Page 145 of His to Own

With a gasp, he stumbles back. Aleksander kneels down beside him and claps him on the shoulder.

“You stabbed her. I’m impressed. I didn’t think you had that in you, Gregory. But you need to finish the job. She’s not dead yet.”

I can feel the piercing pain of the knife in my gut. But right now, it’s holding everything in place. Once this knife is gone, I’m dead.

“All right,” Father says, his lips barely moving. I still look right at him as he grabs the knife handle. “I did love you. Right when you were born. I loved you. And then you grew up and I could tell you weren’t my daughter. I hated you so much. I still do.”

“I could have loved you,” I whisper as the tears finally stream down my eyes. “I wanted to. So badly.”

For a moment, shame enters his eyes. At least that’s something I can take with me to my grave.

“I am truly sorry, Elena.” He tightens his hand on the knife.

The barn door bursts open and in storms my husband. He doesn’t hesitate to fire his gun at Aleksander.

The bullet hits Aleksander in the shoulder but that doesn’t stop him. He pulls out his own gun and starts firing at Maxim, who dives out of the way and narrowly avoids getting hit. The other two men run at Maxim.

My husband fights the two men off. Kicking and punching. He manages to grab their guns and shoots them both in the head.

Then he turns his attention to Aleksander and my father.

In one fast motion, my father pulls the knife out of my stomach and blood quickly begins to trickle out of me.

“Maxim,” I gasp.

His eyes dart to mine and that’s when Aleksander takes the opportunity. He fires at Maxim and lands a shot to his arm. Maxim doesn’t hesitate to fire back. It hits the wooden beam.

“You’re outnumbered,” Aleksander taunts. “And your wife is bleeding out.”

At that moment, the sound of heavy footsteps flows through the air and multiple men burst into the barn. Nikolai is at the head of it. At least ten men are with him.

Aleksander shares a look with my father. “I think it’s time I leave.” He fires at Nikolai before running out the back door of the barn. My father slumps to the floor as all the energy leaves him.

“Go after him,” Nikolai commands his men, who give chase to Aleksander.

“Elena,” Maxim gasps, rushing to my side. His hands press down on my bleeding stomach. I cry out. “I’m sorry, baby. I’m so sorry. Gregory, untie her hands.”

When my father hesitates, Maxim snarls at him, “Untie her hands.”

My father does as Maxim instructs. My arms slump to my sides and Maxim picks me up, running to his car.

“Where’s the nearest hospital?” he asks Nikolai.

“At least twenty minutes away.”

Maxim sets me down in the back seat of his car and takes off his jacket, pressing it to my wound. “Hold it here for me, Nik.”

It’s a strange sight to see Nikolai taking orders but he does what Maxim says. The worry in Nikolai’s eyes is evident. He doesn’t want me to die. Even if it’s not for my sake and only for Lana’s, he still cares for me.

“I’m driving,” Maxim instructs.

“No,” Nikolai snaps. “I’m driving. You take care of Elena.” He snatches the keys from Maxim’s hand and gets in the driver seat.

Maxim scrambles into the back seat with me and presses his jacket into my wound. It hurts so much it makes me cry out again.

Nikolai quickly drives us away from the red barn.

“What about Gregory?” Maxim asks. “He was there too.”