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The world spun.
The skies turned dark.
Then everything went quiet.
25
RAVEN
Coughing so much my chest throbbed, Ivan propped me up on his shoulder as he helped me out of the burning building. I was barely standing on two feet anymore, and as I fell to my knees and coughed up a lung, I wondered if anyone else got out alive.
“What the hell was that?” I turned a scathing glare on Ivan.
He chuckled like always. “It was necessary. The only way to win is total destruction.”
I shoved to my feet, swaying slightly as my head spun. “I wasn’t on board with killing all those people.”
“I told you, I do things my way. The only way to ensure your freedom was to kill them and you.”
My body stilled at his words. “Kill me?”
“Don’t be ridiculous, Raven. The men who came here today from the mob are only a small faction. There are others waiting to learn of your demise.” He pulled a knife from his belt and slowly walked toward me. “I think it is time we give them what we need.”
“Ivan…” I took a step back, my heart thumping hard in my chest as I stared at the knife. Long and wicked looking, that thing would slice me in two. But I had no way out. There was nowhere for me to run that he wouldn’t find me. “Just think about this.”
“I have, my dear. You are a casualty of war.”
“We had a deal,” I reminded him.
“And I will collect. As soon as I am finished with you.” He grinned wildly at me and lifted his hand above his head.
I gasped, holding my breath as I prepared to take on this man and fight to the end. He was older, but that didn’t mean much. He was a former KGB agent. He probably knew more ways to kill a person than I had even heard of.
“Dasvidaniya, my little kitten.”
“Ivan!” The shout startled both of us, and as he turned around, I prayed a reprieve was in my future. But when the figure stepped away from the building, my heart sank.
The Russian.
Yet another man with a heavy accent for me to compete with. Was I ever going to catch a break? He stumbled over to us, coughing hard as he approached. The look on his face was downright lethal, but as he saw the blade in Ivan’s hand, he grinned.
“So, she lives.”
“I was just about to see to her end.”
“Not yet.” The Russian looked at me, his eyes trailing over me before he grinned. “She still has something I need.”
“And what is that?”
I’d like to know the same thing.
“The eggs?—”
“They’re gone,” I said quickly. “You saw it with your own eyes.”
“Yes, about that…you are a tricky little thief. You give your word for a meeting, but then a Frenchman and your Allsebrook show up to ruin the deal. I never trust a thief.”
“That wasn’t me,” I argued. “I don’t know how they found us!” Not entirely true. I knew Ivan was the one who told them where we’d be, but I wasn’t willing to turn him over to The Russian. Despite Ivan trying to kill me, he was still closer to an ally than this man. I had to let this play out.
