Page 266 of Gilded Cage (Kovalyov Bratva 1)

I creep over to the rear passenger’s side, trying to peer in without being noticed. The windows are tinted dark. I can’t tell if it’s occupied.

I keep the gun raised, unwilling to take a chance just in case whoever has decided to pay us a visit is hostile.

More noise. Heavy footsteps on the other side of the car.

I duck low and race around the back on bare, silent feet. Someone is getting out of the driver’s seat.

I creep up. Press a gun to the back of the bastard’s head. It’s too dark to make out much in the way of identifying features.

“Don’t move, motherfucker,” I snarl.

Then the clouds overhead part and the moon lights everything up with a soft white glow.

I see blond hair.

And when the man pivots slowly in place, hands raised in surrender, I see familiar blue eyes. A familiar cocky smile.

“Really?” the man says. “I come all the way up here and this is the welcome I get?”

“Cillian?” I say, in shock.

His smile widens. “Forgotten what I look like already?”

“Fuck,” I breathe. I’m more thrilled than I can say. “Fuck!”

70

Esme

My heart thunders in my chest as I wait in the empty bedroom.

My immediate instinct is to run after Artem. To grab him, pull him to me, and away from danger.

I don’t know what to do. His rifle is propped up at the door. Artem had explained how it worked, but I didn’t want to practice. Not if I didn’t have to.

I hear motion outside. And then men’s voices.

“Fuck!” Artem’s voice carries through the night towards me.

I gasp.

Before I know what I’m doing, I run out the door and onto the porch steps. I’m ready for the worst. Ready for anything.

Except, apparently, what’s actually waiting for me.

Artem has his arms around a man who’s almost as tall as he is. For one crazy second, I think they’re wrestling.

Then they release one another, and I see the smiles on both their faces.

The blonde man turns and I realize who it is.

“Cillian!” I exclaim.

“Hello, Esme,” he says, raising his hand and giving me a wave. “I didn’t want to tell you I was coming in case my phone was being tapped. I didn’t want any of Budimir’s stooges on my tail. Sorry to crash your mountain hideaway. Cool spot, though.”

I laugh out loud in pure joy. Artem looks like he feels the same way I do. He’s beaming from ear to ear.

“Come on in! Are you hungry?”

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