Page 78 of Stolen Seconds

I swallowed the hurt from my voice and answered. “I’m coming to Russia. Alone.”

“Long overdue. I’ll tell your father you’ve failed.” The lift in his voice was evident, and I knew he was satisfiedwith this turn of events. “I told you war was on the horizon.”

My throat burned with the need to wreak havoc on him, but words caught in my throat as a car came straight at me, the lights blinding me as it sped closer.

All I could do was scream as I shifted the starring wheel, unable to see anything from the rain, tears, and lights.

It all happened so fast. One second, I was swerving to avoid the oncoming car and the next my body jolted forward from the unexpected impact.

All the blood in my body rushed to my head as I coughed, spots forming in my vision. Adrenaline pumped in my veins, my heart racing from the position I was in.

Breathing through my nose, I tried staying calm as I removed my seatbelt and laid my palms flat against the roof to push myself up. My efforts rendered useless. I was stuck.

With a frustrated grunt, I looked through the broken window in hopes of getting help.

All I could see were trees and rain fogging the gloomy air.

Anxiety gripped me in a vise, and I realized I wasn’t ready to die yet. Regret sliced me in half with so much I wanted to say.

I punched the roof with my fists. “Help!”

After a few seconds, headlights flickered, catching my attention and I squinted until I’d made out a tall figure running toward me. It was hard to see their face when my car was flipped over but pale blond hair stuck out to me. My heart beat wildly against my chest.

“Nico!” I called out for him, tears spilling from my eyes as relief washed over me.He’d come after me.

“I’m com-” His sentence went unfinished as he stopped running, his body motionless for a moment before dropping to the ground.

A violent scream tore from my chest as I watched a masked man stand above my brother’s fallen form, his hand swinging around a baseball bat.

Panic seized me, my skin vibrating with the need to escape when he lifted his head, watching me.

Confusion and fear twisted my insides as the man took slow strides toward me, as if he wanted to prolong whatever he had planned for me.

Sweat ran down my forehead as I thrashed carelessly, urging my body to free itself, but he’d already reached me, his boots the only thing visible outside the window.

I held my breath when he didn’t move, my throat burning from the urge to scream, but I clamped my lips shut. I’d never give anyone the satisfaction, not even if death stared at me in the face.

Gravel crunched beneath his shoes as he went down on his haunches, his hands dangling between his legs.

Anticipation of his next move swirled thickly in the air. Slowly, he tilted his head down until I could see his covered face, his gaze cold as it landed on me.

When he reached for me, my arms went flying, anywhere I could hit him, but his intention wasn’t clear until his free hand clamped over my mouth, soft fabric caressing my skin.

My eyes widened for a second as a distinct odor invaded my nose before I felt myself drift away.

The surrounding air was stiff as I gained consciousness. My head was heavy, pounding profusely, which made it harder to gain clarity.

With weighted limbs, I moved my body slowly, something biting into my skin from the action.

I blinked rapidly as everything came crashing down on me.The fight. The crash. Nico.

With suddenness, my eyes shot open, my senses heightening from renewed adrenaline as I peered around my surroundings.

There was nothing in the small room to indicate where I was. Only stained concrete and yellow walls.

Cold fear sank down in the pit of my stomach when I saw Nicolai across the room from me. His body was slack in a chair with his bloody head lolled to the side.

I pulled against the thick chains covering me. But with my wrists bound behind my back and my feet knit together, my movements were restricted.

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