Page 139 of Mile High Daddy

29

MIKHAIL

Alexei.

He watches me, his own weapon raised but not firing.

Not yet.

His jaw tightens, something flickering in his expression—like he’s weighing his next move.

I don’t give a damn.

“You’ve been under my nose this whole time,” I growl, stepping forward, the rage inside me turning razor-sharp. “Hiding. Playing games. And now you?—”

A blur of movement from my right.

I turn just in time to block an attack, a knife swinging toward my ribs. The blade skims my side, tearing through fabric, grazing skin. I grab the bastard’s wrist, twisting hard, snapping bone before shoving my gun against his temple.

One shot.

His body slumps.

I whirl back around?—

Alexei is gone.

Fuck.

I grit my teeth, scanning the area, gun raised. He slipped away.

“Coward,” I mutter under my breath, pushing forward.

The warehouse is in chaos, bodies littering the floor, gunfire still rattling in the distance. I step over a groaning man, my boots slick with blood, my mind razor-focused.

I need to find Lila.

Now.

A pained whimper comes from the side.

I pivot fast, gun aimed?—

Maggie.

She’s slumped against a stack of crates, clutching her leg, blood seeping between her fingers. Her face is pale, her breathing ragged.

I holster my gun, moving toward her. “What the hell happened?”

She lets out a breathless laugh, grimacing. “Tried to run. Didn’t work out too well.”

I crouch beside her, assessing the wound. It’s shallow, she’ll survive.

“Where’s is she?”

Maggie presses her lips together, eyes flicking past me.

A beat of silence. Then?—

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