Page 96 of Queen of Misfortune (Shadows of Redemption)

“No!” Donovan grabs Niko’s arm. “It’s Lucy. Holy hell, it’s Lucy.”

Relief washes through me like a tsunami. I run to Donovan and throw my arms around him. “It’s over. I killed my father. It’s over.” The adrenaline drops, and I start to shake.

“Lucy.” Donovan says it over and over again as he holds me.

“Elena?” Niko asks.

I work to pull myself together. “She’s fine… well… she was having cramps, so Aria and Marie took her to the hospital. I think it saved us. We were up when…” I turn to Donovan. “Lou tried to kill us. I killed him first.”

Donovan grabs me and holds me again. It feels like a forever hold, but I don’t know. Right now, it’s enough.

“We need to go.” Niko continues toward the exit.

Liam passes me, going to Kate. He presses a palm to her cheek but then quickly pulls it away. “Are you okay?”

She nods, and I feel like he should hug her. She needs his strength. I don’t know if there’s something between them, but I do know she’s looking at him like he’s a superhero. For that alone, he should comfort her. Instead, he takes the gun I gave her from her.

Donovan’s arms wrap around me again. “I don’t know how you did this. I’m in fucking awe of you.”

“Donovan!” Niko barks.

“Let’s go home.” Donovan guides me down the hall.

Home. The word settles in my chest. It sounds warm and loving and permanent. But now that my father is dead, will Donovan follow through on the annulment and send me on my way?

32

LUCIA

“How’d you get here?” Donovan asks as we exit the building.

“I took the car of the Russian who drove me off the road.”

The men look at me with surprise. Except Donovan. He’s grinning like he’s in awe.

“It’s an SUV. In front of the warehouse,” I finish.

“Ours is up the street a bit,” Donovan says.

“I need to get Kate to a safe location.” Liam is so tense, I’m worried something will explode. Isn’t he relieved that we’re all okay?

“Take Lucia’s car. It should get past any Bratva looking for you,” Niko says.

“The Russian is in it. Zip-tied and belted in. He might still be unconscious. Oh, and he has a gunshot to the shoulder and one to the knee.”

Again, the men look at me. I shrug. “You guys didn’t answer your phones.”

Donovan laughs and kisses my head. “My warrior queen.”

Queen. Not princess. Not ice queen.

“I’ll deal with it,” Liam says, guiding Kate into the warehouse.

“Keys are in the car,” I say as he makes a beeline toward the front door.

Donovan and Niko stop over my father’s body.

“Three shots,” Niko states.