Page 9 of Kissed By Shadows

“You’re not. Now come.” I spin around, unable to keep facing her for fear of gathering her into my arms and never letting her go. Slinging the bag over my shoulder and slowly opening the door, I listen, my shoulders loosening a little when the house is still silent.

“You know, you’re really fucking bossy,” she grumbles under her breath, and I have to bite my lips to stop the chuckle from escaping. She has no idea how bossy I can get, and unfortunately, I don’t have time to show her, much as I would like to.

Feeling her body heat behind me, I reach back and take her hand, scanning the dark hallway to make sure it’s empty before heading towards the servants’ stairs that all these large English mansions seem to have. Thank fuck because it makes our getaway so much easier.

With her hand tightly clasped in mine, I pull her along, finding the hidden door with ease and praying that it’s not going to squeak when I open it. Holding my breath, I pull the small ring and breathe out a sigh when it opens smoothly.

“Nikolai—”

“Shhh!” I hiss, pulling Iris through and shutting the door until we’re in pitch-black darkness. “Careful.”

I don’t dare turn on any lights, so we will have to find our way in the dark. Luckily, I’ve faced so much worse than this, and the dark doesn’t bother me. By the way Iris’s breathing picks up and her body presses closer to mine though, I’m guessing she’s not afan. I remember that she used to hate the dark, always telling me that she had to have a nightlight on to sleep, and I squeeze her hand in reassurance.

It’s all worth it, as long as she’s safe.

I make my way down the stairs, pulling her gently along behind me until we’re at the bottom. Then I stop, knowing that the door in front of me takes us directly into the corridor that leads to the kitchen but also leads to the large gardens at the back. Iris and I used to spend hours exploring the house and grounds of her father’s huge property, so I’m well-versed with its layout, even if it is dark.

Gently easing the door open, I wait, still hearing nothing but Iris’s harsh pants. Taking a slow, measured inhale, I pull open the hidden door and pause again, only moving out into the dark corridor when I’m sure the space is empty. We silently walk down the corridor, my heart pounding as I pray the men that my father left are all asleep in the bedrooms upstairs and any guards aren’t in this part of the house.

Luckily, we don’t come across anyone, and then we’re heading outside into the frozen winter night. I’m grateful that Iris was wearing a wool coat when I took her upstairs all those hours ago. Sticking to the outskirts of the well-maintained garden, making use of all the shadows, I lead her to the back gate, which is set into the outside wall and has a key hidden under a rock to one side. We discovered it as young teens, though we were never brave enough to use it, both our fathers making it clear that we had to stay in the grounds of the house. I could have picked the lock if need be, but this just makes things easier.

Iris is silent as I open the gate, again, clearly well-maintained as it doesn’t even squeak, so it’s obviously used by the staff and groundskeepers. Then we’re out onto the street, and with hurrying steps, I lead her away from her childhood home.

“Nik,” she hisses, tugging on my hand once we’re far enough away from her house to talk. “Tell me where we’re going, please.”

It’s the note of desperation in her voice that pulls me up short. Looking around, I tug her into the darkened doorway of a shop, hiding her body with my own. We’re about twenty minutes away from the World’s End Estate, the base of operations for the Shadows.

“I’m taking you to Hunter and the Shadows,” I tell her, watching as her forehead creases. “They can keep you safe,Solnishko. More than I can.”

“How do you know about them?” she asks, her eyes searching mine, trying to seek answers that I cannot give.

“Everyone knows about them, and if you’re under their protection, my father will be loath to mess with them, especially with the twins’ connection to the Irish.”

Rumour has it that the Kent twins were the byproduct of two warring Irish mob families. So their mother hid them away with a foster family in the World’s End Estate to allow them to grow up into men who now have the backing of both sides of their family. And those Irish fuckers don’t mess around, plus I doubt my father wants a war on his hands, which is what he’d get if he messed with the Shadowmen.

“But why would they take the risk? Why protect me?” she questions, and I want to tug her into my arms and tell her just how fucking smart she is for even thinking of these questions.

“They owe you a favour, right?” I stare into her eyes, watch as they widen when she realises what I’m talking about.

“Willow.” She bites her lower lip, glancing away, then back to me. “Why can’t I just run, why can’twejust run? Surely that’s better than being right under his nose?”

I sigh, my hand coming up to cup her soft cheek. It’s chilled from the cold night air, and something inside me rebels at the fact she’s here out in the cold and not warm, wrapped in myarms. “You can’t outrun him.Wecan’t outrun him. He’d find us, and then our lives wouldn’t be worth living with what he’d make us endure. Trust me,Dorogoi.” Dark memories try to take me back to my childhood, to the time I spent learning to be a man, but I push them aside. “The only way is to keep you protected, to keep you safe until I can come for you.”

I don’t dare speak of my plan to eradicate my father. To commit the ultimate crime of patricide and take over by removing him. It’s the only way to end his reign of terror over my life. The only way to truly keep her safe from his clutches. The only way to right so many wrongs I’ve lost count.

“And you will come for me?” she asks softly, her voice barely above a whisper and her forehead creased, worry shining in those hazel eyes of hers. My heart hurts for her. I know the effect of her mother leaving when she was younger. I saw it in the games we played as children that always included a loving mother who doted on their child. That abandonment has only been compounded by her father giving her to my father, leaving her alone in the world. Although, she will never be alone, not as long as I draw breath.

“I swear, if it’s in my power to do so, one day I’ll come for you,Solnishka.” I seal my vow by placing my lips against her trembling ones, trying to memorise the feel of them, knowing I’ll need the sweet memories for the dark times ahead. “Now let’s go.”

CHAPTER FOUR

“GANGSTER” BY KEHLANI

IRIS

For the second, or is it the third time in the past twelve hours, my life is turned upside down. The freezing night air seeps into my very bones, despite my wool coat, as I race along with Nikolai, heading towards the World’s End Estate.

It’s a place I’ve never been to, not even when I was helping Willow. It’s kind of a no-go zone, not if you want to come away unscathed, and my heart pounds like a death bell tolling as we get closer.

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