Page 103 of Lord of Vice

Then another single shot before I fired off my own weapon.

Then silence…

CHAPTER 29

Penny

Incessant beeping.

The noise drilled into my brain, another reminder of yet the third horrible event in a few days. Only unlike the last two times I’d heard, seen, and experienced gunfire, I felt nothing. Not one damn thing.

I wasn’t angry or sad, worried, or certain of death.

There was nothing inside.

Obviously, I was worried about my beautiful puppy, who hadn’t acted the same since leaving the vet’s office almost forty-eight hours before. There’d been no way I could have left Remington alone after what he’d endured, and I was reminded once again of Kraven’s influence. Maybe the fact he had more money than God had also helped grease a few nurses’ palms. Whatever the case, my fur baby was currently a Klingon. I was lucky all he’d experienced were bruised ribs.

Things could have been so much worse.

Sadly, Vissarian hadn’t been so lucky. The single bullet to the chest had been similar to Misha’s injury, only the bullet had come very close to the heart. Another inch and Kraven’s brother would be dead from saving a life.

His brother’s.

Maybe mine as well.

Kraven was also hurt, shot in the arm, but at least the bullet had gone straight through. He’d barely tolerated the EMTs cleaning and dressing the wound, still barking orders to his men. I’d been initially shocked the police had barely taken a statement, later realizing a man like Kraven likely owned at least half the police force in town.

The single lone gunman left had almost managed to kill us all. I rubbed my eyes, trying to make sense of a single aspect of what had occurred over the past few days. How could I? Everything was a tremendous blur. Blood. Gore. Violence. Death.

I was living a horror flick without the benefit of having popcorn and licorice.

A laugh bubbled to the surface from my parched throat. It was obvious I was cracking from being under duress and the constant state of fear. Even now, as I stood in front of the window of the small waiting room Kraven had managed to secure, I couldn’t move. Couldn’t think. Hell, I could barely breathe without wheezing. And that was all from terror. Yes, I’d had the wind knocked out of me twice. I likely had bruised ribs as well, but it was nothing in comparison to seeing Vissarian’s horrified face when he’d gripped his brother’s hand, inching toward the throes of death.

Or worse. Seeing Kraven’s.

Shadows were starting to form as twilight fell, sliding across the parking lot like ominous demons from the depths of hell. I knew what they looked like since I’d experienced more than a few of them over the last few days. Even as the stars were twinkling in the sky, I wasn’t certain I could ever look at them the same way again.

I had no idea where Kraven had gone but I’d never felt lonelier in my life. Yes, I’d been made aware there were enough guards both in and out of the hospital a war could be started, but that didn’t provide any comfort or take away the chills. Maybe nothing would.

Kraven had remained in the hospital since his brother had been brought in, pacing the floors, growling like some caged animal. But I’d heard enough to know he was planning additional deaths. That’s what he did.

His world.

His need for revenge.

His longing for bloodshed.

Maybe I was overblowing things, but he was the kind of man who when determined, always followed through. In truth, I admired that about him. I was also terrified by what it could mean.

It was all true what they said about tragedies. They did bring two people closer together. I had a need for the man unlike anyone else I’d ever met. I longed for his touch, his kiss, even his heated breath as he growled because I’d misbehaved.

I was almost giddy, which was purely from exhaustion.

So many lives lost. So much blood spilled because of what, greed? All the things the crazy man had said in the house had seemed like a movie and not real life. But the danger had been real. Far too real. I’d been certain I was going to die.

At least Konstantin had survived. Kraven’s second in command had brought us a change of clothes and food, although neither one of us had been hungry. I had my purse, including my phone. Even a brand-new charger. He hadn’t forgotten about my fur baby either, bringing food and a water bowl, and a couple of toys to keep Remington occupied. He’d even brought a blanket so Remington didn’t need to lie on the hard, cold floor.

He’d kept Kraven up to speed on business but the man I continued to hunger for had constantly handled business, speaking in Russian or leaving the room altogether. I’d overheard enough to know he was searching for and rounding up whoever had been involved in betraying him.