Page 68 of Fighting Salvation

“Not yet. I want us to talk. To really get to know one another as brothers first.”

“Yeah, that’s not happening.”

“I see. Then I guess I’ll just have my man shoot the lovely Lotus. She is rather mouthy, that one.”

Bás felt panic twist his gut. “No!”

“Then stand up slowly and tell your people to stay back or they’ll be picking brains out of the gutter for days along this street.”

“If I come with you, then you’ll disarm the bomb and these people remain safe.”

“I’m a man of my word, Bás. I have even let your people retrieve your man.”

He didn’t know whether to believe him or not, but he had little choice.

He stood and walked beside Hansen down the street, even as Lotus yelled in his ear not to. He saw her move out of position and step across the street and his heart was in his mouth. What the hell was she thinking? She stopped at the exit and faced Hansen, her shoulders square.

“Bás, don’t test me.”

“Lotus, stand down right now. That’s an order.”

She shook her head. “I won’t let him take you.”

“Lotus, goddammit. Do as I say, please?”

Her face contorted and she looked so torn and like a little girl. His heart broke for her as he prayed she did as he’d asked. She stepped aside and moved a couple of paces back and he sighed in relief. He spotted Rafe and Rykov moving in but he didn’t worry about them interfering. Rykov, especially, understood and so would Rafe. He hoped.

“Rykov, get her out of here.”

The Russian looked at him and gave the briefest of nods and he moved in closer to Lotus and took her arm. He kept eyes on them as he walked with Hansen, getting further and further away from his team. Rafe looked torn and he just hoped he’d take care of Valentina. She’d take this hard, but he wasn’t giving up. He wanted her to understand that and hoped she did.

“You’re dead, Hansen. I’m gonna kill you for this.”

Bás felt his shoulders drop as Lotus screamed and Rykov grabbed her around the waist, hauling her off her feet as she kicked and screamed.

“Trappy bitch.”

Before he could do anything about it, Hansen drew his weapon and fired at Lotus.

“Noooooo!”

He watched in horror as Rykov turned at the last second and took the bullet meant for Lotus. His body slumped to the ground as she crumpled beneath him. Hansen grabbed hold of his collar and he fought the need to rush to his team.

“I can still blow this entire street to smithereens if you’d prefer, my old friend.”

Despair had him barely able to stay upright as screams and wails lit the air. Lotus was on her knees beside Rykov, who was motionless on the ground. Grief swarmed him at the realisation Rykov was likely dead and it was his fault. It took everything in him not to react. Rafe locked eyes with him across the street. He knew he had to stay calm and find a way out of this and get back to his team and to the woman he loved.

“I’ll come with you.” He held his hands up in a passive motion as Hansen walked him to a white van, drew open the door, and then pain washed over him as he felt a blow to the back of his head and it went dark.

Chapter 20

“Where is she?”

Val watched feeling numb and helpless as Duchess rushed into the house, her eyes searching for Lotus. Since the second she’d called and told them through distraught tears that Rykov was dead, Val had been fighting with the guilt that she was relieved it wasn’t Bás.

“Val.” Strong arms wrapped around her and the familiar scent of her brother invaded her senses.

Everything she’d been holding in since the news came bubbled up until she couldn’t hold back the tears. “Rafe. Oh God, Rafe. It’s such a mess.”