by Monica James
“Sorry, Saint, but he has to leave here alive. Whatever happens to the girl is none of my concern.” Borya waves his gun my way, but I don’t flinch.
“Is this what you wanted?” Alek cries, gesturing toward me. “For them to kill her?”
“Of course not!” Saint snaps, shaking his head angrily.
“Then what? What could they give you that means more to you than your freedom? And Zoey’s?” Alek isn’t trying to play the game. He appears stunned that his number one trusted confidant could betray him this way.
“Willow.” When he finally speaks, the room falls quiet. “She means more to me than you’ll ever know. And I would do anything, side with anyone, to set her free…from you.”
Oscar watches on, aroused by Saint’s dominance.
“What did they promise you?” Alek wants to know it all. And so do I because there is a catch. There is always a catch.
Saint squares his shoulders as he shifts slightly to use his body as a shield to shelter me from Borya’s gun. “Your death,” he replies with nothing but pure spite. “I was supposed to kill you, share your secrets with them, and protect them how I did you. I do all this…and Willow is free. They would ensure she leaves this country safe.”
And there it is. The truth.
I can understand why he didn’t want to share it with me because I would have told him no. But now, it’s too late. He was never coming with me. There is no out for Saint, and there never will be. As long as he’s alive, he’s enslaved to them all.
“Change of plans,” Astra says, untouched by Saint’s admission. “I will let you live, Aleksei, because Saint is your dirty little secret, isn’t he? He knows everything. Shame on you for showing weakness yet again. I was going to kill you, maybe torture you a little, but it will be far more fun knowing you’re alive to see us destroy your legacy. You’re done.”
“That wasn’t part of the deal. He has to die!” Saint shouts, anger vibrating from him.
I can’t wrap my head around this because it seems so…implausible. But hasn’t it always?
Saint sided with these monsters, promising to protect them and reveal Alek’s secrets, on the proviso that I was to leave unharmed and that Alek died by his hand. He did all of this for…me.
But you can’t trust a snake. They have played us all.
“He was never supposed to leave here alive! You promised me she would have your protection. You were to grant her safe passage back to America.”
Oscar walks toward Saint, appearing to want to console him, but Saint punches him in the face, his nose squishing under the impact. “If the deal is off, then don’t you fucking touch me, you sick asshole.”
Oscar howls in pain as he cups his nose, blood pouring through his fingers. The fact Saint hasn’t pulled a weapon means he’s unarmed. But his hands are just as fatal.
His violence seems to have stirred something in Astra who looks over at Borya in concern. They are afraid of him. They know he can end them just as easily as they can end him. But the catch is, they need him.
Alek won’t spill the details on what they need. They want to take over his empire, but they don’t want to do the dirty work. They want to expand on his loot but not start from scratch. “Okay, let’s come to a compromise.”
Borya waits for Astra to continue.
“We give you Aleksei, but she has to go too. She is a liability.”
“Absolutely not,” Saint snarls, removing the buttons on his jacket, one by one. When he sheds himself of such gentlemanly attire, shit gets real. “She leaves here. Safe. And beyond these walls.”
“And what happens then? Who will look after her? We were the ones who were supposed to do that. But I’m sorry, that isn’t going to happen now.”
“I can look after myself,” I spit in a not so convincing tone as Saint curses under his breath.
They only seem to realize I am standing here.
“You have caused so much trouble, little girl.” Astra arches an eyebrow, examining me closely. “Do you really think the wolves won’t tear you apart? Everyone wants to know what is so special about you. How someone so…insignificant could bring a powerful leader to his knees.”
Alek breathes steadily while I look at him, ashamed of what I’ve done.
“Your need for vengeance has blinded you, brother. Now, what will you do?” Alek says to Saint.
“Shut up,” Saint growls, barely holding back.
“Time is ticking, Saint. Best you make a choice now, or we will make it for you,” Borya warns. No guessing what that will be.
“It’s okay. I deserve this,” I affirm, my fear subsiding. “I won’t allow them to use you this way.”
Saint spins to look at me, and the haunted look in his eyes has my resolve crumbling. “You don’t deserve this!” he cries, passionately. “You never did.”
Tears begin to well, and Saint shakes his head, saddened by the sight. However, when he begins to unbutton his shirt, that sadness turns to something else. Oscar’s howls are muted as we all watch Saint disrobe with utter fascination.
What I see strapped to his body soon has that fascination transforming to dread. “No.” I gasp, hand over mouth, shaking my head fiercely.
Alek’s eyes widen, as do Borya and Astra’s. “You didn’t really think I trusted you, did you?” Saint condescendingly asks both Borya and Astra as they back away, terrified. “I wanted to give you the benefit of the doubt, but I’ve learned from the best.”
Alek is the only one who stands his ground, not at all intimidated by the bomb strapped to Saint’s body. “There was always a plan B,” he mocks. “And that plan was you never leaving this house alive. Once I knew Willow was safe, you’d all get what you deserved.”
“Saint, no!” I rush forward, heart in my throat as I desperately look for a way to dismantle the wires. But I’m no bomb expert. And this is foolproof. This was his plan all along.
He would never sacrifice Sara or allow these monsters to live. He is ending it here, now. Putting an end to this reign for good.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” I chastise, feeling foolish for not seeing this sooner.
“Forgive me, but I had to do it this way,” he replies forlornly. “Aнгел, go. Now.”
“What?” I blink back my tears. “No, I’m not leaving you! I’m staying here with you.”
With frantic fingers, I try to unfasten the straps around his body, but he pushes me away. “Go, now! Do what I tell you.”
“I-I won’t!” I yell, on the verge of hysteria. “No! It c-can’t end this wa-way.”
“It must, and it will,” he exclaims, reaching out to brush the tears from my cheek. “Do you think I want to do this? But what choice do I have?”
“You can leave here now, with me,” I reason with force, refusing to backdown, but it’s useless.
“I wish it was different, and I tried. I really did. I made a pact with the devil, but it still wasn’t enough,” he says, and he did. He tried to put a different plan into motion to ensure my safety and end in Alek’s death. His freedom would be stripped from him, but that was a sacrifice he was willing to make.
But they’ve double crossed him, which, judging by the bomb strapped to his body, he suspected would happen all along.
“I knew it wouldn’t be enough,” he continues, begging I understand why he’s doing this. “Which is why I had to come prepared for every possible scenario. I thought for once, luck would be on our side. I thought wrong.”
A sob leaves me.
“I wish there was a way for both of us to leave here, but as long as I’m alive, they will hunt me and the people I…love. If I’m not with them, they assume I’m against them. They will never let me go.”
Astra only confirms what I know to be true. “He’s right. There isn’t an out for him. He knows too much. He will never be free from us, but more importantly, he will never be free of the sins of the past.”
Saint lowers his eyes, ashamed for all he’s done.
Saint clenches his jaw because Astra’s tale is my reality, and there isn’t a damn thing we can do. Or, maybe there is.
“Shoot them!” I cry. Saint is fast. He could disarm Borya and steal his gun without breaking a sweat. “Shoot them all.” And by all, I mean Alek also. No matter what he’s done, and the small glimmers of goodness he has shown me, he will always be the man who kidnapped me. And it’s time he paid his dues.
Saint’s sigh is heavy, alerting me to the fact that if he could have done so, he would have already. But it’s not that easy. “And then what?” he questions softly. “Someone will always be ready to take over. By blowing up this place, I’ll take out as many of those motherfuckers as I can. And…I can try and make amends for the damage I’ve done.”
Saint’s guilt for his sins has driven him this way.
“I won’t allow you to do this,” I challenge, frantically peering around the room for an out.
“The choice is made.” He cups my cheek with a trembling hand. “All I can offer you is a life on the run where you’ll forever be looking over your shoulder. I won’t have that for you because you deserve so much more. I will only bring pain into your world. And I’ve already brought so much. I wanted a happy ending with you, I truly did. But I don’t deserve one. I deserve this for all that I’ve done. It’s time I atone for my sins.”
“There’s another way!” I bellow, refusing to accept this. But Saint has thought this through. This was never his first choice, but it’s the only choice that sets me free. His first priority was getting me out of here safely, and then he’d deal with the consequences later.
“I can’t fight them all, which is why I have to do this. If I…die, it’ll end all of this for you. And that’s all I ever wanted. For you to be happy.”
The guns Astra and Borya hold are useless. One shot, and they ignite their deaths prematurely. “Let’s come to a compromise.” For the first time ever, I see fear, but it’s too late.
“You were always one step ahead.” It’s Alek who speaks, his voice filled with nothing but admiration. “At least I die at the hand of someone I respect.”
Saint inhales, tipping his chin to the heavens to ask for strength. I find out why that is. “You’re not dying today.”
“What?” It’s me who expresses more surprise than Alek at Saint sparing his life.
“Astra is right. Now that the terms have changed, and you don’t have her protection, someone needs to get you the hell out of here and keep you safe.”
“Saint, please, you can’t intend to blow us up,” Astra says, paling.
“Watch me,” he counters while Astra yelps, searching for a way out.
“No,” I whimper, wrapping my arms around my middle, unbelieving he would leave me in Alek’s hands.
But what he says next is what I knew to be true all along. It’s the reason I couldn’t allow Alek to be killed. “Even if we were to escape here, I can’t look after you like he can. You need someone to protect you, and he is my best option.” He takes a deep, painful breath. “I need someone who…loves you…as much as I do. That’s the only way I know you’ll be safe.” Saint looks at Alek, who nods.
They’ve finally found common ground—their love for me.
“Saint, no.” Uncaring, I rush forward, placing my hands to his cheeks, begging he doesn’t do this. “Please, don’t. We were supposed to leave here together. Where you go, I go. I don’t want to do this without you. We should have fled when we had the chance.”
Tears cloud my vision as I search every corner of his face, hoping to see reason. But I don’t.
“We could have, but where would we go? We had no solid plan. With no ID, the fact I’m a criminal, and the issue with you being technically dead, thanks to your husband, we can’t do this aboveboard. We can’t go to the consulate. Too many questions will be asked. And besides, most of the consulate are on their payroll. Aren’t they?”
Alek nods slowly.
“We wouldn’t stand a chance on our own. I don’t have the connections to guarantee your safety, which is why I agreed to do this in the first place. The odds are and were always stacked against us. I’d only put you in more danger, and I’ve already done enough.”
“You’ll allow him to go free? You’d sacrifice your revenge for me?” Because that’s what he’s doing. I know handing me over to Alek for safe keeping is as asinine as it sounds, but this is the lesser of two evils.
“Yes,” Saint replies without pause. “You mean more to me than anything in this world.”
And a small part of me dies at his bittersweet confession.
“We will always be hunted. And we are each other’s weaknesses. They will exploit that in any way they can. But I won’t allow it.”
“No,” I sob, throwing my arms around his neck. “I won’t leave you.”
“I wish it was different, aнгел, but it’s not. You are a liability to them. So this is my last resort. I’ve tried everything, but there is only one way to ensure your safety and your freedom. And that’s my death.”
“Don’t be a martyr!” I shriek, refusing to let him go. He rubs my back and holds me tight.
“Forgive me for doing this. This was never the ideal plan. I don’t want to leave you with him, but how can I kill him when he can do something I can’t?”
I wait for his reply with bated breath.
“He can protect you.”
“So can you! That’s all you’ve ever done!” My pleas are broken, but I will never give up.
For a moment, when he presses his lips to my head, I believe he’s changed his mind. When he holds me tightly one last time, I am certain this is just a bad dream, and I will wake up. But I never do. “Take her.”
“Saint!” My grip on him tightens, but I’m no match for the strong hands that seize my waist, prying me off him.
“Get off me!” I kick and scream, but Alek lifts me, clutching me tight to his chest. “You bastard! I hate you! Let me go!”
Alek simply ignores me. “Thank you.” His gratitude has me fighting harder.
“I’m not doing this for you,” Saint spits. “Look after her.”
“Your death will not be in vain. I will honor you.”
“NO!” I thrash about wildly, about to use every self-defense move I know, but Alek won’t let me go as he tosses me over his shoulder. He tears through the room, taking one last look at the three friends who betrayed him.
“Your greed killed us all,” he says, his voice filled with regret.
“You’re bluffing,” Borya declares, raising his gun and aiming at Alek. “I will end them.”
“Maybe I am? But if you shoot them, then you’ll never know.” I see him retrieve a remote from his pants pocket, one which has a switch to make all of this go BOOM.
“Alek, please. I will never forgive you if you do this!” I squirm, desperate to break free. My heart threatens to burst from my chest as I look for an out, for anything to save Saint.
“In another lifetime, I will get my vengeance,” Saint promises Alek, not wanting him to mistake his leniency for weakness.
“And I will accept it because I am deserving of everything you give. Goodbye, dear friend.”
“Goodbye, Aleksei.”
The blood whooshes through my ears as adrenaline courses through me. This can’t be it. It doesn’t end this way. But it does…and I will always remember the parting words my love said to me before he saved my life.
“I…love you, aнгел. I always have. Thank you for bringing light into the darkness. I will be with you. Always.”
The room explodes into pandemonium as Alek kicks open the door with me flailing around wildly, desperate to save the man who loves me, who is about to sacrifice everything to set me free. But it’s too late. Astra is frenzied as she fires the first shot which goes straight through Saint’s chest.
“No!” A scream strips my throat raw as I watch him stagger back a few feet before blood begins to trickle from his wound. “Please, God, NO!”
I am possessed as I fight with all my might, breaking free from Alek’s hold. I scamper toward Saint, but Alek quickly grips my wrist, tugging me back toward him. When I fight him, kicking and biting, he slaps me—hard. Stunned, I stagger backward, which allows him to pick me up once again.
“Go!” Saint shouts, before stumbling, and I watch through eyes which aren’t mine as he plummets to the floor. He meets my gaze with a smile, a smile finally swathed in freedom. And suddenly, in the blink of an eye, this hell on earth is crumbling to the ground with a BOOM!
All the king’s horses and all the king’s men…
The noise is thunderous, and the force of the blast propels Alek forward. But his feet never waver as he continues running, intent on staying true to his word.
The hallway fills with smoke as the walls collapse around us. The unknowing guests run from the house, bloodied and dumbfounded by what is happening. Some have limbs missing, others are lying dead in twisted heaps. So much carnage, so much death just to save me.
By the time we get to the trapdoor in the kitchen, and Alek unlocks it, I am hysterical, unsure if this is a dream. He descends the stairs, ducking and weaving so he doesn’t hit my head. The echoing screams are the only sound I hear as we make our way through the damp hidden passage.
After a while, there is a hushed silence, and I know that’s because I’ve passed out. Pieces float in and out of consciousness. I focus on Alek’s harsh breath as he carries me through the tunnel. I don’t want to close my eyes. I want to remember everything. All of it. I need to remember him.
“Come, quickly.” I recognize the voice, but shock has taken over, and I barely know my own name.
“How can I trust you?”
“Saint has given me instructions.”
His name tears me in two, and a guttural howl rips from my chest. I am sobbing, but I’m robbed of air. Nothing but a winded cough splutters from me.
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