Chapter thirty | Alexander
Shopping, my ass, Ekaterina was lying, it was as clear as the sun, I continue glaring in the wall's direction as Arthur steps into the room.
Looking as annoyed as I'm, "The tracker started moving, sir." He says sternly and I wait, listening "And it wasn't in the direction of any mall, it's out of town." He confirms my suspicion and I clench my teeth so fucking hard as I grab my gun.
Filling it frustratedly with bullets as I pull the safety on and put it in my back pocket, I stroll towards the door but Arthur stops In front of me, he glares, "This is a death wish." He states forcefully and my lips twist.
"Bold of you to assume I give a fuck." I snarl and try to push past him but he stays like a rock in his place, I run a hand across my unshaven jaw and speak "I don't want to hit you." I grit out and almost scream for him to move.
He continues shaking his head and I lose my cool as my fist meets his jaw, "You need to take someone with you, this might as well be one of the stupidest decisions you've ever made." He says harshly in his normal gruff tone and wipes the blood off his mouth.
Regret washes over me but I'm still fucking mad at him, a part of me is actually rooting to punch him again, Jesus fuck this is messed up "Don't. Follow. Me." I order roughly and stroll away, he finally gets out of my face and I walk out of the whole place.
Getting into my car and firing the engine as I open the tracker on Ekaterina, ignoring the way my heart is fucking bleeding in my chest, a part of me doesn't even want to know what's going on.
What I'll find when I get to wherever the hell she's going, that part is the part that's making those foolish stupid decisions, also the same part that has fallen in love with Ekaterina Lebedev even though I've never believed in it.
But I know it now, I know how it fucking feels, it kills because even though I know Ekaterina betrayed me in some kind of way, I'd take a bullet for her in a heartbeat.
And I stand by my earlier statements, love is stupid, starting from the way my body feels like it's finally living when she's around, or the way my heart feels full when I hear her laugh, seeing the grin she always gave me whenever she'd say something that annoyed me, it brightened up my whole day.
Or maybe seeing that look on her face, the day at the museum when she finally put her art out for people, the way she looked like her whole world was completed when she knew that her painting was sold,
And maybe Ekaterina will never know that I'm the one who bought her painting, but every penny I spent on it was worth seeing that smile and look on her face, and I'd do it over and over again.
I grip the steering wheel harder and clench my teeth as I continue scanning the tracker, it finally stops somewhere, I have a couple of hours till I get there and finally find out the truth, even though I don't want to.
Several hours later | Ekaterina
Anger spreads through my whole Body as I watch Ivan continue counting the money, "I don't care about your money, Katrina." He says calmly and I almost punch him.
He smiles smugly and I narrow my eyes "Will more of those stop you?" I snarl and let out a breath, "I told you and I'll tell you again, Ekaterina, I don't want money I just want him dead." He says and makes a knife-slicing motion across his neck.
I hope he fucking chokes "Are you trying to convince me that you don't want the money?" I ask, trying to pull any strings left, because I can't do it, I can't do what I already promised this fucker.
Sure I'm the brat here, the one who broke her promise because she's too 'weak' as he says, or maybe I was just driven by stupid revenge and I finally sobered lately.
When I met him, Ivan's expression shifts and he glares in my direction, sending a cold shiver down my throat as I try to remain calm, "What do you want me to do for you to drop this?" I ask to get the end of it because I swear to fucking god this is my last straw.
He tilts his head and runs a hand across his jaw, looking like he's in deep thought before his rough fingers find my chin and he holds it up, I clear my throat as fear spreads through my body, "I have a deal." He says in a low tone.
I hold my breath as I wait for him to talk "I can take you for exchange." He says darkly as a smirk spreads on his face, I swallow hard as my limbs weaken, "What do you mean?" I find myself asking even though my hands are shaking.
He cups my cheeks and I swallow the vomit in my throat as my lips twist in disgust "You're such a Beauty, no one can deny that, he's a true lucky fucker." He says and I still almost like my whole body has frozen.
"No." I grit out and squirm away with every power I have as I start to move from him, he laughs like this is all some wicked joke even as terror spreads through my body,
He starts moving towards me but the sound of a bullet makes me gasp as I cover my hands and watch as blood dribbles from Ivan's shoulder, he groans in pain but somewhat manages to grab his gun from his pocket.
I scan the room around us and my lips part when my eyes meet Alexander's, my chest heaving with harsh breaths as he moves toward me, his expression undeterminable, "I heard everything, Ekaterina." He says in a harsh tone and I flinch "Oh you're here." Ivan says in a teasing tone and lets out a humorless laugh.
"Say goodbye to your princess." He says so suddenly and it takes me a second to process his words as he aims his gun at me and fires, I scream however, It takes me a beat to realize that It didn't hit me, someone's reflexes are faster than mine.
It shot Alexander.
Alexander who stood right in front of me the second this bullet was fired, I stay frozen in my place for a second as I watch the scene unfold in front of me, my husband falls to the floor and a sob rips out of me as I drop to him.
Brushing his hair out of his face as tears start falling down my cheeks, "It's all your fault." A voice joins and a guy appears with a murderous expression on his face as he shoots Ivan, I recognize him as Alexander's second in command, Arthur or something.
I clutch my husband tighter ignoring his true harsh words "I'm sorry." I whisper and he stares at me as he chokes, blood spurting out of his mouth at a fast pace, "I'm so sorry, babe, none of what you heard is true I swear, you understood wrong." I continue muttering praying that he can forgive me.
"Don't die on me, Alexander!" I almost shout even as my voice chokes and his body stiffens when Arthur speaks "They're on their way, just stay awake, keep his eyes open, he needs to stay awake or he'll die." He shouts in my direction and I nod over and over.
"Do you hear him? You're going to be okay, I'm sorry, I'm sorry." I continue muttering as I graze my nose across his cheek, inhaling his scent, "It's all my fault." I sob as my chest tightens in pain.
"I'm sorry." I say for the last time.
And just like that, all the hope I had left vanishes as Alexander closes his eyes.
THE END OF BOOK ONE