Page 74 of Caged

“It’s on the corner of Third, and Get Fucked.” Driving the pencil in my grasp deep into his shoulder makes him groan and his teeth bare in a grimace.

But, he doesn’t loosen his hold.

“You’re going to regret that,” he grits and tightens his fingers.

Like hell I will.

Even as stars burst in my vision, my arm raises and lowers, sinking the thin weapon into his shoulder.

It’s only when I lower it and jab him into his belly below his ribs that he grunts and lets me go.

Taking a big gulp of air, I rush out into the hot Vegas street.

Blood covers my chest, and I can feel it caking the side of my face.

I dig out my phone and call my lifeline.

“Tyler, I gotta do this myself.” My throat is sore from where that asshole was squeezing it.

It wasn’t even the fun kind of choking.

“What are you talking about? All you have to do is tell Kirill?—”

“Screw him. I’m gonna get the diamonds and take them to Ivan. Maybe I’ll just kidnap Daniil and we can keep them. I don’t know, but shit just went south.” I glare at a woman walking by who spots the red spatters across me with a gasp.

“It’s suicide to just show up at Ivan’s unannounced.” Tyler has that lilt at the ends of his words he gets when he’s worried.

“No, it has to work. I’m finished playing by their rules. Ivan wanted me for this job because I get things done. Not because I follow a guidebook.” I slam the car door shut and speed out of the parking lot. “Be ready on Monday.”

My takeout order is ready. The entire excuse for me leaving was to get dinner.

If I get back in time, maybe I can clean up and change before Nikolai and Elena get home.

What a mess.

Rushing into the house, I drop the bag on the table before heading straight to the shower.

I need those diamonds.

But I also need Nikolai safe. I owe him and Elena that much.

I know what has to be done. Even if it does cost me my own life.

THIRTY

NIKOLAI

Song- Go To War, NOTHING MORE.

There’s a line between protection, and calling attention.

I feel like I’m leaning on the second.

But Mikhail insisted that I have all of the help I could get. I’d rather go in covertly, after all, I’m more than capable of taking care of myself.

Having everyone here just means more people can get hurt if things take a bad turn. There’s already an itch on the back of my neck when I think about how nerve-wracking this is.

Now, Jax, Alexei, and a handful more of our men are putting their lives on the line.