Page 5 of Claim

Agony swallows me as the smell of charred skin and the taste of cinder forces itself into my mouth.

Stumbling, I crash to the ground, frantically pulling the hot embers from my jaw and cheek.

He climbs to his feet, looming over me, and raises the smoldering chunk of wood over his head.

This is it, my last moment.

Death by my own father’s hand.

As he swings down the final blow, arms grapple him from behind, shoving him over in a tangle of limbs.

Sergy raises his head over Ivan’s back and turns to me. “Run! Get the fuck out!”

My father bucks up, tossing Sergy off, elbowing him in the chest as they roll.

Shit.

The fire in my face screams at me, but the drive to get away is stronger. I manage to get my legs under me just as another explosion rocks the building, sending me crashing forward.

Concrete and wood plummet from the ceiling, pummeling me where I lie.

Strong hands clutch my jacket. Sergy flips me towards him, then collapses against a chunk of brick.

“Where’s Ivan?” I ask him hoarsely, choking on the thick air.

It’s only then I see the shiv of metal sticking out of Sergy’s chest.

“He ran,” he coughs, blood tinging his spit that gathers on the corner of his mouth.

That isn’t good.

“Get Zoya out of here.” His fingers claw at my arm. “And Mikhail, there’s one more thing.” He draws a ragged breath. “Ivan will be back for revenge. He knows about my youngest daughter, Anastasia. You have to keep her safe, too.”

“Ana, who?” I don’t know if I can handle any more obligations. I already feel as if I have the weight of the world on my shoulders.

“Please. She’s my baby girl—” Spasms wracks his body and a bubble of dark fluid spills from his lips. “—Katerina doesn’t know. Neither does your mother. Please, for me?” His hand falls limp away from me before his eyes unfocus.

Fuck.

He saved my life. Gave my mother a love she never had. Accepted Nikolai as a son.

God damn it.

“I’ll do it. I’ll keep her safe.” My palm brushes over his eyes, closing them.

Zoya moves in the corner of my vision, climbing out from under the table she was hiding under.

“Is he, I mean did he…?” Her question trails off as her eyes chase the trail where my father disappeared to.

“We have to go.” Roughly, I grab her hand and begin to lead her towards the main suite where I know Mother and Katerina are waiting.

But a wall of jumbled rubble blocks every access.

“Shit,” I whisper, turning to lead her away.

We’ll have to do this the old fashioned way.

“How fast can you run?” I ask.

---