Page 103 of Anton

“Fine, but make it quick.”

I let her pull me inside, even though I know my brothers are going to have questions. If it hadn’t been for the suppressors on the weapons and the music bleeding through the walls inside, they’d already be out here.

The second we reach the door, one of the guards heads straight for us.

“Everything okay? I heard noise outside.” Then he sees my arm and his face changes. “Blyat, chto sluchilos?” Fuck, what happened?

“Nichego.” Nothing.

I move farther inside, just as my brothers step out from the back room where they were conducting business before I left.

Konstantin takes in the wound, his face tightening. “Kto?” Who?

“I don’t know. Black sedan. Toyota. No plates.”

“Look, guys.” Thora cuts in, turning to Konstantin while pressing a palm to my wound as blood slips between her fingers. “You can all discuss this later. Right now, I need a first aid kit, towels, anything you have. Now.”

He nods and barks an order at the bartender, who scurries toward the back.

“After I stop the bleeding…” she says to my brothers, already popping the buttons of my shirt while I shrug it off. “He needs a doctor.”

“No doctor,” I tell her, looking down at the damage.

Not terrible. I’ll live.

Her head jerks up, eyes furious. “I don’t remember asking for your opinion.”

My mouth twitches, but Konstantin turns to me, and I kill the almost-smile before it can get me into trouble.

“We will find out who did this,” Kirill says. “Is there anything else you saw? The color of his eyes, anything that might help?”

“I saw the car first,” she says, keeping pressure on my arm with my shirt, her fingers slick with my blood. “His eyes were brown, I think, but I was too far away to be sure.”

And just like that, I see it again. Thora stepping into the line of fire.

Anger builds in my chest as I lean toward her, ignoring my brothers while I peer into her eyes. “Never do that again.”

“Do what?”

“Never put yourself in harm’s way.”

Aleksei and Kirill exchange surprised glances, while Konstantin remains unreadable.

“Not this again.” She blows out a breath. “We already discussed this two minutes ago.”

“You’re a stubborn woman, so I want to make sure you hear me clearly.” I cup her jaw. “Do not ever try to take a bullet for me.”

She snickers. “Then don’t get shot next time.”

“I can’t guarantee that.”

“Well, therein lies the dilemma.” Her lips curve, and I want to kiss her so badly, it takes effort not to.

Aleksei chuckles from somewhere behind her. “Aww, look at that. Your first lovers’ spat.”

Thora and I turn to him at the same time. “We are not lovers.”

His grin widens. “I can’t decide which one of you is less convincing.”