Nikolay straightened and just as Giselle was about to open the door, he shot her in the head. She hit the door face first and slid to the floor, the back of her blonde head a mess of blood, bone and brain. Halil’s gun made a much better kill than hers had.
He walked to the door, kicking Giselle’s body aside, and jerking it open.
Nikolay took a deep breath and muttered to himself, “You are in control. The rewards will go to the victor.”
He ran toward the stairs. He would make his way down a floor and take out anyone else in his way. He would secure the floor for Krystoff’s men.
Chapter Forty-Three
“We have to go,” Terek said, pacing the room, his eyes on his phone. “Intel coming in from our guys indicate there was an explosion at the hospital. Must be Krystoff, putting the hospital in lockdown so he can leave and keep Dasha protected.”
Jozef nodded at his team member. Terek’s orders were to help protect Shaun and Fatima while Havel secured the building with the rest of the men.
Krystoff was thinking on his feet, which meant Jozef needed to be two steps ahead.
He pointed at Fatima and signed, take her to her apartment and get her packed. You have five minutes. I’ll meet you in the lobby.
Terek jerked his head toward the door. “Time to go, Mrs. Patterson.”
She looked up from her position next to Shaun who was sound asleep on the couch. “But…”
“No buts.” Terek took her arm and pulled her to her feet, escorting her to the door. Jozef was pleased that Terek was being gentle. The younger man had a mother that he loved and respected; Jozef had no problem trusting him with Shaun’s mother.
“Keep my daughter safe,” she shouted back at Jozef.
“You’ll get to see her in just a few minutes, Mrs. Patterson,” Terek assured her, hustling her toward the stairs that would take them down a level to her apartment.
Jozef ran to the bedroom, his eyes grazing Shaun as he passed her. He flung his travel bag on the bed and started packing for her. He wasn’t sure how long she would be hiding out at the safe house, but it wasn’t well equipped for women. He grabbed a few outfits that looked comfortable, some socks and underwear, her shampoo and conditioner.
Then he looked under the sink and saw her feminine hygiene products. Would she need them? When was the last time she had her period? He couldn’t remember. How much would she need? He had no answers to any of these questions and it frustrated him. He should know everything about her if he was to take care of her properly.
He grabbed everything he saw that might be related to her period and shoved them in the bag.
He zipped it and ran back into the living room.
He went down on one knee next to the couch and looked at her face. There was an ugly bandage taped across half her face, beneath her left eye. He touched the warm skin of her other cheek.
Her eyes opened and she looked at him with a surprisingly clear expression. “Jozef,” she whispered and tried to smile.
Then, as the pain of her injuries hit, she seemed to remember what had happened. Tears filled her eyes and she stared up at him with a pleading look as if asking him to take it all away. The pain, the anguish, the horror.
Jozef’s gut twisted. His fault.
We have to go, he signed.
Her eyes flicked down and he repeated himself until understanding flashed in her eyes.
We have to go quickly. I need my gun hand available so you’ll have to walk. Are you able to do that?
She gasped and reached out to grip the back of the couch, pulling herself up. “Why do you need your gun hand?”
He shook his head, not wanting to take the time to explain but knowing she would resist if he didn’t.
My uncle will be attacking us very soon. We have to get someplace safe before he does.
“But why?” she cried out, the tears that had brightened her eyes starting to spill over. “Is he angry because I hurt Dasha? Maybe I can talk to him and explain what happened.”
Jozef growled his frustration, took her shoulders and shook her. She clamped her mouth shut and stared at him. He didn’t want to hurt her, but they had to go. If she couldn’t understand how serious the situation was, she might get herself killed.
My uncle is coming here to kill both of us. He has no choice. His wife attacked you, which is an attack on me. He believes I have no choice but to retaliate, so he will strike first in an attempt to take us down while we’re unprepared. Jozef didn’t tell her that his uncle was right. If Jozef could, he would wipe out the entire organization that night.
Jozef wrapped his arm around her middle and pulled her to her feet. Shaun moaned, then bit her lip, trying to keep the pain inside. She took a few deep breaths, then nodded, holding her bandaged arm against her chest.
“I’m okay,” she whispered. “Let’s go.”
Jozef pulled her tight against his left side and pulled his gun from the holster. He looked into the hallway and nodded at the guard sent to replace Karl. He couldn’t sign to the man with his arms full, so he jerked his head down the hall to indicate he should take the lead.
His man understood and they made their way toward the stairwell. Jozef had locked out the elevators, ensuring anyone coming into the building would be bottlenecked. Unfortunately, that also meant Jozef could get caught in the stairwell too.
They made it down to the third floor when the first explosion detonated. He dropped to his knees, forcing Shaun down too and covering her body with his. She cried out and wrapped her arms around her head.
The explosion
