Page 86 of Where the Wind Whispers

“Have them charge it to my card and get it all packaged, yes?” Rus said, reaching for the stroller. “I’ll get the baby and the stroller so you’re not carrying heavy things.”

Violet sighed. “Rus, I can carry the baby. I gave birth—I didn’t fall off a roof or something and break my arms or back.”

He didn’t bother to grace her with a response, simply made his way toward the door after having handed the dresses and other items over to Violet.

She watched through the window as Rus easily managed to get Anastasya out of her stroller. She rested in his arms, her small head placed on his shoulder while he folded the stroller up and put it in the back.

The lady behind the counter was just passing Violet the dresses and matching accessories, wrapped in tissues and packaged in specialty boxes with satin bows as Rus started around to his side of the SUV to put the baby in the back.

Violet considered calling Kaz back as she stepped outside of the boutique. He worried so much lately, constantly checking in to make sure she was going to and from where she had promised without any deviation from the plan. She understood his concerns because her anxiety was still at dangerous levels ever since the baby’s welcoming party.

She’d just pulled the phone out and stepped around to the rear of the SUV to put the boxes in the back as Rus buckled Anastasya into her car seat. He chatted along to the baby, uncaring that she probably didn’t understand his words.

“I’m going to call Kaz and let him know we’re on our way—”

Violet’s words cut off when Ruslan shouted, “Vniz!”

Ruslan had made it clear from the moment that he started shadowing her that should he give her that order in Russian, she was to get down, stay there, and not question why.

Her gaze flew to the side, seeing someone appear from a darkened alleyway across the street with a gun already aimed in their direction. She dropped to the ground fast, her heart in her throat as the pretty boxes spilled open and the baby’s new dresses fell over the wet pavement.

Violet swore she could taste the bile on the back of her tongue when the gunshots rang out. She covered her head with her arms, tucking in under the back of the SUV as much as she could.

Oh, God.

Her baby.

Anastasya!

Rus and the baby.

Violet didn't even realize she was screaming until her throat protested from the strain.

Even still, over the sounds of her own screams, she counted the shots.

One.

Two.

Three.

Each one was following by a hard grunt of pain to Violet’s left.

Violet’s voice gave out, and all she could do was sob, fear swallowing her whole. Had Rus even gotten the door to the SUV closed before the shots began? Would it save the baby if it had?

Was he okay?

Tires screeched, and Violet finally lifted her head, seeing a black car roar out of the alleyway and fly down the street. It cut off another vehicle, causing that car to slam into a parked one in an effort to avoid hitting the first car.

People started to filter out onto the street, screaming and crying. She heard someone make a nine-one-one call as she scrambled out of her spot, stumbling as she rounded the SUV.

Violet’s heart stopped at the sight she found.

The SUV’s door had not gotten closed in time.

But that didn’t matter—Rus must have leaned into the SUV and covered little Anastasya with his own body because Violet watched him slide down and hit the ground, sprawling there as blood began to leak from his back.

She’d seen the blood blooming on the back of his navy blazer—three spots.