“He had it coming,” Antonio says and wipes his face with his hand. A smatter of blood that had grazed his cheek smears. “He wasn’t innocent,Tesorina.”
Is the blood from shooting Yuri, or is he injured from the helicopter crash?
“You don’t know that!”
“I know that he and Mario worked together, which means they both betrayed their leaders,” Antonio says. He doesn’t appear the least bit apologetic for what he’s done. “I was letting you free. Is that still what you want?”
“You lied to me. Is Mikhail alive? He’s back at the Russian compound?” How could Antonio have kept this from me? Is it because he knew that’d I have wanted to return home?
Antonio reaches into his pocket and retrieves his cell phone.
“Perhaps you should call your brother and find out who is behind Yuri’s orders,” Antonio says.
I press my lips together. I don’t want to believe Mikhail ordered Yuri to have me killed. “I’m not doing your bidding,” I say.
“Tesorina, Mikhail doesn’t just want you dead. He intended to sell Sophia and Liam. Yuri’s here with orders to secure the twins and put them up for auction. Mario had orders to kill you and make it look like I was involved.”
“And who gave those orders?” I shout.
“I swear on my life, it wasn’t me,” Antonio says.
I don’t believe Mikhail would hurt the twins. And Antonio, it doesn’t make sense that he’d order Mario to have me executed, either. Not when he could have done it at his compound.
“Then why not kill me in the back of the car?” I ask. “Mario could have murdered me without driving for several hours.”
“It’s too messy. Do you realize how difficult it is to get blood stains out of leather?” Antonio quips.
I can’t tell if he’s joking or not.
“How do you know Yuri intended to sell the twins and that Mikhail is involved?”
“Maybe it wasn’t Mikhail. It could be someone wanting to take Mikhail’s throne. Is there anyone you can think of who might want you dead?” Antonio asks.
“Other than you?” I quip.
He exhales a heavy breath. “I don’t want you dead,Tesorina. And I would never put our children’s lives in danger or sell them.”
“But you would kidnap them,” I say pointedly.
His gaze tightens. “That was different, and I apologize for what was done, but it’s in the past.”
Easy for him to say.
I don’t answer, glancing past him at the car. The twins are inside, staring out the window at us, waiting for me to drive them home.
“Goodbye, Antonio,” I say and stalk toward the car.
“Are you seriously going to leave us out here?” he asks, appalled that I’d bail on his ass. “Ardian needs medical attention.”
I approach the front door of the driver’s side and lift the handle, opening the door.
Fuck.
“Hurry up and get into the vehicle,” I say, climbing into the driver’s side.
Antonio helps support Ardian’s weight as he escorts him to the car and the passenger side in the front.
As he approaches the car, it’s obvious there’s blood everywhere. His limp was the least of his concerns. He’ll likely bleed to death if he doesn’t get to a hospital soon.