Page 98 of Brutal Promise

Dmitry.

What happened? My head hurts. I’ve ruined my dress. Rubble falls off me. Amid the smell of smoke, I make out a hint of musk and mint. I’m safe. My head is too tired to hold. I can’t speak. I hear a man’s angry shout, “Clear the way.”

I slip into the darkness. I’m tired. So tired.

32

DMITRY

Erik alerted me to Izzy leaving the building with a man, and I assumed she was being kidnapped. I ran to the palace entrance and saw Ivan standing in the breezeway, a panicked expression on his face.

She mentioned he was here. What the fuck is going on?

I glanced at the fountain and observed a tall, distinguished man with my wife before the deafening sound of a bomb filled the air. I flinched, then looked to the fountain as bricks and mortar fly through the air. It’s as if it’s a highlight reel playing in slow motion. Alexsei and my wife are on the ground. He just shook my hand, and when our eyes met, I noticed his resemblance to my wife. I was pulled away for a second before all hell broke loose.

I yell for help as I run. It feels like I’m running in cement. She can’t die. It can’t be. We were so careful. I reach for her and discover Alexsei. He must have thrown his body over hers to protect her—my adrenaline surges. I pull him off her and lay him on his back. Nikolay is beside me and helps me dig at the rubble. My hands are bleeding when we reach her. I lift her into my arms.

“Let me help,” Nikolay says as sirens blare in the distance.

“No, she’ll be fine. Help her father,” I shout as I carry her to the area where an ambulance is arriving. “Have the men round up Ivan from Zima and the don’s wife.”

My wife is still. I want to hear her voice. The medic wants to take her, but I refuse and put her on the gurney. I hold her lifeless hand. The men in uniforms want me to move away from her. I refuse.

My mother and Roman arrive. Roman pulls me away. I fight him.

“They need to do their job,” he says. I know it’s a reasonable statement, but she’s mine to protect, and I failed her.

My heart is being carved out of my chest as I wait. It was a stupid fight last night. I was a bastard, arguing over something that was nothing, and I should have apologized to her. It’s not in my nature to say I’m sorry for anything. We’re the leaders of men. We take what we want and damn the consequences. I’m used to making problems disappear.

“Dmitry, we’ll ride to the hospital with you,” my mother says with concern.

“We’ve given her an IV, but we’re taking her to the hospital,” the paramedic says to me.

“I’m behind you,” I reply without considering how I’m getting there.

Police are on the scene. Crime scene tape is being placed around the area.

“How is Alexsei?” I ask Roman. I’m responsible for this. It looks like we flushed out the villains, but at what cost?

“He’s in the other vehicle. I assume he’ll have more wounds as his suit jacket is ripped to hell. We’ll check on him, too. Milan has the car waiting over here.” He puts an arm around my shoulder and leads me to a vehicle.

I can’t comprehend what went down. Ivan working at the wedding is suspicious. We had a traitor in our midst, and I never knew it. I don’t miss details like this.

“She’ll be okay. We’ll make sure she has the best care,” Mom says.

“You weren’t even nice to her last night,” I reply, angered that my wife’s fate is unknown and my family disappointed me at the rehearsal dinner.

“I wasn’t. I’m sorry. I was jealous. She’s gorgeous and so in love with you. It made me resentful that your father isn’t here to enjoy these beautiful moments with me. His death was pointless. I’m not proud of how I behaved. I’ll make it up to you.”

I turn to Nikolay. “You were exchanging looks with Mom. What was that about?” I won’t tolerate my family treating Izzy like an outsider.

“I wanted Mom to be nice and give Izzy the family she never had. We’re brothers. I’m not letting anything short of a betrayal come between us. I oversee everything, keeping men in line and making money. But my most important job is to keep the family together. I know you love her, Dmitry. I’d never come between you and your wife.” He claps me on the back.

Did Izzy overreact? I saw the looks, and I’m sure Mom wasn’t herself. She’s not been the warm, nurturing mother she was before Dad died.

I put my elbows on my knees and sink my hands into them. Izzy and the baby have to make it. I can’t think of any other outcome. I can’t picture a future without her in it.

We arrive at the hospital. Nikolay jumps out of the vehicle with me. We wait in the emergency room. I pace.

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