Page 120 of Caged

I can hear the rustle of the gems, followed by a snap.

Rough hands scoop me up and throw me over their shoulder.

“No! Nikolai!” I reach toward him, lying so still on the floor. “I can’t leave him.”

The man carrying me doesn’t pause, but turns the corner like I’m cargo heading for a delivery.

If I had the strength, I’d fight him.

My fists land lightly. I doubt he can even feel the impact.

But, my tears, they soak through the thick fabric of his jacket.

The last memory of the man I love is him lying on the cold concrete.

I have no idea how long I’m carried. My eyes sting, so I leave them tightly shut.

The chill in the air and the crunch of the leaves makes me look around.

“Here is fine.” Another man directs my transporter, and I’m dumped unceremoniously onto the ground.

“You? Where is Nikolai?” The new guy leans down, revealing a wild array of hair with tattoos going up his neck and over his ears.

He’s one of Nikolai’s men, but I can’t remember his name.

I just want to sleep.

“What did you do to him?” His grimace reveals the gleam of a silver tooth as he grabs up the front of my shirt and looks into my face.

“Just leave me alone. He’s gone. Take care of my brother.” I fall back against the dirt when he lets go.

My legs feel heavy, sticky with all of the blood loss. It makes me lightheaded.

Knees hit the earth next to me and a warm hand closes around mine. “Mila, you need to get up.” Daniil’s voice breaks as he bends over me.

I can hear the shuffle of men and an engine.

The tattooed one stands over us both. “I’m supposed to take you with me back to the hotel. Can you help me lift her?”

I can’t fight them off.

My arms don’t want to work. Maybe it’s because I’m not even trying.

Daniil is safe.

Nikolai is gone.

I give up.

They drag me into the back of a van, next to another body.

It’s still warm.

Is this how I go?

As I watch the shadows flicker across the roof, it looks like the slides of an old movie reel.

“Is this my seven minutes?” I whisper to myself.

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