Page 129 of Caged

I’d fight my way out of hell for her.

“But, did you?” Alexei calls out from the far end of the plane.

“Did I do what?” I yell back.

“Die. All that bleeding stuff happened before I picked you up.” He hasn’t even turned to face me, but his arm shoots toward the ceiling, and his middle finger raises on his hand. “I missed all the fun to be the chauffeur.”

“You weren’t supposed to be there at all. I told you to leave.” I rub my temples from the new headache he’s giving me.

He turns around in his seat, pointing his finger at me. “You’re lucky I didn’t. Who do you think told Tatiana’s men to go back for you?”

Mikhail’s eyes open wider and he turns to Alexei. “Did you see her?”

“Who?” he answers.

“Tatiana.” Mikhail’s voice deepens.

He gets frustrated with Alexei easily.

We all do, but he’s worth it.

“No. Why would I see her? I was too busy trying to load his heavy ass in the van.” Alexei waves his hand at me making air quotation marks. “Have you ever tried to load a limp Russian? It isn’t easy.”

“Very funny. I didn’t pass out because I chose to be stupid and taste a bag of unknown powder.” My arms fold over my chest, but I stifle the wince when I bump my bandaged wound beneath my shirt.

“Eh. Tomato. Potato. All the same.” Alexei shrugs and turns away.

“No. Those are not.” Why do I even bother arguing with him?

Mikhail’s eyes crinkle. I know he’s hiding a smile under his mask. “I’m glad he stayed. Things wouldn’t be the same without you, brother.”

“Ivan has gotten crazier. I’m worried he’s going to double down. Mila and her brother are going to live with me, but I can only offer so much protection. I need your help.”

I can see the balaclava twitch as his jaw clenches.

“How many fucking times did she stab you?” He gestures with his empty glass. “You’re like her very own stuck pig. I worry you’re getting played for a fool.”

It takes two full deep breaths to keep my anger in check. “You don’t know her like I do. I trust her. She’ll be an asset.”

He grunts. “More of a liability.” He runs his thick fingers through his hair, ruffling the slicked locks. “You’re going to make me die young of stress. Do you know what I was thinking when Alexei told me that? Not only did she stab you, what, three times? And, then you went back to her? Only to get caught and let Ivan drive nails into you?” He shakes his head and closes his eyes. “All in the matter of a few days? At this rate, you’ll be dead in a week.”

“Well, when you put it like that…” I hadn’t actually counted until he pointed them out. “You forgot our father shot me, too.” I grin at him.

“Fuck, Niki.” He holds up his hand, the tiniest gap between his thumb and index finger. “That’s how close you were to death. I think you only had a cunt hair holding you back from tipping over the edge.” Sitting back, he lets out another long sigh. “But, if you trust her, I do too. You just better not be wrong.”

FIFTY-FIVE

MILA

Tears sting in my eyes as I silently help Daniil walk to Nikolai’s front door.

Just looking at him kills me to think of what that monster did to my baby brother.

“I’m okay, Mila. I’m alive, I’m with my big sis. We’re going to be okay,” he whispers.

“Hey, I’m supposed to be the one to say that to you.” My voice almost breaks.

“Maybe, you need to realize I’m not a kid anymore. We’re a team now.”

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