Page 261 of Like Grim Death: Part One
Mikhail smiles, dipping his eyes for a moment at Rain, who has his own eyes closed, his fingers flexing along the gun, his lips pursed and a crease between his tiny brows. He’s in his lavender sleep sack, and I know he was taken from his crib.
I glance at Sid and see she is visibly shaking, from head to toe, gun by her side. Lucifer is perfectly still, his shoulders tense. They must have chased after Rain and maybe Mikhail and his men forced them back inside with the gunfire, then with his soft commands, once they realized he had Rain in his arms.
“You thought you could hide from me, Lucifer?” Mikhail flicks his blue gaze to my brother, smiling a little as he cradles Rain to his chest. “You thought you could disobey and…hide?Kill three of my men andrun?”
For once, with his son’s life on the line, Lucifer doesn’t have a comeback.
I feel as if I’m going to explode.
I drop my eyes to Ella just behind my feet, and see her eyes are shut, her mouth open, bile trickling onto the floor. Her skin is ashen. I stare at her long enough to ensure she’s breathing, and she is, but I don’t know for how much longer.
I’m going to save you, I promise, pretty girl.
Ezra says nothing at my side, neither does Cain and Atlas, at my back. I assume Brooklin is where Ezra said she was, and Sevryn is locked in his room, and Tomas is…
I don’t want to think about Tomas right now.
One thing at a time. Survive the next step, then move to the next one.
“All I wanted was your loyalty. Your obedience. I know blood means nothing to you,” Mikhail snarls the words, no longer smiling, still allowing Rain to suck on the tip of the gun. “I know you murdered my brother without remorse, but it does mean somethingto me.”He cocks his head, staring at Lucifer. “I will not harm your child, you know. It would remove any leverage I have over you, it seems.”
Sid is still trembling, and I hear her sharp inhale at Mikhail’s words. She wants to believe them. She wants to believehim.
Mikhail flicks his gaze to her, a small smile on his lips, then he looks at Lucifer again. “But I did need you to understand you must face your fuck-ups like a man, yes?”
Lucifer doesn’t move. I’m not even sure he’s breathing.
Neither am I, for that matter.
Slowly, Mikhail pulls the gun from Rain’s mouth, and I feel warm relief spreading through my body. He lowers the weapon by his side, holstering it, but then he lifts his thumb to Rain’s lips and circles them, smiling and humming as he does.
Lucifer’s shoulders flex and Sid can’t bite back a low moan from her throat. It doesn’t stop Mikhail though, from pushing his thumb into Rain’s mouth, letting him try to nurse from it.
Mikhail’s gaze flicks up to Lucifer. “He is very beautiful. I see some of Lamia in him.”
My stomach churns.
Lucifer doesn’t move.
Mikhail shifts his focus, and it takes me a moment to realize he’s staring at Ella, or what he can see of her, on the floor. “Did you know, Maverick, it was Lucifer who led her to this state?”
My throat grows dry, my breath rushing up and out of my mouth. I flex my fingers around my gun to ensure I’m still holding it, but I don’t look away from Mikhail.
Lucifer doesn’t deny his words, but I’m not an idiot. I wasn’t born into a cult yesterday. I’ve lived through this shit my entire life. Lies and deceit.
I don’t believe Mikhail, and I say nothing.
“Scelus,”Mikhail whispers. “He was in charge of her acceptance, and this is how he chose to bond her to us.” A smile flickers on his lips.
My body starts to shake, just like my sister’s, a vibrating sensation I can’t still no matter how I try to tense up my limbs.
“But that is not the worst of your brothers’ sins.” Mikhail’s eyes come to someone behind me, and I think I know it’s Atlas when he says, “This one is supposed to murder her.”
I see red flash behind my eyes.
I don’t move as Mikhail traces Rain’s lips again, pressing on his small mouth, his fingers clutching at Boaz’s wrists.
“Of course, after tonight, that will not be necessary, but you should know you are in bed with wolves.”
