Page 53 of Reign

I watch as Nikita and Max step on board at the side of the yacht. The boat looks out of place in this rundown marina. Clearly worth over a million dollars, it stands out next to the run down, neglected boats in the other slips.

“Mateo!” I hear Nikita call. “I hear you’re missing some money.”

Nothing. No sound. No movement.

Nikita tries to draw him out again. “I’ve brought the man you really should have sent Dominic after. Meet Max Lukin. He has your money.”

A shot rings out in the dark and Max falls at Nikita’s feet, washing Nikita in a spray of red.

“Holy shit,” Libby whispers beside me.

We can still hear Nikita loud and clear, “God damn it, Mateo, I needed him. Show your face so we can deal with this and get back to business.” Nikita wipes his face on his sleeve but all it does is smear the blood around, making him look unhinged. “I assume,” Nikita keeps talking while I try to figure out where the other bullet came from, “this isn’t about your money since you just killed the man who could have given it back to you. So, why don’t you and I talk?”

“Comm 2, any idea where that shot came from?” I ask into the small mic at my vest.

“Negative,” Diego says, “All clear on the west side of the boat.”

The way Max fell away from Nikita means it came from Nikita’s back but I see nothing. Smartly, he’s walked a slow circle around Max’s body and is now facing the opposite direction.

Nikita starts to get angry and I can tell he’s working hard to keep himself in check. Since Mateo won’t answer, he switches tactics. “Alexei!” Nikita bellows. “Show yourself. You have something that belongs to me.”

Finally, a man emerges from the living quarters of the boat to join Nikita on deck.

“Belongs toyou?” Nikita’s mic picks up the man’s snicker. “So, Alexei was right. She was the better bait. Originally, he was supposed to grab the other one, but when we learned you’d taken an interest inthisone, well, we thought we could kill two birds with one stone.”

“Uncle Antonov?” Nikita says, clearly taken aback. I see Libby raise her head.Fuck, she mouths to me. This isn’t good.

“Surprised to see me? Probably not, since I’ve always been honest about my dealings with Mateo Santos. You, on the other hand…do you have anything you’d like to tell me? As your leader? As your friend? As yourfamily?”

“We’ve never been friends. I can’t help the fact that you were my father’s brother, and as far as being my leader…I’ll never bow to you. We both know who that title belongs to.”

“Would you do it for her?” Alexei brings Camila out on the deck of the yacht. Her hands and ankles are tied with rope and I see the strength in her eyes through my scope.

“Tell whoever is with you to stand down or I’ve got six more guys who will happily come up here and take their turn with her while you watch.”

“Comm 2, stand down.” I know he’s speaking directly to me even though I’m Comm 4. He’s trying to protect Libby and Diego by not letting Antonov, Alexei, and Mateo know there are four of us. Although, there still is no sign of Mateo.

“Good. Now tell Dominic to get his ass on board this ship and then hand over your mic. He has five minutes before I start cutting off body parts.” We watch as Alexei roughly takes Camila back inside.

Having no other option, I set my rifle down and remove my own microphone.

Libby looks at me with blazing fury on her features. The wind is picking up, which won’t be good for a long-range shot. If we’re inside the boat, she won’t be able to see anything anyway. If the sky opens up, it’ll be even worse and there’s no cover up here.

She scoots away from her rifle and reaches for me. “Dom.”

“I know, Princess.” I crush her to me on that roof like I’ve never held anything more precious in all my life… because I haven’t. “I have to go. We’re not out of the fight yet, but it’s not good if the head of the mafia is here. I need you to promise me you’ll run if things go south. Get Joelle, take all the cash, and get the hell out of here.”

“I’m not leaving. Either we’re leaving together or I’m dying by your side.”

“Damn it, Libby.” I need to concentrate. “Promise me.”

She looks me right in the eye and lies.

“Fine, I promise.”

Twenty-Three

Libby/Daniella/Isabel

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