Page 111 of Beautiful Cruelty

Whatever blood she intends to spill, it sure as shit wasn't going to be inside of that church.

"Vadim..." Lacey's voice wavers slightly. She's scared but trying not to show it.

"It's alright,zvyozdochka." I draw my weapon, keeping it low and out of sight from the shore. "I won't let anything happen to you."

The nearest boat surges forward, coming alongside us. I can see their weapons now, poorly concealed under jackets. A bloodbath is about to start.

The first shot comes from our left.

I drop and push Lacey down to the deck with me as bullets crack over head. The acrid smell of gunpowder fills my nostrils.

"Stay down!" I shove Lacey behind the helm station and slam the throttle forward. The boat lurches beneath us.

A heavy thud rocks the deck. One of Sayanaa's men has landed on our boat. His boots scrape against the fiberglass as he regains his balance. I don't give him time to steady himself.

I surge up, catching him in the jaw with my elbow. He staggers but manages to grab my jacket. We grapple, trading blows in the confined space. His knife flashes in.

I catch his wrist before the blade finds my throat, and fire two shots into his abdomen before kicking him into the water.

Lacey gasps behind me. I can't let her see this, but I have no choice.

Her hands cover her mouth, eyes wide with horror as the body disappears behind us.

The Seine swallows him without a trace, dark waters closing over yet another secret. When I turn back to Lacey, her face is pale as moonlight, but there is no fear in her eyes. She's stronger than she knows.

More shots ring out from the pursuing boats. I aim at the nearest one and fire back, but there's just too damn many.

I whirl back toward the helm, but Lacey has already beaten me there.

"I'll drive!" she shouts over the gunfire. "You focus on shooting back!"

For a split second, I hesitate. But there's steel in her eyes and her tone brooks no argument.

I give her a sharp nod and shift to cover her as she takes control.

The boat surges forward under her command. She handles it with surprising skill, weaving between the tourist vessels while I focus on the threats closing in from behind.

Two more of Sayanaa's men leap aboard. I meet the first one before his feet touch the deck. His body crumples as a pink mist of blood and brain appear in the air from a single bullet.

The second attacker slashes at me with a knife. I dodge, feeling the blade whisper past my ear. He's good. But I'm better.

I catch his arm on his next swing and slam him against the rail. His head cracks against the metal. Before he can recover, I snap his arm and send him to join his friend.

A third man lands behind me. I spin, but I'm not quite fast enough. His fist catches my jaw. Pain explodes through my skull. I taste blood.

Then the boat jerks hard right. The man stumbles, thrown off balance by Lacey's expert timing. I don't waste the opening. One precise strike to his temple drops him, a shot to the stomach stuns him, and a kick dislodges him.

Finally, the pursuing boats fall back. Whether they've run out of men willing to die or simply lost their nerve, I don't care.

Lacey cuts the engine, breathing hard. I cross to her in two strides and pull her into my arms. Her lips crash against mine, fierce and wild. She tastes like adrenaline and victory.

When we break apart, she's grinning. "We actually did it!"

"Not quite yet,zvyozdochka." I brush my thumb across her cheek and then point into the distance. "There's a car waiting at that dock. From there, it's a straight shot to the heliport at Issy-les-Moulineaux."

She nods, determination replacing her triumph. We dock quickly and make our way to the waiting vehicle.

As we get in, I can't help but admire how her wedding dress, despite everything, remains pristine white.

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