Page 89 of Owned By Shadows

Nik’s phone dings, and I feel the others snap to attention, my heart pounding suddenly.

“It’s Alexei,” Nik states, his eyes scanning the screen rapidly. “He says his father knows something is up and he’s with Sergi. We need to move tonight.”

My breathing stalls inside my chest. I know this is what we’ve been planning for months and knew it was coming, but to have it suddenly here is something else entirely.

“The plan is solid, Sweetheart,” Hunt tells Nik, and I notice Nik’s brows are furrowed, his jaw tight. “We know all the entrance points, know who’s on our side to let us pass and who might resist. Everyone, gear up.”

The others get up, and I heave myself off the sofa, ignoring the pain that tightens my stomach.

“Iris, baby,” Hunt says, coming over to me and taking my hands in his. His green eyes look pained, his brows wrinkled. “I think you should stay here with Andrei.”

“What? No, you said I deserve revenge too, that I could come,” I reply, my body feeling a little hot. “You promised.”

He sighs, one of his hands leaving mine to run his fingers through his hair. “I know, Peaches, but it’s just too dangerous. And the baby.”

“You promised.” I pull my hand from his, my jaw clenching as I fight off tears that are a mixture of anger and hurt.

“She is the only one who can still access the security room, Hunt,” Rowan says, coming to stand next to me. His hand finds mine, taking it and giving a squeeze. “You know Sergi forgot to take her biometrics off, and it’s a key part of us getting in.”

Hunt’s jaw flexes, the muscles in his neck corded as he huffs a breath out. “So what, we just let her walk in, heavily fucking pregnant, and fuck the danger?” His voice is deadly, lashing at me like a whip.

“She can stay in the van, with Andrei, until we secure and neutralise the exterior security,” Rowan offers, and I hold my breath, squeezing his hand as I wait for Hunt’s decision.

He growls, and I know that we’ve won. “Fucking fine.” He turns to me, his eyes emerald full of fire. “But you don’t leave that van until I say you can, understood?”

“Yes, Daddy,” I reply sweetly, darting forward and pressing a kiss on his lips.

“Don’t try that shit with me,” he grumbles against my mouth, but his hand comes up and tangles in my hair, fusing our lips together and giving me a bruising kiss. He releases me with a gasp, both our chests heaving. “Get ready, all black. You’ve got ten minutes.”

Letting go of Rowan’s hand, I make my way to our room just as Nik and Roman leave. Nik stops in front of me, cupping my face in his palm. “You’ll do what Hunt says. Promise me,Malyshka.”

“I promise, Nik,” I say, placing my hand on his chest, which is clad in a black long-sleeved top, and go up on my tiptoes. He meets me halfway, and our lips join. His tremble slightly against mine, and my heart twinges at the worry I know he must be feeling. I wince when another contraction hits, and he pulls away sharply, his brows lowered as he looks at my face.

“Are you okay,Malyshka?” he questions, his eyes scanning me as I lower back down to my feet.

“I’m fine, promise,” I reply, not wanting to say anything about the pain as it eases off. It’s just a Braxton Hicks, and probably because of the stress of the current situation.

He gives me a considering look, and then with a nod, releases my face.

“See you in a minute,” he says, and I turn to watch them head down the hall, back to the others to no doubt weapon up.

A feeling in my gut tells me that these contractions seem to be more regular than before, but I shake my head, making my way into our room.

They’re just false ones, just my body getting ready. Our baby isn’t coming now. I have too much to do. Namely, killing his father.

“BLOOD//WATER” BY GRANDSON

NIKOLAI

My brows are lowered as I make my way into the main living area and across to the room that we usually keep locked, but right now it’s open, the sound of the others getting their weapons coming from inside it.

It felt like Iris wasn’t being completely truthful with me back there.Levand I overheard her conversation with Hunt, and while I agree with him that it’s too dangerous for her, Rowan was right in that she’s a key piece of the plan tonight. We need her if we are going to make this work.

Roman and I walk into the armoury, Rowan, Hunt, Dima, Andrei, and Bubby already there, all dressed in black and selecting their weapons. I shake my head with a chuckle when I spot Rowan placing several grenades in the pockets of his tactical vest, along with a few knives and that fucking sword down his back.

Roman hands me my vest, and I put it on, watching as Hunt takes some handguns and ammo, plus a large hunting knife like the one I enjoy using. Putting my vest on, I glance at Roman, who also takes a gun and surprises me with a pair of brass knuckle dusters. MyLevlikes to get his hands dirty.

Zipping up my jacket, I reach for my gun and bullets, then my hunting knife that Sergi gifted me on my thirteenth birthday. I probably should replace it, but there’s something poetic about killing him with a weapon he gave me.

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