Page 102 of Dance with Death

I glance at him over my shoulder, seeing him and Kostya rushing after me, but I know he doesn’t want me to stop. It’s all part of the plan.

I take the steps two at a time, propelling myself up the staircase as quickly as I can. I reach the balcony landing and I hear footfalls on the steps behind me.

“It’s fine, we’ve got him.” I hear Nikolai say and hope that’s enough to keep everyone else the fuck away.

It just seems too damn simple, though in my time with the four families, I’ve come to understand that nothing happens with an ounce of reason.

Left is right.

Up is down.

The moon is the goddamn sun.

I move through the open archway, looking left and right, unsure which way to go. But then my pulse starts pounding, adrenaline kicks in full force, and I feel like I just know where to go.

I turn right.

I take off on a run down the hallway. There’s a row of doors, and though I feel a sense of urgency now, I don’t even know where to start.

But then fate deals me the perfect hand.

A door opens and Vigo steps out. My heart stops but starts again with a fury as he closes the door behind him. He looks up and he sees me, and we lock in on each other with a heated stare. He cocks his head to the side and a slow smile twists his features.

Heat simmers beneath my skin, pulsing through my veins, boiling into desperation to punch and kick and hurt this man. I want to break his nose again. I want to break every bone in his body. I want to watch him bleed.

I take this matter into my own hands just as Nikolai and Kostya arrive behind me. I charge, sprinting down the hallway. Vigo is too cocky for his own damn good, opening his arms and widening his stance tauntingly, daring me to attack.

But I don’t need a dare for this.

Something’s wrong with Anya, Ifeelit, and I need to take him down fast.

I crash into Vigo at a run, and though he tries to hold his ground, I’m stronger. I charge him backward as I shove my body against his midsection. I don’t stop pushing until he loses his footing and stumbles awkwardly to the ground, falling onto his ass.

I nearly roll over him on the impact, but I manage to land on top and stay in control. I punch him in the side, then again on his bony hip before he gets his bearings. With a grunt, he lands a jab to my jaw and the force knocks me off-balance. I topple sideways and he rolls on top of me, hitting me with a fury of fists.

Two to my cheek.

Three to my stomach.

One that lands on my shoulder.

Another on the side of my head.

Vigo disappears as I blink away the black spots across my vision, his weight suddenly lifted from where it sat hard on my middle. I scramble to my feet to see Nikolai slamming him face-first to the wall.

“Where is she?” Nikolai growls.

I go straight for the door Vigo came out of, jiggling the handle, but it doesn’t budge.

“She’s in here. But it’s locked. There’s a keypad,” I inform Nikolai.

“Tell us the code, Vigo.”

Vigo laughs, his cheek pressed flush against the wallpaper. “No. Do you really think it will be that easy to take her from me?”

I watch as Nikolai reaches into his pocket and pulls out his switchblade, flicking it open with his wrist. He shifts to bring the knife around to Vigo’s throat and his grip on him loosens. Vigo manages to whip around to face him, but Nikolai shoves his weight against him, jabbing the tip of the blade at the center of his throat. Vigo freezes, but the sinister smile doesn’t fade from his face.

“You want to know what’s funny?” He chuckles. “She might be dying in there right now and here we all stand, on the wrong side of the door. And I’m the only person who can let you in.”

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