Page 28 of Cruel Honor

But then Abram enters the kitchen, blocking our bath. I get the women behind the large island counter and pull out my gun. I fire a shot at Abram before he can get me.

He grunts when the bullet grazes him, but no hit. Fuck.

I duck behind the counter with the girls.

“You’re not going to win, Dimitri,” Abram growls. Then he begins to fire. The bullets hit the island counter, but the wood is too thick for the bullets to penetrate and reach us. He stops shooting.

And that’s my cue.

I duck out from behind the counter and fire at him again. This time, I land a bullet to his arm, knocking the machine gun out of his hand. It clatters to the floor.

I rush Abram and barrel into him, knocking us both to the ground. The machine gun flies across the room as I kick it away.

Abram is no match for me, and I press my own gun against his head. He immediately stops squirming.

“I could so easily kill you right now,” I tell him.

“Then why don’t you?”

“Because then that would make a mess of things. You have a lot of followers, Abram. They would miss you if you were dead. They’d probably come for me. I’m not going to risk my safety and that of my sister’s for you. So, I say we make a deal. I don’t have to marry Tatiana, and you leave me the fuck alone, and I won’t kill you right this very second.”

“A deal made under duress isn’t a real deal.”

“So? I have a gun to your fucking head, Abram. Take the fucking deal.”

He glares at me, and for a moment, I think he’s going to spit in my face and tell me to go to hell, but then he slumps to the ground. “Fine. I’ll take the deal.”

“Good.” I stand, pulling him up with me. “Now, get the fuck out of my house.”

I march Abram out with my gun. You can never be too careful, you know? He glares at me again as he stands on the front porch before walking away.

I know he’ll be back. That deal was bullshit. He’s going to try something again, but I need to be ready. I need to make sure he doesn’t rally his men.

Which means I need to marry Evie and put this whole Tatiana/marriage problem to a rest.

I head back into the kitchen. “Are you all right?” I look right at Evie as I ask, but it’s Juno who replies.

“I’m alive. That’s what counts. You stopped that man.” She flutters her eyelashes up at me. “You were so strong and brave.”

Katya rolls her eyes as she stands up. “We’re fine. I didn’t get shot.”

“Neither did I,” Evie says, not meeting my gaze.

“Good. Now that Abram is dealt with, we can get back to discussing our marriage.”

Evie puts her hands on her hips. “There is no marriage for us, Dimitri. I think you’re rude and inappropriate.”

“I saved your life.”

“Yes, and I’m grateful for that. I truly am. But that doesn’t mean I like you. I can’t marry you. I’ll take my own chances with Dima.”

“No,” I say. “I won’t allow it.”

“Here we go,” Katya mutters. “Controlling asshole behavior on the count of three, two, one …”

“You’re staying here,” I tell Evie, ignoring my sister.

“You can’t make me.”

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