VLAD HITS THE ground. I have two guns drawn—one pointed at Vlad’s head while he nurses his shoulder, and the other pointed at Eric.
“I’m a perfect shot. That’s just a warning.” Everyone else is standing, but no one has drawn a gun on me. Vlad was ready to follow Mila from the room, and I couldn’t have that. I’m too close to snapping.
“Why don’t we lower the guns and talk?” Lucca suggests.
I don’t look to Lucca, but he knows how this goes down.
“If they leave this room, they will alert Victor, and I was commissioned to collect Mila. So dropping the gun isn’t going to happen, brother.”
“What do you need?” His words have relief swimming through me.
“Money and a head start.” I have to run. Staying here isn’t an option anymore.
“You have it.” This time, I look to Lucca and nod.
“You won’t get away with this.” Vlad still clutches his shoulder, but it’s Eric I focus on. He left Mila to rot in the mill. What kind of man does that make him? His face is twisted in rage, and that’s what will get him killed one day.
I pull the trigger and he roars, falling to the ground. I’ve blown out his knee cap. I wanted to blow out his brains, but I’m feeling lenient. Eric doesn’t ask why. He has the sense to look away from me.
Lucca taps my shoulder without looking my way. “Bogan, Alex, don’t let them move.”
Bogan and Alex both stand, extracting guns. I don’t relax until I’m outside the room.
“I’ll get you some money.” Lucca takes the stairs two at a time.
I take out my phone. Mila’s dot comes to life beside me. I look around and spot a small door. I open it and find her looking angry and ready to go off on someone. Her face is tearstained as she glances up at me. The vodka pools in her eyes.
“We have to go.” I reach in and pull her off the toilet seat. Her glass is empty.
“I want another drink.” She wipes her tears away with the back of her hand. I hate the effect Eric has on her. I hate the hurt that twists her beautiful face. I’m tempted to go back into the room and end him.
Lucca races down the stairs with a duffle bag that I catch. Digging into his pocket, he clutches a set of keys before throwing them at me.
“She’s parked out front.”
I tighten my fingers around the keys. “I can’t thank you enough.”
Lucca pulls me into a hug. “You saved me more times in prison.”
“We saved each other,” I say.
Lucca nods. “They’ll send me after you,” he states. “I’ll come.”
I grin at him. “I wouldn’t expect anything less from you, brother.”
Lucca turns to Mila. “You take care of him. He’s one of the good guys.”
I laugh, but Mila doesn’t answer. I think she’s gone beyond playing nice.
“I hope she’s worth it,” Lucca says.
“She is,” I answer before leaving Lucca’s house behind. I unlock the slick black car, and Mila gets into the passenger seat. She’s still clutching the empty glass. She places it between her legs as she buckles herself in.
“I’m sorry.” She speaks when we’re on the road.
I glance at her. “For what?”
“I should have stayed silent.” Her eyes meet mine.
“I would never expect you to remain silent, Mila. I can see he hurt you.”
She quickly looks away from me and falls silent again for a few more moments.
“I heard gunshots.”
I flicker my gaze to Mila. She’s watching me intently.
“Vlad was about to follow you.”
Her deep inhale of breath has me regretting telling her. I have to remember this isn’t the life she was born into. She was born into the more blanketed part of Bratva.
“Is he dead?” She doesn’t sound upset.
“Nah, it was only a flesh wound.”
“I heard two gunshots.” Her voice is low, and her eyes are drowning in sorrow.
“The second was for Eric.”
I can see the pulse in her neck flicker to life.
Before she asks me if he’s dead, I tell her, “Another wound. Not lethal, but serious enough to cause pain.”
I focus on the road and let Mila delve deep into her thoughts. I have no idea where we’re going—I’m running. The Collector doesn’t run. Ever. But I just need some time to figure out what to do.
“Did you shoot him for me?” she asks nervously.
I smile instantly. “Yes.”
I glance at her, and she nods at me. “Thank you.”
I grin. “You are welcome.”
She has no idea what I would do for her—what I have done for her already and would do in the future to keep her safe. I wasn’t exactly overly confident about how safe I could keep her when it came to Victor. You don’t stand up to the leader of the Bratva and live.
Lucca asking me if she was worth it means he knows the price I will pay for this.
I glance at Mila again. She’s rolling the empty vodka glass in her hands. Her legs are drawn up on the seat. She’s beautiful.
Yes. She’s worth it.