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None of them were answering their phones as I raced through the streets of New York on the back of a stolen bike. I couldn’t even remember getting on the bike or how I managed to navigate my way to the warehouse.

My heart stopped in my chest at the sight of smoke and flames dancing against the night sky. A scream ripped through my throat as I leaped off the bike and sprinted toward where bodies huddled outside of the building.

“Caleb, Niko, Kenji,” I yelled, running faster and faster toward the three men I loved. Blood heated in my veins when I saw two familiar forms hovering over a body sprawled out on the floor.

Caleb’s voice boomed over the crackling of the fire and the snapping of timber as the warehouse was consumed. Relief swept over me, making me almost collapse.

“Who the fuck was he selling her to?” His voice vibrated with rage. Kenji’s Katana was pressed into Enzo’s chest about three inches. Blood drenched his shirt as it leaked from the wound. “I swear to God, Enzo. I will keep you alive only to continue to torture you for the rest of your pathetic life. Because nothing is worth living for without that woman. And your fucked-up ass left her and then sold her when you couldn’t have her.”

Rage raced through me, making me see red.

Blood spilled from Enzo’s mouth as he let out a cruel laugh. “That fucking bitch is gone, and your Russian brother is dead. Idiot ran in there thinking I really had tied her up inside. I don’t give a shit what you do to me, Caleb. I still fucked you over,” Enzo taunted.

“You always were a cocky motherfucker.” I moved forward, my gun hanging loosely by my side, savoring the way Enzo’s eyes widened at the sight of my bloodied body.

“Scar,” Kenji called out in relief, but I couldn’t look at him. I needed to handle this shit before the last bit of my resolve faded away.

“Where the fuck is Niko?” I pressed the barrel to Enzo’s forehead, the black a stark contrast to his pale face. “Now, Enzo. I already put a bullet in your boss’s brain without blinking. I’ll blow your fucking head off without an ounce of remorse,” the lie fell seamlessly from my lips. I would put a bullet in Dominick’s brain, just not yet.

His eyes flicked to the building before settling back on me, and dread filled my being.

“He’s still in the building,” I whispered, the reality of the news still processing.

“Fuck, he’s still in the building,” I called out, sprinting toward the flames. “Get someone down here to help. Now,” I yelled over my shoulder, ignoring the shouts of protest from Kenji and Caleb.

I banded an arm across my mouth as I burst through an opening. Smoke filled the space, making it impossible to see more than a foot in front of me. My eyes stung and my lungs cried out for fresh air, but I didn’t give a fuck. Niko was somewhere in here. I hoped I wasn’t too late.

He would’ve tried to get out.

The man was a fucking fighter, and he would’ve dragged himself to a fucking exit. I moved toward the door, keeping my eyes low. The flames were still concentrated at the back of the building, but they were quickly surging forward.

A lump lay on the floor only feet from the main exit. I shot off a text to Caleb and Kenji as I sprinted over.

The room blurred further as tears welled at the base of my lash line before spilling over and running down my dirty cheeks. I raced to his limp body, screaming for help at the sight of blood pooling where he lay.

So much blood. Too much.

I yanked off my shirt, pressing the fabric to the gaping wound in his chest and choking down a sob when it instantly turned crimson.

My emotions warred with one another. Crippling pain ripped through me, worse than any physical wound I’d ever endured, while numbness snaked its way through my body, attempting to preserve my shattering soul.

Embalming it in its broken state.

“Don’t you fucking dare leave me,” I cried out, smearing crimson over his ashen skin as I stroked his face.

“Scar.” My name was weak on his lips, and it hit me like a physical blow. “You have to get out of here. I need you to be okay.”

Of course he was trying to make me feel better as he lay there bleeding out.

A cold hand stroked my face, brushing the salty tears away, only for them to be replaced by more.

“But I won’t be okay if you don’t come with me, Niko.” I pulled at his arm, seeing if I could move him, but he didn’t budge. A sob caught in my throat at the realization that I wouldn’t be able to get him out. Not alone. “I’ll be a shell without you. I already feel grief draining every ounce of color from my world. You can’t leave me.” I buried my face in the crook of his neck, sobbing. Helpless to stop him from dying.

“They’re on their way, Niko. They’re almost here. Don’t leave me. Promise me,” I sobbed.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t stay, solntse.” His hand came up and stroked my hair. The touch was so weak compared to the strength of the man I knew. “I love you, Scar. I love you with every fiber of my being and every beat of my heart. Death won’t take away how I feel for you. Take care of them,” he rasped, the words barely above a whisper, as if it hurt to speak.

“Niko?” I pulled my face from his neck. “Niko?” Panic stung my throat.