Page 51 of Owned By Shadows

HUNTER

My stomach clenches as we take the small fishing boat back to the mainland, and it’s not because of the swell of the ocean. It’s knowing that there is something wrong with Iris and I can’t make it better, not really.

Sure, we can help manage her symptoms, but the only thing that will cure her is giving birth, and that’s not an option right now. Not only is the baby too young, but we’re on a desert fucking island on the run from a crazy Russian mafia boss who’s out for blood.

We’re in between a rock and a fucking hard place, and I know that I’m not the only one feeling the strain. I know the others, particularly Nik, are struggling the same as me. This war between wanting to keep her safe and hidden versus needing to get her the best help possible. Plus, there’s New Year’s Eve.

I can’t deny that I agree with Nik. I want Iris as far from that son of a bitch as possible, but I know she needs that closure, evenif I worry that she’s not ready to see or be part of the death of another. It’s not to be undertaken lightly, the taking of a life, but sometimes it’s the only way to rid the world of an evil that should never have seen the light of day.

And Sergi Petrov is the evil of the blackest sort. And he’s hurt my Peaches more than any other bar Nik, who has his own scars courtesy of that cunt. They both deserve to gain their pound of flesh, and if the Shadows can help them get it, it will be our honour.

Time slips past as we bump across the waves, and then we’re pulling up to a small port, not the main one. Sergi’s men likely monitor the comings and goings there, so we chose this nearby fishing port to receive supplies.

“I don’t want to be on the mainland for more than an hour, two tops,” I state as we depart, the fisherman staying on the boat, ready for our return. We’ve paid handsomely for his obedience and silence. Also for these local fishermen’s clothes that smell funky, but they do the job of helping to disguise us further, although we can’t hide the fact that we are not natives.

“Okay, let’s get going,” Andrei agrees, Dima just giving a nod as the silent giant usually does. He doesn’t speak much, and I don’t know his story, but he’s fiercely loyal to Nik and Iris, which is what counts. We went over the plan during our trip out. Andrei is picking up the medication, Dima the new equipment we need, and I will focus on getting some new comms and security equipment that will help keep us hidden for a while longer.

Nik organised for mopeds to be waiting for us, making a quick getaway easy if we need it. I check the handgun I tucked into my waistband, feeling a twinge in my gut that we downplayed to Iris how dangerous this mission is. So much could go wrong, not least of all, we could be spotted and then followed, but there was no question when we discovered sheneeded these meds and equipment. Any risk is worth it for her safety.

It takes less than fifteen minutes to reach the principal town, where our supplies should be waiting for us. I give the other two a nod as we split up, and I head to the part of town where the things I need are. Parking up, I get off the bike, glancing around as the sun makes its way towards the horizon. I can’t see anything out of the ordinary, but there’s that itch between my shoulder blades that tells me someone may be watching.

Keeping my body casual but my senses alert, I make my way to my pickup spot, one of the many small shops in the area. As I complete my purchase, something flickers in the corner of my eyes, and I focus my gaze on the spot without moving my head, seeing a man in all black with what looks like Russian style tattoos taking pictures of people in the nearby market.

Shit.

I keep my stance loose, but also keeping that Russian within my sights, I make my way from the store back to my bike and the place we agreed to meet up before we left the island. It’s partway between here and the fishing port, and it was another precaution just in case we were followed or needed to adjust anything.

I pull out my phone, seeing a message to the other two.

Hunter

Russian spotted in the market square. Headed to RVP now, but be on the lookout for more.

Getting on my bike, my bag slung across my back, I quickly start it and head to our meetup point. The others are waiting for me, Andrei laden with a shit ton of stuff that we’ll need to split up so none of us are slowed down.

My bike comes to a stop, but I don’t get off. Just turn the engine off so we can talk.

“I spotted two of Sergi’s men back there,” Dima states as soon as it’s quiet, and I curse.

“Okay, let’s split up the medication just in case,” I order, and Andrei immediately divides the bags, handing some to me and some to Dima. “And we split up again, each taking a different route back to the boat.” I check my watch. “The boat will leave at 1900 latest, so make sure you’re there by then. We can’t afford to hang around, not with them sniffing around.”

They each give me a nod, then our mopeds roar to life as we split up again, each taking a different direction, as we’d agreed before we set off on this mission. Nik is one hell of a strategist, coming up with contingency plans and exit strategies that even I didn’t see.

The sky is dark now, the signs of life quieting as I go down the narrow streets, ensuring no one is following me. The back of my neck pricks, my heart thrashing inside my chest just as a black SUV pulls out ahead of me, cutting off my planned route. Making a split second decision, I switch direction, heading into a part of the town I haven’t studied, but something tells me that the car was Sergi’s and I need to lose them like fucking yesterday.

Just as I think I’ve lost them, shots ring out behind me and I swerve, losing control of the bike as the wheels skid out from under me. I leap off just before I hit the ground, grunting as I scrap my right side to shit on the rough ground.

Shaking my head that took a minor hit, I get to my feet, looking around and cursing when I see I’m in a dead-end alley. Huffing out a breath, I turn around to face headlights at the mouth of the alley.

“Okay, boys, you wanna play, fine,” I hiss, securing the bag with the medication and equipment across my shoulder as I reach behind me and grab my gun.

I don’t even wait for the car doors to open, sprinting towards the vehicle with a war cry. The first guy doesn’t even have time to step out of the car before there’s a bullet between his eyes, and then I’m up and over the bonnet, shooting the second guy through the windshield.

I don’t stop to see if there are more of them, just brick it out of there. My breath rasps as I run back through the streets until I come to a place I recognise and can slow down. A sharp pain in my side has my hand flying to it, thinking that I’ll never live it down if I got a stitch from that little sprint.

I hiss a pained sound when I make contact, pulling my hand away to see red covering my palm.

“Fucking great,” I snarl, feeling the burning of the bullet wound now the adrenaline is wearing off. “Just fucking great.”

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