Chapter 26

Clara

 

I wake up startled, my hand coming to my throat. It’s raw and painful but I’m breathing.

“One job, Zia. One. That is all I’ve ever asked of you,” my father’s voice makes me nauseous. I push myself up and see him standing next to my bed. My old bed in his house. What the hell happened?

“What’s going on?”

“I thought about leaving you there to die but then what kind of father would I be?” Did he really ask me that question? He left me to be raped and didn’t blink an eye.

“I was trying, father. In case you didn’t notice I was being held captive,” I tell him as the pounding in my head increases. I sit up and rub my temples as he laughs.

“Yes, yes, it seems you were. Well, that’s all changed now, hasn’t it? You are now here, at home and I have him primed and ready for you to finish the job at hand.” When the words leave his mouth, I’m unsure that I heard him correctly. He has Alexei here? In our house?

“What do you mean?” My eyes shoot to his and I can see the amusement there.

“Just as I said. Put on some clothing and meet me in the living room,” he says with a smile before turning to leave me alone. I climb off the bed as the room spins and sways. I must have hit my head hard. The pounding in my ears is loud as I walk into my closet. Grabbing a pair of jeans, I slide them on along with my shoes before grabbing a shirt. Just as I’m about to pull it over my head a hand clamps over my mouth. I’m about to fight and try to scream when warm breath hits my ear.

“You can play nicely, or I can snap your neck. Are you going to scream?” I shake my head no and the hand lowers as I turn to face Dmitry.

“What’s happening? What’s going on?” He lowers his eyes to my chest and I instantly pull my shirt over my head to cover myself.

“Your father came for you. Took Alexei. He has him tied up downstairs and I have this place wired to blow.” My eyes widen, and I gasp as I look at him. He doesn’t know?

“You don’t know do you?”

“Yes, I do. Alexei is my best friend and has been for a very long time which is why you are going to help me get him out of here,” he says calmly.

“He tried to kill me,” I hiss under my breath.

“Do you blame him?” I look at Dmitry and I know he’s right. After what I did, he should have killed me. I can’t let him die at the hands of my father. I love him far too much for that.

“How long do we have?”

“Not long. Seven minutes tops.” I nod my head and shove past him, but Dmitry grabs my arm jerking me back.

“You care about him, yes?” I swallow hard through the pain in my throat and nod.

“More than I should. I will get him out, Dmitry. Trust me. Go wait out front out of sight,” I tell him. He nods his head and passes me a knife that I shove in my jeans moving as I do so. I’m down the hall and taking the stairs two at a time before running into the living room. I stop and gasp when I see Alexei’s swollen, bruised, and bloodied face. Tears fill my eyes until I notice my father standing there watching. I close my mouth and harden myself for what I’m about to do.

“Glad you could join us,” my father says walking toward me.

“What is this?” I ask pointing to Alexei. He won’t even look at me and that’s the part that hurts the most. My chest hurts, my heart breaking.

“This is what we started, and you will finish,” he says passing me a gun. I hold it in my hand, Alexei’s eyes slowly coming to meet mine. I hold his gaze for a long second as he smirks at me. Even when his death is upon him, he still finds it in him to smirk.

“What if I don’t want to?” I ask. My father moves quickly, his fist slamming into my face. Stars flash behind my eyes as I fall to the floor from the impact. I blink and try to focus when I hear the low growl from Alexei’s throat. My father only laughs.

“You will die with him. Make your choice,” my father says as his men laugh.

“Can I have a moment with him first?” I ask. My father chuckles and glances at his men. After a long second, he turns back to me.

“Make it count, Zia. You only have minutes.” I watch him leave the room taking most of his men with him. the one that remains stands near the doorway looking away from me. I move slowly behind Alexei, bending down to whisper in his ear.

“You have to run. The house is going to blow. Dmitry is waiting for you,” I tell him as I work the knife through the rope.

“What do you mean? What are you doing?” He asks glancing over his shoulder at me. I look up at the guard and continue cutting away at the rope. I can hear an internal clock ticking in my ears. Seven minutes. That’s all we have and a majority of that is already gone.

“You have to run, do you understand? The front door is unlocked. You don’t have long.”

“Clara?”

“Alexei, please. I love you. I can’t watch you die. Just run, yes?” As soon as the rope falls, I press a kiss to his ear. “Now.” Alexei moves quickly running toward the door. I pick the gun up my father gave me and shoot as soon as the guard turns around.

“What have you done?” My father roars as he rushes toward me, a gun aimed directly at me. I raise my own and fire until I can’t fire anymore. Then I turn and run for the door.

Only I’m too late. The sounds of the blast could be heard for miles. My body burns as I’m thrown through the air. I hit the ground roughly and after that, there is nothing.