Before I can say a word, Director Koslov shakes his head. “What the fuck were you thinking?”
I’m not surprised he already knows, even though it happened twenty minutes ago.
“I just reacted. They were shooting at all of us, not just Abbie.”
I went against a direct order given by Viktor Vetrov. Christ. I stopped a hit taken out by the head of the bratva.
Fuck. This is bad. Really fucking bad.
Director Koslov shakes his head again, then says, “You’ll have to explain yourself to Viktor. He’ll be here first thing tomorrow morning.”
Christ.
Director Koslov locks eyes with me, and I see a glimmer of compassion. “Get your affairs in order, Misha. I have no idea what Viktor is going to do.”
My stomach sinks to the deepest pit of hell, and I nod before saying, “Thank you for everything. It was an honor training here.”
Turning around, my feet feel like lead as I walk back to Alek and Armani.
I’ll tell Viktor it was all me. I’ll take the fall.
I find my friends still in the foyer. Armani’s leaning against a wall, and Alek is pacing up and down. Both their eyes snap toward me.
There’s no way to soften the blow, so I just spit it out. “Viktor is on his way to St. Monarch’s. He’ll be here tomorrow morning.”
“Iisus Khristos,” Alek shouts, then he runs toward the stairs.
“Where are you going?” I call after him.
“To fucking call my family and say goodbye.”
Taking a deep breath, I turn my gaze to Armani. “I’ll handle things tomorrow. Do your best to keep Alek quiet. I’ll take the fall.”
He shakes his head. “We’re in this mess together.”
I walk to my friend, and grabbing him by the shoulders, I lock eyes with him. “I need you to stay alive. You have to take care of Tiana. You’re the only man I trust with her. Please, brother.”
We stare at each other for a long moment before Armani nods.
Feeling a flicker of relief, I ask, “You’ll marry her?”
He nods again. “I will.”
“Give her the life she’s always wanted, Armani. It’s the only thing I want. I need to know my sister is with a good man.”
“I’ll take care of her.” His voice breaks, and after clearing his throat, he adds, “I’ll keep an eye on Aurora as well.”
I let go of Armani and suck in a sharp breath as the blow hits.
There’s a good chance I’ll die tomorrow.
How the fuck do I tell Aurora that?
“Go to Alek, and don’t tell the girls anything. I don’t want Aurora to worry until it happens,” I mutter, the sword of my impending death hanging heavy over my head.
Armani gives my shoulder a squeeze before he heads up the stairs.
Stepping out of the front doors, and seeing one of the guards on a smoke break, I walk closer and ask, “Do you have a spare?”