Page 97 of Crown of Hate

“Well, Well, Alya. Fancy meeting you here.” He takes a long drag and exhales through his nose. “Though I must say, this isn’t exactly how I imagined our little reunion.”

“What do you want, you sick bastard?” I snarl.

“Isn’t it obvious?” He chuckles darkly and turns to one of his men. “Check if that asshole is dead yet.”

“Go near him and I’ll call the cops.” I stagger to my feet, holding up the phone like a weapon. “Don’t you dare touch him.”

Akim lets out an exasperated sigh. “You’re a real pain in the ass, child. You know that?”

My lips quirk with a smirk of my own. “I guess it’s in the genes.”

Akim’s face slowly twists into an ugly scowl. “You stupid bitch.” He doesn’t take his eyes off me as he orders, “Take the phone from her and destroy it.”

“Siri, call91—”I start, but one of Akim’s goons charges at me and snatches the phone from my grip. He hands it to Akim who scoffs and smashes it on the ground.

“Don’t kill him,” I beg, dropping to my knees. “Please. I’ll do anything. Don’t kill him.”

“He won’t survive anyway, girl. What difference will it make?” He stalks towards me. “Isn’t it better to put him out of his misery?”

Good. He’s falling for it. He doesn’t know Alexei is on his way to Mikhail. If he doesn’t kill him, there’s a chance Mikhail will survive it. I just need him to keep him talking.

“Are you that afraid of him? You’d kill a man when he’s down?”

“He’s a dead man already, child.” Akim squats in front of me and blows smoke straight into my face. It stings my eyes, making them water, but I refuse to look away. “If you want him to suffer, then so be it.”

I cough, blinking away the sting, and turn my glare on Dimitri. His lifeless eyes meet mine, showing no hint of remorse or humanity. “Traitor,” I growl. “Do you honestly think you can get away with this?”

“He’ll be dead before morning. Who’s going to kill me?”

A burst of wild laughter ripples through my chest. “If no one else does, then I fucking will.”

“Enough of this nonsense. We have a flight to catch.” Akim straightens up. “Take her to the car.”

“I’m not going anywhere with you, you piece of shit.”

But two of Akim’s men grab my arms and start dragging me towards the waiting car. I fight like a crazed animal, writhing and biting, but it’s useless.

Akim pulls out a gun from his holster and starts walking towards Mikhail’s crumpled form with slow and deliberate steps, as if he’s savoring the moment. My heart pounds against my ribs, and my breaths come shallow and fast.

This can’t be happening. I can’t let him do this. I can’t lose Mikhail.

The metallic glint of the gun catches in the dim light, and a surge of helplessness courses through me.No. Please, no.I grit my teeth, fighting back the tears that threaten to spill.

But before he can take another step, the night explodes with the deafening crack of gunfire. He stumbles, cursing as bullets whiz past him. Cars roar towards us from a distance and more gunshots follow.

Thank God. They made it.

“Shit!” Akim growls. “Take the girl to the car. We’re leaving. Now!”

They shove me into the backseat, and Akim slides in next to me as his men scramble to retreat.

Through the window, I catch a glimpse of Alexei and Mikhail’s other men swarming the crash site. Alexei rushes to Mikhail’s side, and a weight lifts from my chest.

I smile, even as tears stream down my face. Mikhail will make it. He has to. He’ll come for me and our baby. Our story isn’t over yet.

Knowing Mikhail is in good hands, I finally allow myself to surrender to the darkness.

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