Page 85 of A Pawn in the Game
“If you’re crazy, what does that make me? I’m the one who fell in love with a girl I kidnapped.” Her mouth parts on an ‘oh.’ “Of course, I believe you,mila. I don’t even care what he wanted to do with me, but he obviously upset you. And that is not something I’m going to tolerate.” I make a step forward, pointing a gunat my uncle. “But you can lower your gun, baby. It’s not your battle to fight.”
“I disagree. You protected me so far.” She shoots me a warm smile before turning back to Toma. “Now it’s time for me to return the favor.”
I take another step toward her, but the gun fires. Instinctively, I duck, the bang deafening my ears. My gaze picks up just in time to see Toma’s body drop to the floor with a giant hole in his face. The thud of it barely breaks the buzz in my head. The second thud draws my gaze to Sophie. She dropped the gun.
In one smooth motion, I reach her, wrapping her in my arms.
She just killed a man.
My skin rises with goosebumps. I don’t give a fuck about seeing a dead body, even when it’s my uncle. But she just killed a man.
I feel the frantic beat of her heart, and my chest tightens. Just another memory to haunt her. And, once again, it’s my fucking fault.
“You should have let me do it.” I shake my head, wishing I could rewind the last few minutes.
“Luka…” She withdraws an inch, enough to bring her eyes to mine. “I’m fine.”
I press my lips to hers, breathing her in. They’re soft and warm, and not nearly close enough for me to be. My tongue invades her mouth, trying to fuse the two of us together.
A vision of her sobbing in her sleep invades my mind. The feel of her scars under my fingertips. I pull away, my eyes filing with tears. “You should have let me fucking do it.”
“Luka.” This time, her voice is louder, more resolved. “Seriously, I’m fine.”
“What do you mean? Look at the way your heart is going.” I press a hand to her chest.
“Well, adrenaline’s a bitch. My ears also ring like hell.” She shoots me a pointed look. “ButI’m fine.”
“But y-you…” I start, but she places a finger on my lips to shut me up. It smells faintly of gunpowder.
“I took control of my destiny. Something I should’ve done a long time ago. I need to handle myself. You won’t always be around to save me.” She gives me a sad smile.
“Of course, I will. I’m not letting you out of my sight.”
She shakes her head, taking a step back.
“What happened,mila. Did he hurt you?”
“He offered me freedom. He told me he made a deal with the Russians to get me out.”
“And you didn’t take it?”
“I figured out the price of it.” Her eyes bore into mine, and I realize she put my safety before her freedom.
I swallow. “How did you know what his plan was?”
“He wanted to brag to one of his men. He spoke to him in Croatian and I… I understood.”
“Fuck, Sophie,” I say, grabbing the back of my neck. I don’t know why I’m surprised. She’s a fucking genius.
“He made a deal with the Russians that if he brings me back, they will get rid of you and your brother.”
“What a dick…” Somehow, I’m not surprised by what he did. It’s not like I expected it, but in the back of my mind, I always knew there was a possibility of him two-timing us.
“Yeah, I guess he really wanted to be the boss.”
I huff out a laugh, drawing her face closer again. Our lips brush softly, barely touching. The room is filled with death, but her hair smells like coconuts. Her eyes close, but I can’t look away.
Finally, her eyes flutter open and her throat bobs with a nervous swallow. “I should go,” she whispers like a secret.
