Page 106 of Caged
My three most important girls.
I’d give my life for them.
He purses his lips and his brow lowers. “It’s my job.”
After clapping him on the shoulder, I climb out of the car, but turn back. “Make sure you listen to Mikhail. No crazy shit, okay?”
Alexei slides across the seat to sit behind the wheel. “I never do.” As he slams the door shut, a wild grin spreads across his face, showing his silver tooth through the dirty glass.
The tires kick up gravel before he shoots off down the road.
Wild ass.
My breath shows in the cool air while I make my way the back way through a grove of heavy trees.
I’m close. Watching ahead of me, the red dot is telling me I’m almost there.
Drawing my gun, I can see her. Is Mila alone?
No. That other man sits across the clearing from her.
And he looks pissed.
Shit. When I step on a twig, her head snaps up and her eyes widen. “What are you doing here?”
Two steps are all it takes to wrap my hand behind her neck and pull her lips to mine.
Breathlessly, she pulls away. “Niki?”
“I can’t let you go, vedmochka.”
She rests her forehead against my chin.
“Don’t fucking hide from me, not now.” I grab her jaw in my hand, forcing her to look into my eyes to see how serious I am.
“You need to leave. Think about Elena. Let. Me. Go.”
I wince at the truth in her words, shooting a pain in my chest.
“No. Not happening.”
She pushes against me and I hold both of her wrists. I’m not backing down.
“You are my future, Elena’s too. You don’t make choices for me, baby,” I whisper, gripping her chin as she tries to look away.
“You want that too, don’t you? Once you’ve gone after my father? Correct?”
She nods.
“He has someone important to you, doesn’t he?”
She swallows and her eyes brim with tears.
“If it was Elena in there, with that monster—” I nod to the building. “—would you stand by my side and fight with me to get her back?”
I know her answer in my gut.
“Yes. I’d do anything to protect her, Niki. You have to believe me. I’d never, ever hurt that little girl. It killed me, even betraying you.”