Page 69 of Sexting the Silverfox

By the time I get to them, they are alone.

Grigori groans in sheer agony, barely able to look at the bloody mess of his leg while Audrey kneels beside him.

“It’ll take one hell of a doctor to fix that,” I say as I cautiously approach them.

As soon as she sees me, Audrey jumps to her feet. “Jason, thank God.”

“It’s going to be okay,” I calmly tell her and put the rifle over my shoulder. “But we need to get you out of here, now.”

“I don’t understand.” She pauses upon noticing my weapon. The color drains from her face. “Oh. Jason. You’re the one who—”

“Killed Arkady? Yes.”

“And shot my father …”

“An ambulance is already on the way,” I tell her. “He’ll live, trust me.”

She gives her father a brief but accusatory glance. “You used him! You deserve way worse than a fucking bullet for everything you’ve done.”

Grigori reaches a hand out, blood dripping from his fingertips. “Audrey don’t do something you’ll regret. Everything I did, I did for—”

“Yourself,” I cut him off. “You did for yourself. Cut the horse shit already, Grigori; nobody’s buying the stern but loving father shtick anymore. You allowed all of this to happen the minute you decided that your Fedorov pride was more important than your daughter’s well-being.”

“You need to—”

“I need to what?” I talk over him, forcing him back into his aching silence. “You manipulative piece of shit. You came to me, you asked for my help, you had terms and conditions, yet you somehow failed to tell me that Audrey’s pregnant. I see you clearly now. You have no business being anywhere near her or my family.” I pause and take Audrey’s hand, pulling her close. “You saw how good my aim is, Grigori. Don’t even think about coming after us because if you do, I won’t go for the leg again. I’ll go straight for your head.”

“Jason …” Audrey gasps.

Everything is happening too fast, sirens wailing, louder and louder with each passing minute. Red and blue lights flash in the corner of my eyes. “Come on, we need to get you out of here,” I say and pull her away from Grigori.

“This isn’t over!” he growls, but he’s too weak to get up.

“Yes, it is,” I reply.

With an arm around Audrey’s shoulders, I take her out of the courtyard and down the road. I parked my car a couple of blocks east, having left it between two delivery vans. We’re both quiet as we walk, but it’s not a heavy silence.

The look she gives me speaks of relief, of contentment, of peace.

I needed to see that twinkle in her eyes again, that fear withering away.

Our battle is far from over, but at least I’ve got her back, at least she’s safe.

Chapter 28

Audrey

For the better part of an hour, Jason and I barely speak, but there have been plenty of fleeting glances. I can breathe again. I sink into the passenger seat of his SUV, traffic lights dashing past us as we leave the city behind. Chicago glimmers in the rearview mirror while I quietly pray for my father’s recovery.

Part of me feels guilty because his demise would put an end to all of my problems. It’s a terrible thought to muster, but given everything that has happened, I can’t exactly blame myself for thinking this way. Jason was right. We don’t get to choose the family we’re born into.

Once the guilt subsides and the adrenaline wears off, I go over tonight’s events, the steps that ultimately led to Arkady’s death, and I reach the same conclusion as Jason did earlier—all of it could have been avoided if only my father had left me alone.

“Where are we going?” I ask after a while, noting the indifference on his face as he drives us farther away from Chicago.

“A friend of mine has a house up in Crystal Lake. We’re going to stay there for a while,” he says, one hand on the steering wheel while the other searches for mine.

I welcome his touch, letting his fingers mingle with mine. It fills me with a familiar warmth that envelops my entire body. Nothing much has changed except that the Abramovic Bratva isn’t really my problem anymore. From what I understand so far, Arkady was the only one who had his sights set on New York. The rest of the family and most of his associates had repeatedly expressed concerns about such a risky move. I doubt they’ll come after me in his place.

---