Throne of Vengeance (Throne Duet #2) - Rina Kent Page 0,55

at the ones following us, then move positions so they don’t catch us. Our bullets are running out, though. At this rate, they will catch us again and it’ll be worse than the first time.

Bang!

Aleksandra and I freeze at the sound of the explosion. That was some sort of bomb. Sure enough, soon after, a multitude of gunshots follow.

No one is shooting at us anymore or following us, but the sound doesn’t cease.

Pop. Pop. Pop.

Then, we hear Russian voices. Aleksandra and I stare at each other and smile.

They came for us.

We carefully slide out of our hiding spot and follow the sound of the guns. Sure enough, Kirill and his men are at the front, eliminating anyone in their path. Damien is there, too, shooting out bullets like they’re candy, an ammunition belt slung casually over his shoulder.

My heart leaps out of my throat when I catch a glimpse of Kyle pushing a guard to the ground. He usually prefers sniping positions that are far away from any conflict. This is the first time he’s willingly gone into a battlefield.

He has three of the Albanians kneeling in front of him when his gaze meets mine.

They’re still as hypnotizing as ever, but they’re dark and enraged as if he’s been thrust into a different state of being. One where his main purpose is to kill and maim.

He places a gun at the back of the first guard’s head. “Did he touch you?”

I nod. He’s one of the two who held me down.

Kyle doesn’t blink as he pulls the trigger. The body falls to the ground as he moves to the next. “Did this fucker put his hands on you? Did he touch what’s mine, Rai?”

The guard is about to piss his pants, lips trembling and pale. It’s the first time I’ve seen his face, so I shake my head.

Kyle shoots him anyway. “He participated.”

And then he goes on to finish the third one without even asking me. Their bodies lie lifeless at his feet, but he still watches them as if he’s contemplating a way to bring them back to life just so he can kill them all over again.

It’s one of the rare times Kyle lets me see this side of him up close and personal—the merciless killer. The one who will finish a life as if it’s a fly’s. And he did it for me. For some reason, it’s like he learned everything up to this point so he could kill for me.

I should feel bad or be struck by some sort of remorse for being the reason behind so many people’s deaths, but I don’t. They’re sick motherfuckers and they made many other women’s lives hell. If Kyle hadn’t come in time, Aleksandra and I would’ve met the same fate.

And then, I wouldn’t have seen my husband’s face again.

I don’t allow myself to think as I run toward Kyle and jump on him. My body crashes into his, arms wrapped around his neck and legs caging his waist.

He staggers back a little at the force of the impact but loops both his arms around me, including the one with the gun. He inhales me in and I do the same, allowing myself to let my guard down, just for a second.

When in his embrace, I’m protected and safe. I probably shouldn’t feel this way around someone I don’t fully trust, but I can’t ward off this strange feeling of belonging.

“Are you okay?” he whispers slowly.

“Yeah.”

“Really?”

“Really. I’m glad you came, Kyle. I’m so glad.” I don’t know how it would’ve ended if he weren’t around.

I try to get to my feet, but he doesn’t release me, at least not until Ruslan and Katia rush toward us. I squeeze his bicep so he sets me down, but he does that reluctantly and keeps an arm around my waist.

Katia watches me with moisture in her eyes. “Miss…we’re so sorry we weren’t there.”

“What are you sorry about? I’m the one who sent you off.”

“But—”

“I’m fine, Katy. It takes much more than this to hurt me.”

“But you look pale,” Ruslan says.

Kyle places two fingers under my chin and lifts it up so I’m staring at him. “You do.”

“It’s nothing.” I smile, forcing Kyle to release me so I can assess the situation around us.

The Albanians are completely wiped out, at least the ones here. And judging by Damien’s expression, he’s not very amused that it ended so soon.

Kirill is barking orders at his guards, probably to clean up, since we don’t want the