Page 110 of Stolen Seconds

“You know why.” Irina shook her head, and his face turned an angry shade of red. “Yes, you fucking do,” he seethed.

“No, I don’t.” A strike of her fiery temper peeked through as she stared him down. “Why would I know why my cousin is threatening to kill me!”

Viktor barked a laugh, keeping his darkened gaze on both of us. “Did the torture null your intelligence, princess?”

Cold sweat ran down my spine as the meaning of his words registered. My jaw strained when I looked over at Irina. She had gone still, a sickening hue coloring her cheeks.

“That was you?” I asked through gritted teeth, narrowing my eyes at Viktor.

“I would’ve gotten rid of her and that undeserving bastard she calls brother if you hadn’t shown up.” He snarled at me.

“Why?” Irina’s voice cracked, and I internally screamed at her to not give him the satisfaction of seeing her break.

“I was the next heir to the Bratva.” Viktor answered her as if it were the most common knowledge. “Myfather died yetyoursreplaced him and now he wants his bastard son to take his position asPakhan.” He spit on the floor in disgust.

“Your father made that decision, and you know it.”

As if she struck a nerve, he paused for a brief moment, an eerie sensation crawling along my skin.

“On second thought, I’ll kill him first.” Viktor changed direction, aiming his gun at me before pulling the trigger.

The bang ricocheted off the walls, and I waited for the impact but the bullet never struck me.

My ears rung, my feet threatening to pull from under me as I watched Irina fall to the floor.

No.

“Irina?” Her name fell off my lips in a rush, my eyes deceiving me, and refusing to accept what she’d just done. I fell to my knees beside her, turning her into my arms. “What did you do sweetheart, huh?” My voice cracked as tears blurred my vision.

Her gaze landed on me, blue eyes slowly dimming as she bled out.

My heart thrashed wildly as I pressed the wound inher chest to stop it from bleeding further.

“Perhaps I won’t kill you after all.” I’d forgotten Viktor was in the room until he spoke again, fury surging through my veins. “Watching you suffer as she dies is far more satisfying.”

He kept talking, but I couldn’t register anything beyond the woman dying in front of me. The woman I loved.

IlovedIrina, and she was dying.

“Why did you do that?” I whispered, pressing my forehead to hers, trying to keep her awake when all I felt was her slipping away as the seconds ticked by. “You shouldn’t have done that.”

“Luca. . . ” The pain in her voice as she said my name brought out a guttural groan from me.

It was hard to breathe, and I knew I wouldn’t survive this. “If you die, Irina, I’ll never forgive you.”

I pulled back and saw tears pool in her eyes, emotion softening her features.

“Don’t do this to me,il mio piccola ribelle. Please.” My own tears fell on her cheeks, each one carrying a piece of my broken heart because if she died, she’d take me with her.

An audible sigh escaped her before she opened her mouth to speak but instead of words, blood sputtered out.

Fear grasped me in its claws, and I held Irina closer, my sanity threatening to shatter.

Yet, she never looked more at peace. The corners of her mouth lifted and for the first time, she genuinely smiled at me.

“That’s right, sweetheart. Just keep looking at me likethat,” I cooed, sniffling as I pushed stray hairs out of her face. “I’m going to get you help.”

It didn’t matter what I said.

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