Page 105 of Unspoken

"Once you stop hoping, death comes for you."

He chuckles, a dark sound. "Death comes for you anyway. Maybe not when you expect it, but she does. It is the only certain thing in life."

"But you can fight it."

"In your world, McKenna. Not in mine."

"What do you suggest? We just sit and wait till they start sending us pieces of him?"

Vlad’s mouth twists into a sneer. He straightens his shoulders and turns to face me, all blood and expensive cologne.His hard gray eyes bore into mine. "You are just as guilty as I am." He stabs his index finger into my chest. "It was your fucking job to protect him and you failed to do so. Instead, you fucked my little brother, you asshole."

I expect another blow. I’m ready to take it because he is not wrong. But Vlad doesn’t move, doesn’t utter another word.

"And if it takes the cartel's help?" I say carefully. "Seven said the Arellanos could track Toro and Shtyk, find Sasha."

He shakes his head. "You know what that means. Owing them. The strings that come with that kind of 'help.' It is a bad idea."

"But you are doing business with them."

"Business and favors do not mix."

"Time's run—"

I don’t get to finish the sentence. The buzzing of my phone pierces through the tension of the bathroom. My heart leaps into my throat as I frantically fumble for the phone, nearly dropping it in my haste to answer the unknown number.

"Hello?" I choke out.

"Logan?" The sound of Sasha's voice, trembling and rough, hits me like a tidal wave. Relief crashes over me, so intense it almost brings me to my knees. I have to grab the edge of the sink to make sure I don’t lose my cool.

"Where are you? Are you okay?"

"I... I don't know exactly. Some fast food joint off 169." Sasha's breath hitches, a sob catching in his throat. "Logan, I'm scared. They... I think they are onto me. I don't know what's going on. I shot one of their guys and ran. But I’m exhausted. There’s nowhere else to go. It’s the middle of the bloody nowhere. Sand and shit."

"It's okay, baby. It’s okay." I force my voice to remain steady, even as my heart shatters at the fear in Sasha's tone. "I need youto find somewhere to hide, okay? Stay out of sight. We're coming to get you."

"Please hurry," Sasha whispers frantically, his voice so small it takes every ounce of my self-control not to put my fist through the bathroom mirror.

"We will. Just hold on." The call ends with a click, and I look up to find Vlad's gaze drilling into me, his face a kaleidoscope of barely restrained emotion.

"It is him?" Vlad says.

I nod, my throat too tight to speak. "He's at the restaurant off 169. I think I know which one. He got out and ran. We need to go, now. Before they catch up to him."

Vlad is already moving, his long strides eating up the distance to the bathroom door. I follow close on his heels.

"I'll get Ivan," Vlad tosses over his shoulder. "Find Ricky. Ask him to get us some cars ready out in the alley. We're bringing our boy home, tonight."

I nod grimly, my hand already reaching for my Glock. Heaven help anyone who tries to stand in my way. Because when it comes to Sasha, there's no line I won't cross, no price I won't pay.

CHAPTER 36

SASHA

I'm hunched over in the farthest booth of this shabby little diner, tucked away somewhere off the highway in the bleedin' middle of nowhere Nevada. My feet throb with each heartbeat, stomach churning like a cement mixer. The gun I nicked off Kolya is long gone, lost in the mad dash through unforgiving desert terrain that's left me battered, filthy, and completely drained.

I feel like pieces of me are chipping away into the void as I try to calm my breathing and manage my panic.

Through the dust-streaked window, the sun-scorched landscape stretches on forever, an endless sea of sand and scrub that could swallow a bloke whole. In the distance, there are mountain peaks, jagged and unassuming, standing tall. And I wonder what it would be like to get lost there. Forever. Because if this is my life, I don’t want it. I never did. But I guess you can’t outrun who you are.

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