is ticking, and we still have a lot of work to do.”
“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 Maria’s mother and exposed the truth behind Desmier’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 Maria. 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 Ivanov 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 Maria’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, Mikhail Ivanov,” 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 Maria 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 Maria?” I demand the moment Rurik opens the front door.
Rurik shakes his head. “She’s gone, Mikhail Ivanov.”
“Dammit!” I shout, slamming my fist into the wall. “Why didn’t you stop Sorokin?”
“Stop!” Larissa races into the hallway. “Maria did the honorable thing. She left on her own.”
“What?” I choke out. “How can you say that!”
“Maria 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. “Maria 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.”