Page 24 of Saint

Nik hurried back to the driver’s side and dug around, retrieving a set of keys. “We’re taking the snowmobile,” he announced, stuffing the phone back into his pocket. “Nadia just sent a new location where we can go. Somewhere no one else knows about.”

“You can trust her?” Mia asked worriedly as Nik leaped up into the back of the truck.

“We don’t have a choice,” he said and unhooked the snowmobile. Mia stepped back as he opened the tailgate, lowered the ramp and quickly slid the vehicle down and onto the snowy ground.

The rumbling engines in the distance were getting louder, which meant one thing—they were getting closer. Nik hopped out of the truck bed, his boots landing with a thud, and slid onto the snowmobile. He shoved the key into the ignition and started it up. Then he extended his hand, helping Mia slide on behind him.

“What about our stuff?”

“We’ll get it later. Hold on tight,” he said.

She wrapped her arms around his waist, linked her gloved fingers, and jolted when Nik gunned it. The wind was an ungodly, bitter force and she buried her face against the back of his jacket as they sped through the dark forest.

A minute later, three snowmobiles appeared, their headlights illuminating Nik and Mia. With a curse, Nik turned the handles and drove deeper into the forest. Hanging on for dear life, Mia prayed they could evade their pursuers, but a quick glance over her shoulder confirmed they were right on their tail.

Gunfire popped and Mia screamed. It would be so easy for a bullet to hit her in the back. Nik must’ve sensed the same thing because he pushed the snowmobile harder and pointed it toward a ravine. “Hang on!” he yelled.

Oh, God! Was he going to drive over the edge? Another scream bubbled up her throat, but, at the last second, Nik angled the vehicle sharply away and they slid precariously along the icy edge of the cliff.

Glancing down into the tree-topped abyss below, she tightened her grip and sent up a frantic prayer they didn’t plunge over the side. She looked back in time to see the closest snowmobile shoot right over the edge. Pressing her face againstNik’s back, she tried to be brave, but there were still two more bad guys after them.

Angling away from the edge, Nik drove them straight into a thick cluster of evergreens. Branches slapped her arms and shoulders, and the scent of pine filled her nose. At the same time, Nik lifted his arm and fired over her head at their pursuers. Mia squeaked and held on, but her body was growing numb from the incredible cold.

Suddenly, they lurched forward and a loud clanking sound filled the air. Nik let out a stream of Russian, most likely swear words, and their snowmobile began to slow down. It sounded like something was caught in the gears.

“Get ready to jump, Mia!”

“What?” she screeched.

“I’ve got you!”

Before her frozen mind could process what he was saying, Nik grabbed her hands and arms in a tight grip and leapt off the snowmobile, taking her with him. They rolled down a hill and landed hard in a deep mound of snow. For a dazed moment, Mia stared up at the star-filled sky above and wondered if there were really that many stars or if she was seeing double.

Before she could figure out the answer, Nik was yanking her up. “Run!” he hissed, pulling her with him. She couldn’t feel her numb legs, but she forced herself to keep moving.

Once her eyes adjusted to the dark, she saw what looked like a cave opening.

“In there,” Nik said, dragging her inside.

They were both breathing hard and Mia looked back to see two pairs of headlights cut toward the cave’s opening. But they didn’t wait around to confront their pursuers. Instead, they jogged inside. Once they were deeper, Nik turned his phone’s flashlight on, sweeping the area. Mia gasped, not expecting to see what looked like a dreamland of icicles.

“What is this place?” she whispered reverently. “It’s beautiful.”

“Kungur Ice Cave. It’s famous for its ice formations and tourists swarm here during the warmer months. But it’s big and you can get lost easily. Stay close. And watch your st—”

Before he could complete his warning, Mia tripped on a narrow stone step, falling to her knees with a resounding thud that rattled her bones and her nerves even further.

“Are you okay?” Nik helped her stand back up.

“Fine. I’m so numb, I barely felt it.” He studied her for a moment too long then started down the steps. “What?”

“These stairs are called ‘the female tears’.”

“Why?”

“The name comes from a story about a princess who was visiting the cave,” he said in a barely audible voice. “She tripped and fell on them, and after she returned home, she got married. Since then, it’s said that if a woman falls down on these steps, she’ll get married soon.”

“Oh, well, it’s a nice story, but there’s no way I’m getting married any time soon. I haven’t even—” She abruptly stopped speaking.

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