“Stop!”
My eyes snapped toward at the familiar voice, and I watched as Natasha emerged from the shadows, the gun she held pointed directly at me.
* * *
Sorin
“Where is she?” I said to the man who stood in her living room.
He smiled, looking far more cocky than he had been when I’d kicked him in his ribs or when I’d taken his thumb. I burned with regret that I hadn’t taken his life when I had the chance, vowed that I would correct that error.
“Not so tough now, huh?” he said.
“Where is Esther?” I repeated, managing to keep my voice calm, though rage and fear raced through me.
But my nervousness was not lost on him. “You’ll find out soon enough,” he said.
“I’m going to kill you. And if anything happens to her, I’m going to kill everyone you ever loved,” I said.
The kid laughed again. “We’ll see. Let’s go.”
I hadn’t had time to call Vasile or anyone else, so I waited for my opportunity, kept an eye on my surroundings. We’d headed to the industrial part of the city, and few knew better than me what happened here. The vise on my heart squeezed tighter. But no matter what, I wouldn’t let Esther die here, in a place like this. So I did the thing most unnatural to me. I played it cool.
I followed the kid, certain he was only confident enough to turn his back to me because he knew I wouldn’t make a move until I saw her, got her to safety. After that, I would slice his skin off, but until then…
“What the fuck?” the kid uttered as he stopped in the doorway.
I rushed passed him but pulled up short at the scene that greeted me. I comprehended what I saw, but I didn’t want to believe it.
Esther, feet bare, face drawn tight with fear.
Anton and Petey standing side by side, eyes glued to the final person in the room.
Natasha, her gun trained on Esther, her intent as clear as day.
“You a part of this, Anton?” I asked, not moving my eyes from Natasha.
“No,” he said.
I believed him.
“What’s your angle, Petey? What are you trying to gain?”
“Everything, Sorin,” Natasha said.
“Your father will be disappointed in you, Petey. Yours would have been too, Natasha.”
The gun wavered and her eyes sparked, but she quickly regained control.
“Don’t speak to me of betrayal. Not after all I gave you. Honor, loyalty. They only mean something when you decide they do so you can do whatever you want and then pat us on the head as you toss us away. Not anymore,” she said, pulling her mouth into a tight frown.
“What do you want, Natasha?” I asked.
She laughed. “What if I wanted you to beg for her life, promise me you’ll marry me, that you’ll give me the world if I let her live? Do you love her enough for that?”
I said nothing, and she watched me, eyes glittering. “You would, wouldn’t you? She means that much to you. Can’t believe I didn’t see it. So do it, Sorin. Tell me pretty things, promise me there won’t be consequences, that you’ll spare me pain,” she said, eyes flashing, no trace of the woman I’d known—had thought I’d known anyway—present. I wondered then if I’d ever really known her before deciding it didn’t matter.
“Despite what you’ve done, Natasha, I won’t lie to you. You will die for this. But you don’t have to suffer. I owe your father that much,” I said.
“What about me? What do you owe me!” she screeched.
“Nothing,” I said, my voice cold, low.
She laughed, voice melodic almost, save the high-pitch shrill that was the best clue to her mental state. “Honest. Always so honest. I always liked that about you,” she said.
“This is heartwarming, but can you pop the bitch so we can wrap this up?” Petey said it as casually as if discussing the weather, and the mix of fear and loathing that hit me almost made me puke.
“Shut up, Petey!” she screamed.
“Don’t forget who you’re talking to,” he snapped.
She turned to face him then. “And who am I talking to? A worm who rides his daddy’s coattails? You were useful once, Petey. You aren’t anymore.”
Neither the soft click of the trigger or the loud boom of the gun going off were new to me, but they’d never sounded quite like this. Nor had Esther ever made a sound like she did then, a wounded shriek that cut my heart in two, hurt me more than any physical blow ever could.
But the sound was drowned out by a low umph. I turned, saw Petey as he pressed his hand to his stomach, fell to his knees, and stared up at Natasha, face more shocked than pained.
“Don’t looked so surprised, Petey. I told you people always underestimate dumb, pretty Natasha. You did too.” She smiled a cold little smile.