Page 60 of Chained Fate
“I propose we extract Schwann from custody,” Alexei says.“Right away.Before that pointed question is asked.”
Konstantin tears his gaze away from Alexei’s hand on mine.His jaw is still clenched, but his tone is even.“I suppose you’ve already set the plans in motion?”
To my shock, Alexei nods.“My men are on the way there as we speak.”
I blink.How on earth…?It’s been less than three hours since we found out about the situation.
Valery’s eyes narrow, and then a cold smile spreads across his face.“Bravo.I suppose the purpose of this meeting was to keep us out of your men’s hair?”
Alexei’s smile is just as cold, even as his hand remains a warm, reassuring weight on mine.“Like you said, we get her outnow, or she blabs.There was no time to waste on debates.”
I stare at my husband, impressed despite myself.With this one maneuver, he’s forestalled any and all arguments, getting my brothers to fall neatly into line.Because that’s what must happen now: if they don’t want this to go south, they won’t stand in his way.In fact, they’ll support his plan in any way they can.
Already, Konstantin’s thumbs are flying across the screen of his phone, undoubtedly sending off instructions to erase all the relevant footage in the police station and whatever else is required to make sure Birgit’s extraction doesn’t leave any evidence that can be traced back to us.
I’m pondering why Alexei didn’t tellmethe plan when Valery’s eyes flick over to Alexei’s fingers interlaced with mine.“A word with my sister, please.”His tone is cool and steady, even as annoyance simmers deep beneath.
Alexei rises to his feet with a sardonic gleam in his eyes.“By all means.I’ll check on the progress of the operation in the meantime.”
He leaves the dining room with a few long strides, giving us privacy that is as much a sham as this meeting turned out to be.
He knows, as we all do, that invisible cameras line every corner of this room, recording every word that will be said.Valery might as well talk to me in front of him.
I sigh and look at my brothers, preparing myself for another pseudo-interrogation.It doesn’t matter what I say about wanting to stay with Alexei—they simply don’t believe me.But they’re not looking at me.
Instead, they’re on their feet, already rounding the long oval table toward me.
I gasp when they grab me, one arm each, and pull me up to stand.“What are you doing?”I whisper-hiss, not wanting to alert Alexei to whatever craziness my brothers are trying.
They don’t answer.Their faces are tense, eyes narrowed as they drag me toward the wall that is a window—currently not enclosed in its concrete slab so as to let us enjoy the afternoon light.
I begin to struggle, still keeping quiet.Whatever they’re planning, I’m not down for this, but I don’t want anyone to get hurt, as is bound to happen if Alexei realizes what’s happening.
My struggles are in vain.Both Valery and Konstantin are tall, athletic men with significant fighting experience; my frantic movements barely register for them.
“Stop it,” I hiss in desperation.“I don’t want this!”
My brothers ignore me.When we reach the window, Konstantin slaps a tiny, cockroach-shaped metal device onto the surface.It whirrs to life, and I gape in shock as it eats through five centimeters of bulletproof glass as if it were paper.
In the meantime, Valery is attaching three more metal cockroaches, and they all move as one, cutting out a man-sized rectangle inside the window in a matter of seconds.
What the fuck are those things?And why isn’t Alexei seeing this through the million cameras he’s got hidden all over?
I cast a frantic look around the room, but I don’t see anything out of place.Yet my brothers must’ve done something to prevent Alexei’s guards from realizing what’s happening.Maybe Konstantin hacked the cameras and is feeding them a false image?Or?—
“Let’s go.”Valery’s quiet voice is filled with urgency as he pushes on the cutout glass and makes it fall into the low shrubs outside.“We have less than a minute.”
Less than a minute before what?
I want to ask, but I don’t get a chance as he jumps out after the glass, landing just past the shrubs in the smooth crouch of a cat.As soon as he straightens, Konstantin picks me up and literally throws me to him, ignoring my panic-stricken attempt to grab at his shirt.
Only the fact that they’re my brothers keeps me from screaming my head off as I fly through the opening and land in Valery’s strong arms with a teeth-snapping jolt.
“I’m not a fucking sack of potatoes,” I growl when I get my breath back.
Nobody is listening.Konstantin has already jumped after us, and the two of them grab me like the aforementioned potato sack and sprint for the nearby cluster of trees—just as a hugeboomshatters the silence, and scorching-hot air blasts my face and every bit of exposed skin.
I scream instinctively, ducking to hide my face against Valery’s shoulder.Then terror, raw and gut-wrenching, floods my brain with adrenaline, and I begin to fight in earnest as he carries me away from the wrecked mansion and the fire consuming it… away from Alexei, who must still be inside.
