Page 78 of The Stalking King

My body protests as I rearrange the man on the ground into the recovery position. When I check his pulse, I feel a weak beating. He makes a groaning noise. He’s conscious, at least.

“I’m sorry,” I whisper. “I didn’t want to hurt anybody.”

The door at the end of the hallway suddenly bursts open.

I stand, my vision hazy, and raise the gun quickly.

A huge man is striding toward me, a weapon in his hand, blood flecking his face and hair. I get ready to pull the trigger, to fight my way out, until he lets out a shuddering breath and I realize who it is.

I step over the barely conscious man, dropping the gun, then burst into tears as I collapse into Maksim’s arms.

“Maksim,” I whimper, pressing my face against his chest. “Maksim. I didn’t think you’d come.”

“I could never abandon you,” he says fiercely. “The first time I laid eyes on you, my light, I knew you were mine. Mine to have, mine to protect, mine to love.”

I look up at him, wishing I could say the words back, wishing I was ready.

He smiles sadly, blood and cuts all over his face. “It’s okay,” he murmurs, kissing me on the cheek gently. “I told you once before, Lia, and I’ll tell you again. We’ve got all the time in the world.”

Wincing from his injuries, he lifts me into his arms.

“Close your eyes,” he says. “Bury your face in my chest. You don’t want to see.”

“Is it bad?”

“Conrad is dead. His men are dead. Some of mine too. It’s butchery, and far too dark for you.”

I want to tell him I’m stronger than that. He doesn’t have to hide anything from me.

I want to tell him I need to look, because I’m not a coward.

But the truth is, he’s always made letting go feel so easy. I push my face against his hard chest, close my eyes, and let him carry me away.

CHAPTER 28

MAKSIM

Maksim: I’m almost done.

Itext Lia, two days after the mayhem at the data center, two days after I moved through the server banks and saw that Conrad had already taken a bullet in the chaos. I put one in him anyway, finishing the bastard off, before searching for my Lia.

It wasn’t cinematic. It wasn’t some long-drawn-out thing. It never is when true violence happens. It’s quick and vicious and ugly, and regular people can’t understand. I hate that Lia now does. I hate that she had to inflict violence to save herself.

Lia: Take your time. We’re just relaxing in your hot tub. Mom keeps crying because she’s so happy I’m alive. And I’ve shed a tear or two, too. I think it should stop in another couple of days.

Maksim: Don’t apologize for being loving and caring.

I look around the meeting room as we wait for the last lieutenant to arrive. My brother is tied to a chair at the head of the room, a rag in his mouth. I can’t look at him. I’m too heartbroken.

Maksim: Don’t apologize for being human. Don’t apologize for being you.

The last two days have been busy. Conrad did us a favor by taking Lia to such an isolated location. It made cleanup easier. And then there was the matter of saving Rachael and Mikey, which was easy once Conrad was gone. Conrad didn’t have what we have here, the iron loyalty of the Bratva. I paid off his men and that was that.

Which is why I wish my brother had come to me. My foolish, naïve, idiot brother.

When everybody has arrived, I stand.

“I’ve made my decision,” I say, glaring around the room, ignoring the tugging in my side. “Nikolai will be exiled to Miami. He’s going to establish our presence there. If any of you have a problem, speak now. We’ll settle it like men.”