Page 143 of Mile High Daddy

I don’t know his name yet, but I know his type.

Evans exhales, brushing dust off his jacket like he wasn’t just about to get his head blown off. “Took your sweet time, didn’t you, Ryan?”

Ryan doesn’t answer him. He just cocks his gun and aims at me again. I brace myself, ready to dodge, attack, something?—

Then a second gunshot rings out.

Ryan jerks backward, a bullet grazing his shoulder.

From behind.

I turn sharply, and my stomach clenches.

Alexei.

He stands in the warehouse entrance, gun raised, expression unreadable.

Ryan growls in pain, gripping his arm, and finally speaks. “You fucking traitor.”

Alexei steps forward, cocking his gun at him. “You don’t get to call me that.”

Ryan fires back.

Alexei moves fast, dodging the shot, and in the chaos, I don’t hesitate.

I lunge for Evans.

He swings first, his fist crashing into my jaw, but I take the hit, slamming into him and knocking him to the ground.

I drive my elbow into his ribs, hear the breath leave his lungs, but before I can finish him?—

Ryan turns the gun on Lila.

Everything stops.

She freezes, wide-eyed, hands protectively over her belly.

My chest goes tight.

Ryan’s lip curls. “Put the knife down, Mikhail.”

I hadn’t even realized I’d grabbed one.

Lila shakes her head at me, terrified. “Don’t.”

I exhale slowly, keeping my voice calm, cold. “You pull that trigger,” I say, “and I will make you suffer in ways you can’t even imagine.”

Ryan just grins.

I see his finger move over the trigger?—

I move before I think, diving forward, grabbing Lila and twisting just as the shot fires.

Pain tears through my side.

I grunt, stumbling, but I don’t let go of her.

I push her behind a crate, shielding her. “Stay down.”

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