Page 109 of Caged

Ducking, I manage to use his momentum to my advantage to push him past.

Nikolai begins to swing at him, but two more men jump on his back, grappling for his arms.

“Leave him alone!” I try to hit one in the neck, but Nikolai is jerked backward by the other man getting a grip around his throat.

Prying at the thick fingers, my leg works up to hit the goon in the groin.

But the sprawled one grabs my leg, yanking me hard enough I bounce my head off of his knee.

Dazed, I try to scramble up. I’m almost back on my feet when a palm reaches out and rips my ankle out from under me.

Four more sets of hands reach out and claw at Nikolai, swarming him until he falls next to me.

A leering Dmitri appears over us, with a pistol gripped by the barrel in his fist.

“All of the best romances end in tragedy,” he sneers before he slams the butt of his gun against my head.

FORTY-EIGHT

NIKOLAI

Dripping water?

And the stench of rot and dampness.

It hurts when I open my eyes, even if the room is dim. A thin line of light comes in around the cracks in a heavily bolted door.

This isn’t good.

The last thing I remember is Dmitri’s men.

And seeing him hit Mila.

Where is she?

Craning my neck, I finally see a shape in the shadows.

She’s slumped, tied to a chair, with blood trickling down her nose.

My stomach twists. She would have never been hurt if I hadn’t fought her for the diamonds.

I should have listened to Mikhail and let her go.

But, I would have never known the truth. That she was forced into this.

Manipulated by the ruiner of lives, my father.

I’m going to kill him. I wanted to years ago, but Mikhail held me back.

He’s not here this time.

When I try to move toward her, I can’t. My wrists and ankles are bound with thick leather straps to a steel chair.

“Mila,” I whisper.

She doesn’t move.

Holding my breath, I strain my ears to pick up the faint sound of her exhale.

---