Page 100 of Lord of Vice
“Oh, fuck,” Konstantin hissed. “We’re under attack.”
I jerked the car to a halt and all ten of us raced from the vehicles.
“I’ll contact our other soldiers,” Konstantin snapped.
“By then it’ll be too late. You four,” I pointed. “Go around to the back of the house. Keep the element of surprise until you hear gunfire. We’re going straight in the front door.”
“We need to be careful,” Konstantin warned.
“The time for being careful is over.” I was furious I’d allowed this to go on as long as I had.
We raced up the driveway, careful to avoid the cameras that would set the motion lights off. Not that it mattered at this point. They were waiting for us. I could feel it. A goddamn ambush.
It was another moment to prove my instincts correct, the sound of gunfire popping from a short distance away.
“Go. Go. Go!” I hissed, picking up speed as I raced for the house. Never before had I felt so helpless, other than when Katarina had been killed.
All because of an enemy my father had angered because he’d left Russia and his comrades behind.
When we were finally near the house, Konstantin tried to push me against the exterior wall, but I wasn’t playing games nor was I going to allow any additional time where myideal’naya penniwould be in harm’s way. I’d promised to protect her. Instead, I’d called her a traitor.
I was batting zero for the day.
Hell, maybe for the year.
The he-man inside of me was going to kick open the door. The intelligent man inside of me said to try the handle. I should have known it would be unlocked. While I couldn’t see anything through the single crack I’d created, when I pushed the thick steel open only a few inches further, I heard a muffled scream.
Then a single bark.
The time for hesitation or caution was over. I kicked in the door, rushing into the room with my soldiers behind.
Pop! Pop!
The bullet hit me hard in the arm from close enough range I was pummeled backward, the pain blinding but not enough to avoid seeing exactly what I was fearful of. As I noticed Vissarian leaping off the floor toward Penny, the weapon I’d given him flashed in the light. She was pitched to the floor, but not before the sound of gunfire came from every direction.
I dropped and rolled, firing off several shots, hitting at least two of the enemy soldiers.
Penny’s scream was cut short, but her cry for Remington as he barked and tried to come to her rescue dragged my heart into hell.
I jerked to my feet, rushing forward, trying to get to my brother and the woman I adored, but within seconds, we were surrounded by at least six more soldiers, both Vissarian and Penny jerked to their feet, a chokehold placed around both their necks.
The moment one of the brutal soldiers kicked Remington in the stomach, sending him flying across the room, I put three bullets in his face, ready to take on every enemy in the room.
“No!” she screamed. “I’ll kill you. I’ll kill all of you!”
But as more of them rushed inside, several pointing assault rifles at us, it was evident we’d been outnumbered.
“I wouldn’t try anything if I were you, Mr. Sokolov. And Miss Valentine, I’d hate to blow off that pretty head of yours.”
The voice was one I’d heard on propaganda YouTube videos, the bastard attempting to poach additional soldiers from his South American enemies.
“Emiliano Cabrera. I think we can dispense with formalities, don’t you?”
He laughed in a deep, throaty voice as he came out of the kitchen all the way. I almost laughed myself, seeing that he’d grabbed an apple, munching on it like we were old friends. As he continued his dramatic entrance, I scanned the room, counting the remaining enemy soldiers. Eight in comparison to the five ofus, along with Vissarian, who at this point still had his weapon in his hand.
Subject to change.
My sweet woman started to struggle, doing everything in her power to rid herself of the jerk holding her. To make matters worse, the son of a bitch was egging her on, kissing her face while laughing like some goon. “Don’t worry, baby. Everything is going to be okay.”