Page 89 of Queen of Misfortune (Shadows of Redemption)

“Niko won’t like it.”

“Yeah, well, Niko isn’t here.”

He nods to an SUV running and waiting for us.

“Get in, Ladies.”

Maria helps Elena get in the back seat. Aria climbs into the passenger seat. As I slide into the vehicle, I catch the men's eyes in the rearview mirror. They’re watching us, looking uncertain.

Elena moans and bends over again. That’s my cue to get going.

"Won’t be long now, Elena.” I doubt I sound reassuring. The car glides forward, and my eyes dart everywhere. Every sense is heightened, looking for potential threats.

As I come up toward the reinforced metal door, it starts to rise. A flicker of movement on the other side of it catches my eye. The gate ascends, revealing a man standing in the drive, his gun pointed at us. My pulse spikes as a new threat descends on us. I slam my foot down on the accelerator, not sure we have the headroom to exit the garage without hitting the bottom of the gate. The SUV lurches forward.

“Hold on,” I call out.

A shot rings out, followed by the sickening thud of the vehicle hitting his body. The left wheels rise as I roll over him.

My passengers let out a scream.

“It’s okay,” I say even though I’m not sure it is. Maybe leaving without more protection is unwise. But it’s too late now. I press harder on the gas, and we burst out of the garage and into the streets.

It’s true that New York is a city that doesn’t sleep, but at nearly three in the morning, it’s quieter than during the day. I’m able to navigate through the streets toward the hospital with few cars in the way.

Elena's breathing hitches.

"Hold on, Elena. Do you hear me?”

“I’m okay.” But her voice is weak. Whether it’s from the cramping or fear, I don’t know. At this point, all that matters is getting her to a doctor. My grip on the wheel tightens, my knuckles white as I navigate the city.

"Almost there—” The words are cut off by the sound of crumpling metal as another vehicle rams into us. I hold tight to the steering wheel as the SUV lurches. Screams fill the interiorof the car. I work to steady us, pressing on the gas, but we’re hit again. I counter steer, praying to regain control as the SUV jerks and rocks.

Just as I’m about to make a right turn that I hope will give us some breathing room, we’re hit again. The SUV skids. The steering wheel rips from my grip. We’re jostled as the SUV bounces up, likely on the curb. Then it comes to an abrupt stop, but my body keeps moving, my head hitting the steering wheel, dazing me.

All I can think is that we’re all going to die. To be honest, maybe it will be nice to be dead. No more grief and chaos. I only wish I'd saved Elena and told Donovan that I love him.

30

DONOVAN

Awareness creeps in. My eyes open and a dim, dark room greets me. I blink, trying to scrub the darkness from my vision. My head pounds, but it’s from the inside, like a headache, not the outside like a hit on the head.

Where the fuck am I, and how did I get here? I try to rise from the chair I’m in, only to find my wrists bound behind me, the bite of zip-ties cutting into skin.

With effort, my focus sharpens. To my left, Niko sits slumped in his chair, his eyes closed. I watch and note his chest rising and falling with a steady rhythm.

"Niko," I whisper harshly. No response. He's out cold.

I scan the room further. On the other side of Niko sits Liam. His eyes are wide open. Being tied up, I knew something was up, but the fact that the three of us, Niko’s highest-ranking soldiers, are in a bind, so to speak, is a whole different thing. It suggests we got sloppy.

“You all right?” Liam asks.

“I’m alive. Which is more than I can say for the motherfucker who put us here when I get my hands on him.” I want to rub my temple as it feels like the dull pain is preventing me fromremembering what happened. “What’s going on? Last thing I remember, we were driving to meet with one of Giovanni's men. Lou was at the wheel." I look around. “Where is Lou?” A memory flitters into my consciousness about Liam. “You called… warned us of a trap.”

“Igor is going after Lucy,” Liam says.

“What?” My heart stalls.