Page 90 of Ruthless Salvation
“Is the car in place?” I asked Keir.
“Ready and waiting.”
“Good, I’ll lead the way.” I grabbed Storm’s coat and hat. “I want her in the middle surrounded by us at all times.” Everyone nodded, guns drawn. “Then let’s head out.”
I gave Storm one last kiss before we left the apartment. “This will be over soon enough. Stick to the plan and try not to panic, okay?”
She nodded, her large brown eyes wide with worry. “Please, be careful.”
“I will,” I assured her, bringing my lips to her ear. “I can’t afford to be anything less. There’s two of you counting on me now.” My hand grazed her stomach.
Her shaky smile filled me with determination. She trusted me with her life and the life of our unborn child. That meant the world to me. I wouldn’t let her down.
Everyone in the apartment filtered into the hall and walked quickly but carefully to the stairs. We weren’t the only ones evacuating, and the chaos made visibility difficult. I wasn’t sure if that was good or bad. People gave us a relatively wide berth when they saw we were armed, minimizing the immediate crowding.
We proceeded around in circles down ten flights of stairs before reaching the ground level, where everything would get more complicated. I paused at the stairwell exit and scanned the landing. Not spotting anyone loitering with guns, I led our group away from the crowd and to the small coffee shop in the lobby. The place had its own separate back exit leading to the side alley where it received deliveries and had dumpster access. All we had to do was go through the shop to where the car would be waiting.
I placed a quick call to our driver as we walked through the empty shop. “How’s it look out there?”
“All quiet.”
“We’re on our way out.”
“I’ll unlock the doors once you’re in sight.”
I ended the call and stopped at the back exit, turning back to talk to my family. “As you know, our only experience with Damyon proved that he’s good at what he does. There’s no sign of him so far, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t here. I don’t believe for a second that this gas leak is a coincidence, so be on your guard.”
Everyone nodded. I took a deep breath, then reached for the handle.
The black SUV was in view about twenty feet from us. I’d only opened the door a couple of inches, so I couldn’t see much else. Not that it mattered. This sort of situation only allowed for so much control. The rest would have to be luck.
“Three, two, one,” I counted down quietly before pushing open the door and leading the charge. Time passed in slow motion as I approached the car, reaching for the door just as a bullet exploded into the metal by my hand.
I recoiled, my cousins clustering in a group behind me, forming a protective circle. Before we could run for cover, another round of shots rang out. The result was chaos.
Oran went down to the ground.
Keir flew into action, dragging him back toward the safety of the coffee shop while Oran’s brother covered them. Their departure divided our group in half. I reached for the car door again.
“Stop.” The barked command vibrated with totalitarian authority.
I looked up to see Damyon stepping from the doorway across the alley. A quick scan revealed three more shooters in the windows above and four men entering from either side of the alley.
We were surrounded.
Adrenaline lit my body with an electric need to strike at the enemy, but I had to hold back. No one was shooting at the moment, and I needed to keep it that way.
“You measure time differently over there in Siberia?” I asked with practiced indifference.
Damyon strolled closer, clearly not impressed by our threat. “As if you were planning to hand her over.” His condescending smile was infuriating. This guy seriously thought his shit didn’t stink. Well, I had news for him. He wasn’t so goddamn special.
I would have shot him where he stood, but that would have been too easy an out for him. Damyon needed to suffer for what he’d done. I had plans for him.
“You might be surprised what I’m willing to do.”
“Really? Then step aside. Let me have my wife.” His Russian accent was almost comical, reminding me of every movie villain since the Cold War.
“How about we let my family go, then you and I can talk about what happens next?” I kept my body angled toward Damyon, shielding the small form huddled behind me. Her body shook, but I didn’t let it distract me.