Page 93 of Unholy Tsar

“Goodbye, sister,” he murmurs as her body thuds to the floor. “Now, where were we?”

He turns to face me, and I gulp, freezing like a deer caught in headlights.

“Ah, you. I guess I don’t really want to listen to you anymore, either.”

He trains his gun on me, and my life flashes before my eyes. It all happens so quickly: cold days filled with despair, loneliness, and pain. And then time stops, and I see a familiar pair of deep brown eyes.

Maksim.

A warmth spreads through me. The past month shines like a beacon of hope, drowning out the darkness and despair of my past. Hot tears stream down my face as I close my eyes and wait for the pain. For it all to end.

I hate that I couldn’t tell him what he means to me, that I never got to say how he feels like the only home I’ve ever really had. How I freaking love him.

I held it back. And now I’m going to die.

“Maksim…” I whisper, wanting him to be the last thing on my lips before the pain.

But the pain never comes. Instead, there’s an audible thud, and at first, I think it’s my heart, but that thud is followed by a grunt and the distinct sound of a fist meeting flesh.

My eyes snap open, and I see Viktor and Maksim rolling on the floor, both of them grappling for the upper hand.

If it weren’t for what they were wearing, I might have a hard time telling them apart. Luckily, I can tell when Maksim gets the upper hand.

He gets on top of his brother and starts punching him in the face. Over and over and over…

“You don’t get to have my life. My empire. My girl,” he booms, smashing in his brother’s face. The face that looks just like his. Viktor struggles, trying to fight back, but Maksim’s too strong, too angry.

Slowly, Viktor’s hands fall to the ground; his body goes limp, his nose splinters, his cheekbones crack.

Finally, Maksim pushes his lifeless body aside. His face splattered with blood, he looks up at me.

To my surprise, a faint smile lifts his perfect lips.

“Called for me?”

I’m too stunned to respond, but as he stumbles toward me, the ice that I was frozen in melts away, and I come back to my senses.

“You came for me…”

That little smirk grows wider. “Don’t I always.”

Part of me wants to roll my eyes and snuggle into his chest, but then I notice the blood. So much blood. And it’s not just from Viktor. “You’re hurt.”

“I’m fine,” he says raggedly, pulling me into a hug so fierce I lose my breath for a moment. Then he lets me go so he can untie my hands. “Are you okay? He didn’t hurt you, did he? You—”

A deafening shot rings out, filling my ears. Maksim’s body jerks beside me before hitting the floor. “Maksim!” I cry out in horror, grabbing his body.

He’s not moving. I look up to see Viktor swaying on his feet, the gun in his hand still smoking.

He’s still alive. Barely. And he looks like he’s about to pull the trigger again.

I scream, and suddenly, I’m not in control of my own body. Fear and rage pulse through my veins as I reach for the gun in Maksim’s hip holster. Viktor fires at me, but he’s so unsteady on his feet that the bullet flies over my head.

“You piece of shit!” My voice is raw, shaking with fury. Cocking Maksim’s gun, I aim at Viktor and pull the trigger.

“Missed me,” he laughs, blood gurgling through his swollen lips.

I roll to the side as he fires another shot. It hits the floor where I just was. Gritting my teeth, I get to my feet. I’m about to fire again when I remember what Maksim taught me.