Page 29 of Sweet Union
“So, your mom and I are unbearable, is it?” He flashes me a small smile.
I smile back. “No. Not unbearable. But you had to know I wouldn’t stay at home forever.”
“I know. I’m still getting used to it.”
I reach over and squeeze his arm. “I love you, Dad.”
He glances at me. “I love you, too, Natalya.”
It happens in a blink of an eye.
Lights flash into my eyes as a car slams into the driver’s side. Our car skids off the road and tips over. My hurt side slams into the door, and I cry out. The pain is too much. I can barely breath.
I look over at Dad. He’s awake. Alive. Thank god. “Dad?”
“We need to get out of this car now.” He unbuckles himself and them helps me do the same. “Watch your face,” he warns before kicking his window. I wince as the glass breaks. He scrambles out of the car and is turning to help me when a gunshot rings out. He grunts and falls over.
“Dad!” I try to get out of the car, but I’m too hurt. “Dad!”
A face that isn’t my father’s fills the window. “Hello, Natalya.” It’s Romeo. “You’re coming with me now.”
CHAPTER15
Natalya
There’s nowhere for me to go. But I can still fight.
Knowing my dad, he always keeps extra weapons in his car. I quickly open the glove box and spot a knife. I grab it and brandish it. “Don’t come closer,” I warn Romeo.
He just laughs. “You’re mine now, Natalya.” He reaches into the car to grab me, but I slash him with the knife. He pulls back, wincing. “I forgot how much fight you have. Put the knife down and come with me. Make this easier on yourself.”
“Never.” I swipe at him with the knife and manage to nick his cheek.
“You bitch. Why are you making this so difficult?” He lifts his gun and points it at me. “I will shoot you.”
“But don’t you need me?”
He frowns. “What?”
“You need to kidnap me to draw Luca out. That’s why you’re doing this. Killing me won’t help. He won’t have the drive to save me.”
“No.” He cocks the gun. “But he will have the drive to avenge your death. Your choice. Live or die?”
Before I can answer, something barrels into Romeo, pushing him to the side. It takes me a moment to realize that my dad is standing up. He grabs his gun and starts shooting at Romeo. From my vantage point, I can see Romeo duck behind the car, narrowly avoiding being hit.
Dad growls as he turns to me. “Come on, Nat.” He extends his hand out to me. I grab it, and he pulls me out of the car. It’s the first time my dad has ever used my nickname.
“Dad, you’re bleeding.” I can see the gunshot wound in his shoulder.
“Nothing I haven’t dealt with before. We need to move.”
A primal scream erupts from Romeo’s mouth as he charges into my dad. They both fall to the ground. Romeo starts punching my dad repeatedly. Dad bucks him off and raises his gun to shoot when Romeo kicks his gun out of the way.
Romeo lifts his own gun and points it at my father’s head.
“Don’t!” I shout as I run for my dad’s gun.
A gunshot goes off. I freeze. When I look up, I expect to see a bullet hole through my dad’s head. But he’s still alive. He must have dodged out of the way. He growls as he pushes Romeo off him.
