Page 14 of Midnight Wedding

“Get the fuck down from there,” I snarl, jumping up. I catch his ankle just as he’s about to get away. His jeans fall down in my fucking face and I’m spitting at him in Armenian as Tigran stands nearby, his gun drawn.

Erik Davtyan tries his best to struggle away, clinging onto the railing like his life depends on it, but his fingers slip and we both topple down. He lands on top of me, thrashing and kicking, and I have to wrestle him until I’ve got a knee on the side of his face and his arms wrenched behind his back.

I spit blood and curse his whole family. Tigran’s grinning at me, apparently amused.

“You stupid little crooked dick,” I snap at Erik. “Almost got away, didn’t you?”

“Fuck you, Arsen. I’ve got nothing to say to you.”

“Where’s Saro?”

“I don’t know. Fuck off.”

“When does he come into the club? What door does he use?”

“I told you already?—”

I wrench his wrist hard and it pops. Erik yelps and howls in agony.

“I’ll ask nicely one more time,” I say, glaring death down at him, shoving my knee harder into his face. “When does Saro come into the club? What door does he use?”

“It’s fucking random,” Erik groans. I start to push on his arm again and he starts sobbing. “Tuesdays! Okay, fucking Tuesdays! That’s when his favorite girl’s working.”

“What door?”

“The back door. The fucking back one! He doesn’t use the main street though. He parks a couple blocks away and heads in through the back alley.”

Clever little Saro. Didn’t think he had it in him. That explains why we never see the prick even though we’ve been watching. “Who’s his favorite girl?”

“I don’t know. Some fucking random bitch.”

“Give me a name.”

“Kathleen! Fuck, her name’s Kathleen. Just some girl!”

I clench my jaw. What’s wrong with me? Some ugly voice worried it might be Lena, and the relief I’m feeling is palpable. I shouldn’t care like this.

“We should go,” Tigran says from my back. “Piggy’s being too loud.”

“You’re squealing too much,” I say, whispering at Erik. “That’s a problem.”

“Please. I don’t care about the war. I’m just his friend.”

I wrench his arm hard and his shoulder cracks. His back arches and he thrashes in agony like a dying fish. I step back and look down at him, feeling absolutely nothing.

Erik can pretend like he’s a nobody, but we both know he’s one of Saro’s inner circle. Which makes him fair game.

“Tigran,” I say, turning away.

My brother pulls the trigger three times, and we leave the body to cool in the alley.

Chapter 5

Lena

One Month Later

I pukemy guts out so hard I feel like my back’s going to break.

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