Page 91 of Queen of Misfortune (Shadows of Redemption)
“You won’t.” Niko’s eyes narrow at me. “Do you suppose you’ll ever admit that you’re in love with your wife?”
I glare at him. “Now? I have more important things to do than discuss my love life. Are you going to ask Liam about Kate?”
“What are you talking about? That gas must have fogged your brain.” Liam doth protest too much.
“I’m just saying that if you and Lucia are in love, I’m happy for you, Donovan.”
Yeah, well, that doesn’t mean that if I survive and take out Giovanni, she’ll stay. But if I do survive, I will lay it all on the line for her.
“This is all nice and well, but there’s no happily ever after for you two lovesick puppies if we don’t get out of here.” Liam tugs at his restraints again.
We sit in silence for a moment. My hands test the bonds once more. I realize they’re zip-ties. I can get out of these.
“Tonight, it ends, one way or another,” I say as I get ready to stand and snap the ties that hold my wrists together.
A sound comes from the other side of the door.
"Did you hear that?" Liam hisses.
Niko and I cock our heads to listen further.
The door opens, and a man enters, stopping just beyond the reach of the dim light. The only thing I can see clearly is the semi-automatic pistol in his hand.
Finally, he steps into the light. Igor.
He steps in front of Liam and sneers. “Not such a big shot now, are you, comrade?”
“You think you are a big shot?” Liam laughs. “Ti nikto. You’re nothing,comrade.”
Igor’s eyes narrow, clearly not liking being called nothing. He collects himself and shakes his head. “I don’t understand you. You could have been the Boss, but you joined the FBI? I thought that made you untouchable, but then you go to work for the Mafia? I don’t care that others want you back in Bratva. You’re a traitor.”
“I’m a traitor? Really?” Liam scoffs. “You’re Bratva working for Giovanni Fiori. What does that make you?”
“It’s an alliance,” Igor hisses. “Your Boss asked for one, if I remember correctly.”
Liam shrugs. “Does Dimitri know about it?”
“Shut up.” Igor hits Liam with the butt of his gun.
“Just tell us what the fuck you want,” Niko barks out.
Igor turns his attention to Niko. “Nothing from you. I’m just babysitting until Giovanni is finished with Liam’s little friend. She’ll make a pretty penny on the?—”
“If you touch her, I will guarantee you a long and painful death,” Liam hisses.
“How does Lou fit in?” I ask, needing to know whether he was a part of this betrayal for sure.
Igor moves to me, his sneer filled with too much victory for my taste. I want to punch it off his face. “I’m sorry to say that Lou is with us. And by now, he’s killed the Fiori women.”
Fury like I’d never felt before rushes through me, making me feel invincible. I stand. Bending over, I lift my arms off my back and bring them down hard, breaking the restraint. Igor points his gun at me, but I don’t stop. I rush him, tackling him as the gun goes off. If he hit me, I don’t feel it.
I’m vaguely aware that Liam and Niko have broken free, and just in time as Igor’s men rush in. I wrench Igor’s gun from his hand, making sure I break his wrist as I do so. I lift it and shootat the men coming in. Chaos erupts. Niko and Liam grab guns from the men I’ve shot, and then we’re all shooting and swinging fists until none of Igor’s men have breath.
When the dust settles, we’re scraped and bruised, Niko has a superficial wound where a bullet grazed him, but overall, we’re okay. Certainly, much better than the dead men at our feet. Except for Igor, who is writhing in pain.
Liam hauls him up. “I will make sure Bratva knows of your gallant cowardice.” Then, stepping behind Igor, Liam takes Igor’s head in his hands and torques it hard. A crunch sounds, and Igor drops to the floor boneless, dead.
“Elena,” Niko says as he picks up a second gun and rushes to the door.