Page 162 of Monstrous Urges

I got your note, Anni. You’ve always been such a clever girl. I’ll keep it safe!

I’ve never trusted my terrifying husband and his terrifying family. This way if anything happens to me, if they try anything, Florence will let them know she’s got twenty-two million of their money.

Consider it my insurance policy.

Too bad it doesn’t cover what’s happening now.

I scurry past the office door, hurrying toward the garage. Just as I get there, the door bangs open. I scream as three men in tactical gear and masks surge out, leveling guns at me. One of them grabs me and pushes me against the wall, facing it. He yanks my hands behind my back. Then he chuckles darkly.

“Looks like we found us some fun,” he leers.

My heart drops as I feel him press against me, reaching between us to fumble with his belt.

“I get first?—”

I scream when the shot rings out. The man slams into the wall next to me, his eyes and mouth gaping wide, a massive hole in his forehead. I whip around just in time to see Miroslav squeeze off four more shots, dropping the two other men. My father-in-law glances at me before he storms over and grits his teeth, putting another bullet into each of the heads of the three men just to be sure.

“Come,” he snarls, grabbing my arm. “I need to get you?—”

He hisses, and I scream as another shot rings out in the dark hallway behind us. Miroslav whirls, staggering against the wall before he raises his arm and fires two shots, killing the man who’s just snuck up on us.

I gasp, dropping to my knees next to Miroslav as he sinks to the floor, a trail of blood dripping down the wall behind him.

“You need to get out,” he hisses through clenched teeth.

“I can help you?—”

“No,” he chokes. “You can’t.” He grunts as he grabs my hand. “But you can assist me in standing right now.”

I nod, my skin crawling and the fear screaming in my ears as I pull Miroslav to his feet. I put his arm over my shoulder as he nods towards a control panel on the wall next to the door to the garage.

“Enter the code nine-seven-two-two-eight-nine-zero-six.”

I do, my hands shaking. The control panel beeps, and a warning message pops up.

“This…” I swallow as I turn to him. “But this is the override for the whole security system. It’ll open every?—”

“They’re already inside, Annika,” he grunts, wincing as he raises his other arm and jabs a bloody finger on the “confirm” button. “But now you can get out.”

Miroslav winces, his legs giving out as he slumps against the wall and then slides to the floor. He grabs my hand, looking up into my face. “Please, Annika. Please forgive me for dragging you into this carnage. Take the Land Rover in the garage. It’s got the strongest front grill. My men at the bridge will try and stop you, but I need you to get through. Get home, Annika,” he wheezes, coughing up blood. “Tell your father I’m sorry for the violence between our families and for taking his only daughter away from him.” He winces as he squeezes my hand. “Drive fast, Annika. If they think all is lost…” his eyes roll back before he forces them back to me. “They’ll blow up the bridge. You have to get over before they?—”

Gunfire thunders down the hallway, sending plaster dust into the air as shots hit the wall behind us.

“GO!” Miroslav hisses. “Now!!”

I bolt to the garage as I hear him firing back on the attackers. I slam the door shut behind me, then go to the wall with the keys to Miroslav’s car collection. I find the one for the Land Rover, hit the button to open the door, and then jump behind the wheel and start the engine.

The garage door rolls up in front of me. Two men in black whirl in surprise and raise their rifles. Screaming, I floor the gas and duck, flinching as the car lurches forward and the windshield explodes into a million pieces. I hear the double thunk-sh sound as I hit the men, and then I scream in terror as one of them flies up over the hood and comes crashing through the broken windshield into the seat next to me.

His eyes stare wildly and blank up at the ceiling.

He’s dead.

Without thinking, I just keep driving, roaring off down the stone drive.

The scene outside is pure chaos. Bodies and blood are everywhere. The trees I climbed to peer into Miroslav’s office are on fire. So is the house. Gunfire peppers the night, and another explosion blows out the windows of the kitchen.

I floor it, roaring toward the bridge, trying to ignore the body bleeding in the passenger seat next to me.