Page 58 of Taming Mika

Heart racing, I try to come up with a response that might help the situation—a way to make him lower his guard, or, at the very least, delay what’s coming. If I can lead him outside, at least then I can minimize the collateral damage, but I’m not sure how I can do that when three of his men stand at my back, guns raised. “I’m not in your way,” I insist, holding my hands out, palms up in a gesture of cooperation. “We can work this out?—”

“I will not be working anything out with you,” Nikolai states, stalking closer, the barrel of his gun glaring me down. “Alfie needs to understand thatnothingis going to get in the way of this alliance. He made a huge mistake, going back on his word, and I will teach him a lesson for it. Nobody fucks me over. But don’t worry,shlyukha, I will make this quick and painless because I am a gentleman.”

“Please, just—I’ll leave.” The words rush from my mouth in my desperation to do what little I can to protect the horses. Maybe I can reason with him so no one has to die.

“I don’t think so,” he drawls. “Clearly, you have a hold on Alfie, and that needs to be set straight. He won’t focus on the big picture until you’re removed from it, which is why I’m here to kill you.”

Nikolai raises his gun, bringing the barrel within feet of my face. He won’t miss from this distance, and cold dread floods my veins as Ifeel my fate closing in. I never should have left the house.Why didn’t I listen to Alfie?

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”

My heart somersaults at the familiar voice behind me. Deep and smooth, it sounds calm, entirely in control of the situation, and despite my terror, an intense surge of relief sweeps through me.

“Ah, Alfie, I’m glad you’re here. It’s probably best if you see this so there’s noroom for misunderstanding,” the Russianpakhansneers.

“Put the gun down, Nikolai, and we can talk about this,” Alfie says, a hint of warning edging into his tone.

“In case you haven’t gotten the message, I’m not interested intalking. We had an agreement. You signed the betrothal contract, and youwillhonor it—once I kill your whore.”

“You don’t want to pull that trigger.”

How can Alfie sound so damn confident right now?I’m shaking like a leaf, waiting as my life hangs in the balance, and he might as well be talking about the weather for how concerned he seems. I wish I could see his face, but I’m too scared to move.

“And why not?” Nikolai asks, taking a step closer to me as his sneer grows.

“Because I have the barn surrounded. If you kill her, you won’t be leaving here alive.”

A muscle ticks in the Russian’s powerful jaw, and my stomach knots as his aloof boredom transforms into anger. Before I can react, he lashes out, grabbing my arm with bruising force as he yanks me toward him. The unexpected jerk pulls me off balance, and I slam into his massive chest with a gasp. The towering Russian spins me, wrapping a beefy arm around my neck. Cold metal presses against my temple, and I freeze as his hold tightens around my throat. Heart firmly lodged in my airway, I grasp his forearm with both hands, trying to alleviate the pressure enough to avoid suffocating, but I might as well be trying to bend iron. My ears ring, the blood pooling in my head as I suck in what little oxygen I can.

Terrified, I lock eyes with Alfie. His face is stony with an impassive calm, but I can see the fury blazing inside him. I don’t want todie. I definitely don’t want to die like this. What frightens me most, though, is the flicker of fear I catch in his hazel gaze for just a moment before he looks over my shoulder at my captor.

The quick movement unleashes a fresh round of guns cocking, and cold adrenaline rushes through my veins.

“Hold your fire,” Alfie commands, raising his hands in a staying gesture as his nostrils flare. “Let her go, Nikolai,” he says, his voice low and deadly. “Let her go, and we can talk.”

“The only thing I want to hear you say is that you intend to move forward with the wedding,” the Russian growls, his chest vibrating against my back as his booming voice assaults my eardrum.

“We can form an alliance without marriage ties,” Alfie reasons, taking a slow step toward us.

“You think I would trust you with an agreement any less binding than a marriage after what you’ve done?” Nikolai growls, his arm tightening around my throat.

He forces me back a step, and Alfie’s eyes track the motion. He stops, his gaze flicking to mine before shifting back to Nikolai.

“How about I kill the girl who’s caused so much trouble, and then you can decide where your loyalties lie?” thepakhantaunts.

My heart slams against my ribs, and my grip tightens around his forearm as I fruitlessly attempt to break free once more.

“Right now, Mika is the only thing keeping you alive,” Alfie warns. “Give her to me, and I’ll spare you and your men’s lives.”

Nikolai huffs with contempt, but before he can say no, Alfie keeps talking.

“That trade is more than fair by his count, since you have several men here, and you’ve already killed several of mine. Let her go, and you all walk out of here alive.”

“It’s not enough,” Nikolai snarls, pressing the barrel of his gun more firmly against my temple.

I flinch; sure my life is over, but then nothing happens.

“That won’t cover the debt you owe me for leaving my daughter at the altar.”

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