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On the drive over, her brother had engaged in small talk as if he hadn’t just kidnapped his own sister and nephew, aided by a vengeful-looking man who held them at gunpoint. Ricky had just wheeled them inside and placed her next to a dripping sink. A stack of wet towels was neatly arranged on the side table next to it. He’d made some comment about her making use of it for the baby, as if she were carrying a plant in her arms instead of a tiny human being. She hadn’t bothered to answer.
Instead, her eyes darted over the cluttered place, looking for a way out. On her left side, there was a shelf with rusty car parts covered in a layer of dust. She still hadn’t recovered from the birth, but if she put some effort into it, maybe she could grab something and use it to bludgeon Pedro to death. Her son yawned and reminded her she was in no position to fight anyone off. Not with him in her arms, and there was no way she was letting him go.
Ricky kneeled next to her wheelchair. “I’m not going to let anything happen to you or my nephew. We just need Viking to pay up. It’s the least he owes us.”
He was so deluded. She reined in the hateful remarks that popped in her head because the last thing she wanted was for Pedro to pay any attention to her. She hadn’t missed the murderous glare in his eyes, even though her brother seemed oblivious to it. Ricky had gone off the rails big time and couldn’t see what was right in front of him. Pedro Morelli wasn’t going to let either one of them live once he got what he wanted. If she didn’t find a way to make it out of here, he was going to kill her son. She battled the waves of nausea coursing through her gut.
Pedro ended his phone call and walked up to them. Where he’d seemed nervous before, now he seemed frighteningly confident. He turned off his phone and gestured for Ricky to do the same.
“The money will be transferred within twenty-four hours,” he said in a detached voice. “If I’d known he would care this much about his brat, I would’ve told him about Vicky ages ago. We could’ve made a deal of some sort.”
Pedro stared at her through cold eyes that betrayed no fear. Did he really think he’d get away with this? Didn’t he realize he’d signed his death warrant? There was no place on Earth where the Bratva wouldn’t follow him.
Then again, desperate times. The man had nothing to lose. Feeling the small weight in her arms, she was once again reminded she had everything to lose. Her son was becoming fidgety and making small sounds. Her heart flooded with love at the tiny life she was holding. Soon he would need to be changed and fed. Had they even thought about the million things a newborn needed?
She scouted the room, but the only way out was on the other end. Pedro was pacing there, talking into another phone, probably a burner. From the snippets of conversation she could hear, she understood he was arranging his escape plan.
Her brother sat on the work bench to her right. Behind her was another door that was slightly cracked open. It had potential, but if she even made an attempt to move, they would hear her. She dreaded what Pedro would do to her or her son if he caught her attempting to escape.
Then a movement in the window to her left caught her attention. She’d recognize that cocky jerk’s smirk anywhere. Her heart started to pound, and hope exploded in her chest.
She quickly glanced at Pedro. He was still on the phone, walking back and forth. Her brother had taken out another phone as well and was furiously typing.
Baran pointed at the door behind her. If he was here, Viking must also be nearby.
Then Baran disappeared out of sight. She had to be ready, and somehow make a run for it. She pushed her feet against the floor in an attempt to gain leverage.
Suddenly, the doors flew wide open, and she heard her name shouted.
Viking.
Gunfire erupted as Pedro opened fire. She saw her brother duck behind a bench.
She wanted to run to Viking but couldn’t let her son get in the crossfire. Holding him tight, she sprinted to the back door.
Just a few more feet. Just a few more.
Baran burst through the door, eating up the space between them. Suddenly his expression changed from relief to horror.
“Lena!” Viking yelled.
Baran broke into a run. He yanked his gun from his belt and aimed at a point behind her.
Momentarily stunned, she pivoted on her heels and turned to see what he was aiming at.
She recoiled when she saw Pedro pointing his gun directly at her. Blood poured from his abdomen and she wondered how he was even still standing.
She hunched in on herself and covered her baby as she tried to drop to safety. A shot exploded across the space just as a blur of movement caught her eye. Baran flew through the air and threw himself in front of her.
Another shot exploded. Through the watery blur before her eyes, she saw Viking step up to Pedro’s body. She didn’t bother to ask if Pedro was dead.
She dropped next to Baran. There was a hole in his left side and blood seeped over his shirt.
“Baran!” She slapped his face in an attempt to get him to answer her.
“Dammit.” He groaned. “What the hell was that for?”
“Are you okay? Are you awake? Of course, you are, I’m blabbering.” She couldn’t believe he’d thrown himself in front of her like that. He didn’t even like her.
