Page 139 of Brutal Reign
Pavel straightens despite the weapon aimed at his skull. “I know you owe money to Duret. I’ll give you the cash—I can transfer it right here—whatever you want. And you can keep me as collateral, but let them go.”
Simon laughs, the sound vibrating against my back, making my skin crawl. “How noble of you, but your money doesn’t interest me. Hope comes with her own fortune and the King family name. You’re useless.”
Simon’s arm tightens around my throat like a steel band, cutting off my air. The hard metal of his pistol digs deeper into my spine. My focus narrows to Kin’s small body trembling against mine, his tears soaking through the front of my dress. I loop my zip-tied hands around his shoulders as I try to shield him from this hell.
I know we are on borrowed time. The battle outside has slowed, but soon, one side will win. I need to end this now, and there’s only one way to save the man I love and my child. The thought terrifies me, but I know what I have to do.
“I’ll go with you willingly,” I say to Simon, my throat thick. “I won’t fight you. I won’t try to escape. You can have my money, my cooperation, but you leave Kin here with Pavel.”
Pavel looks like a caged animal ready to tear through bars, even as Chen presses the gun harder against his skull. “Fuck no. You’re not going anywhere with this piece of shit.”
“Please.” I meet my husband’s eyes, then glance meaningfully at Kin, hoping he understands what I’m trying to tell him: save our son. That’s the only thing that matters.
Pavel stares at me for a long, agonizing moment. I can see the war raging behind his eyes, his every instinct screaming at him to fight, to protect, to destroy anyone who threatens his family. But he also knows that one wrong move means we all die.
Simon hasn’t agreed yet, but I know he will; this is what he wants, after all.
The silence stretches taut as a wire, broken only by the distant sound of gunfire outside and Kin’s quiet whimpering.
Finally, Pavel’s shoulders drop almost imperceptibly. He knows I’m right. He knows this is the only way.
Simon steps back but keeps me molded against his front, the muzzle of his pistol a constant reminder of how quickly this could end.
“Try anything heroic, and Hope pays. I need her alive, of course, but there’s so much room to have a bit of fun before that. And do be careful; I have more men positioned around the entire airfield.”
I close my eyes and steel myself for the hardest moment of my life. A sob breaks from my throat, but I try to stay strong as Pavel slowly kneels down, opening his arms despite Chen’s gun trained on him.
“Go to Pavel. He’ll take care of you,” I urge Kin. When he refuses to move, I grasp his chin in my hand. “Sweetheart, please,” I beg, my voice trembling.
“It’s okay, buddy. I got you,” Pavel coaxes.
Kin hesitates, then slowly moves away from me. The instant Pavel’s arms close around him, his small body shakes with silent tears.
Pavel holds him protectively to his chest and kisses his forehead. “Your mama will come back to us. She just needs to do something first.”
Kin’s terrified face as he looks back at me nearly destroys me. He looks so fragile and lost, and I feel as if I’m abandoning him, even though I’m trying to save his life.
“It’s okay, baby.” Tears stream down my face freely now. “I’m going to be fine.” I lock eyes with Pavel, knowing he needs to hear what I say next. “Go with your father. Your real father.”
Pavel’s entire body goes rigid. His eyes snap to mine, wide with shock. The raw vulnerability in his expression cuts straight through my heart. This is not how I planned to tell him, but if not now, I may never get the chance.
“I was going to tell you,” I sob, the words pouring out. “I swear I was going to tell you when this was behind us. I wantedyou to know, but it was never the right time, and I was scared, and?—”
Pavel blinks back emotion as he looks down at Kin, then back at me. He shakes his head slowly, pure wonder in his expression. “Really?”
All I can do is nod as he holds Kin tighter, realizing this isn’t just the child he’s grown to love; it’s his own flesh and blood.
“Enough,” Simon snarls. “Get out of here, Fedorov. Take your spawn and enjoy what little time you have left. Hope belongs to me now, and she'll give me a proper heir, not some half-breed Russian mistake.”
Chen grabs Pavel’s arm roughly, the gun still pressed to his ribs. Pavel could tear Chen apart with his bare hands if he wanted to, but with Kin in his arms and our lives hanging in the balance, he doesn’t.
“Move,” Chen barks.
Pavel turns one last time as they’re forced toward the exit, and that look he gives me holds everything he can’t say aloud.
I love you.
I’m coming back for you.
