Page 106 of Savage Reign

“Vadim, check the security footage to see if we can ID any of them. I need to get Sofiya out of here. Call me when you have something.”

CHAPTER

FORTY-ONE

SOFIYA

I clampmy hands over my ears and squeeze my eyes shut, trying to block everything out. I feel powerless. Worse, I feel responsible—even though I’m not sure this is the Syndicate’s doing.

I’d like to think Liza wouldn’t let this happen—not after what I told her. But maybe she couldn’t get Roman or the others to listen. Maybe they’re here to “save” me, thinking I’m brainwashed or under Niko’s spell.

The sound of fighting filters through the walls. The skirmish must be happening in the main room. I promised Niko I’d stay put, not move until someone came for me—but what if I could stop the fighting? If Roman’s men realized I’m here, they’d put down their weapons. Wouldn’t they?

I’m debating what to do when there’s a sudden knock on the door.

My nerves spike. If it were Niko, he’d say so. Could it be Roman or one of his men?

“Sofiya, open up. I need to get you out of here.” Relief floods me as I recognize Emil’s voice.

I scramble to my feet and unlock the door. Emil steps inside, quickly shutting it behind him. “We need to move. Now,” he says, his expression tense.

“Where’s Niko? Is he okay?”

“He’s fine. But his orders are clear—I’m to get you out of here. He’ll meet us back at the house.”

My stomach churns. “I don’t want to go. If this is the Syndicate attacking, I can help stop it.”

“We don’t have time for this, Sofiya. Niko said to get you out of here no matter what.”

“But—”

“No ‘but.’ Move.” His grip is firm on my arm as he pulls me into a long, dark hallway. It’s a different route from the one we came in through.

I consider breaking his grip, telling him I can help, but maybe I’m being reckless. Walking into the middle of a gunfight could be suicide.

All I can do is hope Niko and the others make it out safely. This isn’t his first battle, and I have to trust he will make it out safely.

Emil shoves me into the backseat of a car—not the Land Rover we came in. The door slams, and I barely have time to click my seatbelt before the tires screech, and we speed off.

The car careens around a corner, throwing me against the door. I grab the handle to steady myself, glancing out the tinted windows. Unease drips down my spine. Is Emil worried we’re being followed? Could we be a target?

I start to ask, but his phone rings, and he picks up immediately. Maybe it’s Niko. I can’t hear the words, but his biting tone cuts through the air. He keeps glancing at me in the rearview mirror, his expression tense. Does he think this is my fault? It wouldn’t surprise me. Like he said, I distracted Niko, and now this.

When he hangs up, I lean forward between the seats. “Was that Niko? Is he all right?”

He doesn’t answer. Doesn’t even look at me.

“Emil?”

“Just shut up and let me do my job.”

His harsh words sting, but I swallow my frustration. Everything is on edge right now, and pushing him won’t help.

I chew on my nails, my thoughts racing. As soon as we’re back at the estate, I’ll call Liza. I need to know if the Syndicate is behind this. If they are, maybe it’s not too late to stop whatever they have planned.

I’m so lost in my head, my mind looping through worst-case scenarios, that I don’t notice the car has stopped until the door beside me swings open.

My head jerks up, and my stomach drops like a stone. Igor Bocharov. My whole body goes rigid.

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