Page 116 of Caged

He screams, grabbing at the weapon, and turns to lash out at me.

I use all of the strength I can muster, and I drop the second spike through his wide eye, pushing it as hard as I can until I feel it lodge against the back of his skull.

FIFTY

NIKOLAI

The room goes completely silent.

Then, all I can hear is Mila panting over the dead man.

My warrior. She did what I couldn’t.

Limping, she works her way around the body and unbuckles me.

I ignore the rods still lodged in my thigh to grab her and pull her close. “How did you do that?” I ask before kissing her gently on the corner of her bleeding mouth.

“My wrist was loose. While I was acting like I was passed out, I managed to get it more open.” She holds up her hand, showing the wear marks on her skin.

Wait. I grab her arm and look more closely. “Mila, did you break your thumb?” It sits at an odd angle from her fingers.

She shrugs. “I had to get free.”

Jesus, this woman.

“You’re still bleeding.” Without waiting for her reply, I yank on the bottom of my shirt and tear off two long strips to wrap around her oozing legs.

“Niki, you’re not in perfect condition either.” Mila reaches down and tugs the nail out of my leg, sending a new bolt of agony through me.

But, it’s worth it to hold her again.

“We have to get out of here.” I stroke her cheek before I push myself up.

Fuck, my quads shake.

How in the hell is she up and moving? I know she took those spikes to both of her thighs.

It’s a surprise when her lips thin and she shakes her head. “I have to find Daniil.”

My stomach sours.

Knowing my father, there’s a pretty good chance the poor kid is dead already.

“Okay, we’ll look for him.” I grab a machete from the table, and she picks up a pair of long knives. I feel a little better with the hefty blade in my hand.

We both hesitate reaching for the diamonds. That little bag has caused us both so much grief. I wonder if she feels the same doubts.

“Mikhail can use them.” I offer.

“I promised them to Tatiana, if that’s her.”

“Take them. If she’s the one that allowed us out, she deserves them all.” I nod.

She stuffs them in her pocket, then pauses, resting her hot palm on my arm. “When we’re done here, I never want to see them again.”

When she reaches for the door, I stop her. “No, let me. You’ve already done so much.” I don’t want her getting any more hurt.

It was killing me watching what Ivan and Dmitri did.

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