Viktor’s eyes snap to me, then he says, “I am punishing you.”
The sound of the gunshot is the loudest thing I’ve ever heard. Alek falls back, and I hear a roar of absolute devastation coming from the darkest place in my chest.
My body reacts by itself, my mind too stunned to comprehend what just happened. I grab hold of Alek’s shoulders and yank him to me.
NoNoNoNo.
I lock eyes with the man that’s closer to me than a brother, and there are no fucking words for what I feel.
“Oops,” Viktor sneers. “I missed.”
The words don’t register immediately, but then Alek mutters, “I’m okay.”
He pulls out of my hands, and I see the blood staining his left shoulder.
He’s not dead.
“Let that serve as a warning. Next time I won’t be so merciful,” Viktor says as he shoves his weapon back into the waistband of his suit pants.
Alek is alive.
It feels like I’m having an out-of-body experience as I turn my head to look at Viktor.
He walks toward us and demands, “Get up.”
I rise to my full height until we’re eye-to-eye, then he says, “Get Caruso and his partner to submit or put a bullet in their heads. Only then will I forgive this temporary moment of insanity you had. If you get the men to yield, you’ll marry Aurora D’Angelo to ensure the truce holds. You have three months. If you don’t meet the deadline, you and Aurora will pay for it with your lives. Do you understand?”
“Yes, sir.” I let out a slow breath. “Thank you for your mercy.”
Viktor lifts his arm, his fingers wrapping around the side of my neck. There’s a flash of emotion on his face. “Don’t disappoint me again, Mikhail. Don’t make me take your life. It brings me no joy.”
I nod, so fucking thankful all of us get to live another day.
“I won’t, sir. I’ll get the job done.”
He nods, then he pats my shoulder before walking out of the office.
I turn toward Alek and Armani, then we move as one and grab hold of each other.
“Christ, I’m going to die of a heart attack if I have to go through something like this again,” Armani mutters, pure relief coating his words.
“I’ll get the job done,” I promise.
“Guys,” Alek chuckles. “I’m kinda bleeding.”
“Shit.” Armani is the first to pull back. “Let’s get you to the infirmary.”
When we walk out of the office, I say, “I’m just going to make sure Aurora doesn’t run into Viktor.”
“Bring me a clean shirt when you’re done,” Alek asks.
Nodding, I leave my friends and jog down the hallway. As I reach the foot of the stairs, Aurora’s coming down them.
“Go back to your suite,” I say, my voice tight from all the tension.
She gives me a confused look. “Why? I’m meeting Abbie for lunch.” Her eyes flick to the left, then all the blood drains from her face. “Oh, Jesus.”
As Aurora freezes halfway down the stairs, my head snaps to my right, and I see Viktor looking at her.