Page 138 of Claim

All I can hear is his growling and tearing as he pulls her throat free from her body.

“Abort,” I say softly, staring only at Ana’s closed eyes.

Hades drops to his haunches, licking the gore from his lips.

“Mikhail? Tatiana got shot. What do you want me to do?” Alexei presses a corner of her shirt into her shoulder.

“Get Drago. She saved Ana. She deserves anything she wants for that.” I pull Ana up onto my lap, rocking her slowly against my chest.

“Come on, iskorka, wake up.” I can’t see any injuries.

All I can hope is that she and the baby are okay.

Alexei scoops up Tatiana and darts out the door.

I can hear the wild revving of the engine when Drago leaves. I’m guessing he’s rushing Tatiana to a doctor.

Maybe I should have carried Ana out there too?

Hades whines, sniffing her arm, and bumps it with his bloody nose.

“I know, buddy. I hope she’s okay.” My palm rests on her belly.

I can feel my baby moving. I just need her to wake up.

Gunfire outside makes my heart race, but I don’t move.

Ana is my priority now.

My brother and the rest can take care of everything.

Until a slow clap comes from the door to the house.

“Well done, son.” Ivan grins, watching me. “You’ve saved me the trouble of killing her myself.” He pushes himself away from the frame and holds his arm towards the porch.

Galena moves closer, gripping his finger in her tiny hand.

“How did you get past everyone?” I growl, hunching myself over Ana.

“Oh, they’re currently, hmm, preoccupied.” He strokes his gray beard, then squats next to Zoya’s body, while pulling Galena onto his knee. “Your mommy was a very bad girl,” he says.

I wish I could send Hades on him as well, but I’m not sure that Galena wouldn’t get hurt in the process.

Galena buries her face against his shoulder, and her back shudders with sobbing.

“Stop crying,” he snaps. “She’s gone.”

Ah, there it is. The loving father.

I hate him.

“What do you want, Ivan?” I growl.

“The same as I’ve always wanted. My daughter, and my wife. Now that you’re mongrel has killed Zoya, I’ll take yours instead.” He stands, smirking as he looks down at Ana.

“I don’t think so.” The words to send Hades after him sit on the tip of my tongue.

If only he wasn’t using Galena as a human shield.

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