Page 165 of Shattered Cradle (Makarova Bratva Duet)

Because at the last second, I change my aim.

Her eyes go wide as realization hits her. She knows it’s over. I’m glad I get to see the awareness on her face. I’m glad she knows just how poorly she played her hand. Just how badly she underestimated me.

Then I shoot my mother in the fucking chest.

39

OLIVIA

Yulia is dead before she hits the ground.

He killed her.

He killed his own mother in cold blood.

I feel a scream coming, but it never even has the chance to escape my lips. My brother inserts himself in front of me and I grip his arm for dear life. Not because I’m scared, but because I feel as though I’m going to buckle to the floor if I don’t hold onto something.

Aleks lowers the gun to his side. Hargrove stares at him with shock.

Nobody, it seems, understands what’s going on.

Well, that’s not quite true. Because when I turn to Demyan and Jennifer, I see they’re wearing matching expressions of calm resignation.Theyunderstand. This must’ve been the plan all along.

But for the love of God…why?

“Thanks for the gun, Donnie,” Aleks says, tossing it back to his enemy.

I watch the exchange in disbelief. Why on earth would Aleks return Hargrove’s gun?

Hargrove seems to be thinking the same thing.

Then he decides that it doesn’t really matter.

The only thing that does matter is the fact that he’s armed once more. He’s about to raise the gun to Aleks, when the double doors through which we entered burst open.

And the game changes completely.

I recognize the sour-faced man that walks in, but his name doesn’t immediately come to mind. Not until Rob sighs with relief.

“Steve,” he breathes. “Thank God.”

Steven Kennedy. That’s who he is. The FBI agent who was chosen to replace Rob in the investigation into the Makarova Bratva.

My head reels. More of Kennedy’s men pile into the room with their weapons drawn, “FBI” blazoned in crisp white font across the chest of their bulletproof vests.

Hargrove lowers his gun and visibly relaxes, the thrill of victory etched in his smug grin.

“Well done, Robbie,” he says, casting my brother a smile. “I had no idea you managed to get a message across.”

Rob glances at me for a moment. “I didn’t.”

Hargrove’s grin plummets.

Kennedy marches into the center of the room. “Everyone okay?” he asks before he spots the dead body on the floor. “Ah. Not everybody.”

“I-I-I don’t understand,” Hargrove stammers. “If Robbie didn’t call you, then…?”

Kennedy gives him a tight smile as if to say,You poor idiot.Then he turns to Aleks and arches an eyebrow.

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