Part 45 (2/2)

He shook his head, watching my lips. ”No one. Not anymore.” He dipped towards me, his hands coming to either side of my head to hold me still as I tried to pull away. The gun was still in one hand, the side pressed against my head. His lips took mine, sucking on the bottom, not caring that I fought against it. He left no room to fight; his body pressed me firm into the wall. A threatening heat radiated from him. He broke away, pulling my lip between his teeth. ”I dont answer to anyone. Im in charge.”

He looked like he could devour me, the animalistic hunger in his eyes chilling me but giving me confidence as well.

”So will you kill me? Since you make the rules?”

”I should. I need to.” His hands re-gripped the sides of my head, forcing it back against the wall. His lips brus.h.i.+ng mine as he spoke, ”But I want to consume you.” Then he was back on me, closing over my lips with his own. His hands traveled down my body, and he ran the gun just under my waistband as his other hand slid up my s.h.i.+rt. His lips moved to my neck and I could feel his control breaking as his fingers groped. The grip on the gun relaxing as he fumbled to touch me.

I slid my hands over his arm as if for balance, as if in the heat of the moment. I was waiting for the perfect time, about to make my move when the door flew open and Alessandra stormed in.

Rusnak broke away, pressing the gun into my stomach as he looked to his wife.

”You weak b.a.s.t.a.r.d,” She spoke level, even though she had slammed the door open seconds before. ”Couldnt keep your c.o.c.k out of it. Fall to your knees at the first sign of p.u.s.s.y?” She lifted her gun. ”Ill do what you cant.” She took a few steps in, going to the side of Rusnak.

”Calm down,” he commanded. But she looked calm, frighteningly so. ”Put the gun down.”

”What is it about you that makes these men lose their s.h.i.+t? They all forget their roles. And for what? A traitorous, snake in the gra.s.s, wh.o.r.e?” She was stepping closer, anger rising, arms stiffening as her finger hovered on the trigger.

”Dont,” Rusnak tried again, hesitating with the gun still pressed to my stomach.

I s.n.a.t.c.hed it from him, flipping it in my hand the way Blake taught me and shooting it all within a second.

Alessandra dropped the gun, clutching her bleeding hand. I whipped towards Rusnak, lining up his head in my sights as I stepped away from him.

”That was fast. Youve gotten better than I remember.” He didnt seem scared at all.

I side stepped to the gun on the ground and picked it up, aiming that at a screaming Alessandra.

”Youre still weak with that trigger. You should have shot to kill,” Rusnak kept talking.

He took a step, and I fired the gun, dropping it to hit his shoulder.

He staggered back, clutching his bleeding arm.

”That was a warning. I dont want you dead. Not yet.” I looked to Alessandra. ”Get down on the ground.”

She had her hand cradled to her stomach, and her eyes were filled with a burning hatred as she sunk to her knees. But when she moved her other hand to her waistband, I shot her. In the head.

She fell back, dropping the gun she had reached for. It slid over the ground.

Rusnak made a strangled sound like a wounded animal.

”I warned you. Both of you.” I couldnt look at her, but I didnt feel bad for what Id done. I had to do it and having done it fueled me, removing my own doubts. I slid the gun I shot her with into the waist of my jeans and picked up the smaller gun that she dropped, never taking my eyes or aim off Rusnak.

”Walk to the door.” I didnt dare get close to him as I made the command.

He walked slow, watching me all the while.

”Where are we going?” he asked, walking in a wide path around his wife.

”Back to the main room. Go.”

”Think this through. Theyll kill you on sight.” He paused at the door.

”Not with you blocking me.” But I was seeing the holes in my plan.

Firing from the next room had me moving, not caring about a better plan. One. Two. Three shots. Then silence.

I had three guns, and Rusnak at the end of one of them. That was going to have to be enough.

”Go,” I commanded, but Rusnak still walked slow.

And I still wasnt willing to get close enough to push him. I knew he was quicker than me.

I heard the commotion in the hall but wasnt at the door yet.

”Where is she?” Gages voice was savage.

”Im here. Im fine,” I yelled to him, almost crying out in my rush of relief. I couldnt see him and who may be with him, but I wanted to make sure he didnt take any risks when I had the leverage.

”Stay still,” Gage demanded and Rusnak stilled at the entrance of the door.

He glanced towards me before looking back at Gage. ”Im not moving.”

”Regan, Baby, are you hurt? Can you come out?”

I was moving towards that voice, the strain of it filling me, pulling me. But I still kept my gun raised, not losing my head enough to make myself weak to Rusnak.

”Back up from the door,” I directed him.

”Do it,” Gage confirmed.

”And what about you, Cherry?” Rusnak questioned with a sneer. ”Youre choosing his side? I made you.”

That took me off guard, and when I turned the corner, I saw she was standing with Gage, gun aimed at Rusnak.

”I make myself.” She raised her chin, gripping her gun with both hands. ”You only brought me here.”

Rusnak moved in a snap as she spoke, reaching for the gun in my hand and bending my wrist in the process. But I didnt let the pain interfere, and I brought my other hand up and shot into his stomach. But his head snapped back with another bullet in the center of his forehead.

He dropped to the ground, and I stepped back, unable to look away. Still not believing the sight. Hazel eyes staring at me, shock frozen on his features. Anatoli Rusnak. Lifeless. Dead.

Arms wrapped around me from behind, and I collapsed into the warmth, the familiar smell and feeling of safety, of home. I clung to him, letting his strength hold me up. The relief was painful as it racked my muscles.

”Oh G.o.d.” He pulled back, looking at me. ”Youre bleeding?” His eyes continued their frantic scan. ”But only there, you werent shot? I heard gunfire.”

”Alessandra.” I nodded into the room but held him tighter so he couldnt go check, not wanting him to leave my side. Not wanting to let him go. ”Shes dead. What about you? I heard shots.”

<script>