Obsidian Music (Lion Security Book 3) (19 page)

Daniil shook his head, saying quietly, “She plays music as well. That song is one that she created herself. Only a few CDs were ever made. And only given to those who she was friends with.”

Oh, yeah. Stupid fuckerette.

I took a deep breath in and released him, holding out my hand. His gun. I wanted his gun before all of the damn memories bombarded me, and I wasn’t able to walk over there. That fucking song had almost pushed them up and out. I needed the damn gun. And fast.

He reached behind his back and pulled his gun out slowly, whispering, “Beth, my sweet. I can do this for you.” No one was paying us much mind, although a few of the women were leaving the room, and one or two men were also leaving, not wanting to watch, but doing nothing to stop it.

I shook my head hard and damn if a few tears didn’t roll down my cheeks. Six to be exact. Six for each of those men they had slaughtered in cold blood.

I whispered harshly, “Eye for an eye.”

Daniil’s lips thinned, but he nodded, placing the gun in my hand. He tried again, “It’s all right if you can’t do this. I understand. Not everyone can take a life so easily.”

I shook my head. “They would be put on death row for what they’ve done from just what I saw. I can’t ask someone else to do this if I can’t do it myself.” I wiggled my hand holding the gun since he still had his hand on top of it. “Give me the fucking gun.”

Still, he didn’t budge, saying, “You won’t be the same after this. You’ve killed a man before, but that was to get free while you were kidnapped. That’s different than this.” He bent down, capturing my attention since I had been staring at the gun. “Beth, this is different. Let me handle it for you.”

My jaw clenched.

I really thought about what he was saying. Nerves rushed me.

And…I almost gave in. I almost let him do it.

But staring into those fiercely beautiful brown eyes, I saw another pair of brown eyes.

My guard. Trofim’s dark gaze forever gone because two cowards decided it. Like a simple selection between buying orange juice or apple juice. A person’s life should be worth more than that. Their memory should be worth more than me backing down from giving him justice. Albeit, also illegally, but if we went through the proper channels…well, the outcome would be the same. Just a different timeframe and by a different hand.

“Trofim deserves better than me being a coward.” I jerked on my hand with the gun. “I was there. I saw them kill each and every one of my…” I choked and cleared my throat, “…my bodyguards. Now. Give. Me. The. Damn. Gun.”

Daniil eyes darted all over my face, and slowly, he nodded, standing up straight. His thumb clicked the safety off before he took his hand away. The room was silent now, everyone watching our interaction. I took a fortifying breath, willing myself not to break down into tears. All I could see for a moment was Trofim. On the resort, chasing me through the hotel. Ordering my food. In that damn Bermuda outfit on the boat, watching over me. Teaching me Russian words when he was supposed to be working. But, always protecting me.

His head splattered open on the floor of my dad’s church.

His blood and brain matter…all over. Like his life.

I blinked and turned toward Valentina and Bogdan. The guards had already made sure they weren’t armed, and they were now standing against the wall reminding me of prisoners being lined up execution style. Because it was.

Slowly, I walked toward them with Daniil at my side. The guards opened their ranks to let us into the circle. I wasn’t going to drag this out. I asked Valentina bluntly, “You wanted Daniil’s children. Why?”

She was past pleading for her life, and she held her chin up high. “He got my sister killed. I wanted to take something from him as he did me.”

I shook my head, leaning forward, and stated quietly, “Your sister was a whore. That’s what got her killed.” I leaned back, watching her face alter to furious. “Do you have any last words?”

Her lips thinned. “I wouldn’t say them to Daniil’s only whore even if I wished to.”

Her implication was clear. “That’s pathetic.” I took two steps forward so I wouldn’t miss. “Enjoy Hell.”

My hand only shook slightly as I raised it quickly. I thought of those six guards, hoping they were watching this as I pulled the trigger. The jerk in my arm shocked me. I had never fired a gun before. I grunted, taking the blow with my weakened muscles from not having enough food for two months. My muscles were only just back to decent strength.

I had been close enough not to miss.

Valentina’s eyes were forever huge on her face, a thin line of blood trailing down between her perfect black eyebrows from the tiny bullet hole in the middle of her forehead as her dead body tilted, and then slid down the wall.

I quickly stepped back, lowering the gun so she didn’t fall on me. Feeling the blood on my face freaked me a little, but I wouldn’t ruin my bodyguards’ memory by screaming and running away. Instead, I yanked on my ear because I couldn’t hear very well, and turned to Daniil asking, “Do you have a napkin or something?”

I probably yelled it, and he was watching me like a fucking hawk, but he reached into his pocket and pulled out a handkerchief. I snatched it, wiping my face off as I moved over to Bogdan. I really just wanted to get this done as soon as possible, but he deserved the same as her. I asked in what I hoped was a quiet voice, “Why did you do it?”

His eyes were huge on his face, but he sneered, “My wife said that if she didn’t decide to kill you after you had the kids, I could keep you as a pet.”

I had stared at his lips, only faintly hearing him. I was positive that was what he had said. I gritted my teeth, feeling Daniil vibrating behind me. I raised my gun and aimed. “Do you have any last words?”

“I should have fucked you when—” Last words were overrated.

I pulled the trigger, bracing myself better this time.

I still grunted at the way it jarred my shoulder. This shot hadn’t been so clean since I had been in a hurry. His nose was split open where the bullet had gone in. But he was still dead as he fell to the ground. I stepped back and banged into Daniil.

Quickly, I wiped the blood from my face. Daniil took the gun from me, immediately wrapping his other arm around my waist. I didn’t realize I was shaking until I had something sturdy to hold onto. I kept my sight away from the bodies but really hoped I had served those who died for me well.

But that didn’t mean I could look at the dead bodies. I could only do so much.

I couldn’t hear a damn thing, but I felt Daniil’s chest vibrating against my head, so I looked up and saw him saying something to the guards. Finishing quickly—the guards were removing the bodies—Daniil looked down at me and took the handkerchief from my hand, and started wiping my face, getting the places I had missed. When he was done, his gaze darted all over my face, and then his eyes met mine. Perhaps it was sick of me, but I loved that I saw pride and tenderness in his gaze.

I was startled to hear cheers around the room with my name at the heart of them. I jumped as my hearing came back, turning in Daniil’s arms and peeking around him. My core was shaken, but it was even more rattled seeing his family—the ones who had remained in the room—standing and yelling with their fists in the air for what I had done. Wide-eyed, I turned my gaze back to Daniil, “What are they yelling?”

My ears still rang, but I heard him clearly when he said softly, “They’re welcoming you to the family.” He looked a little guilty. “When you kill your first…,” he paused, considering the word, “…traitor…you’re officially one of us.”

I blinked stupidly. My. God.

“You want me to sneak you out the hidden door?” he asked with a small smile lifting his lips, obviously gauging my reaction correctly.

I shook my head slowly. No. This was his family. I wouldn’t stay long, but I needed to be by Daniil’s side right now. Not because he needed me, but because I needed him. Taking someone’s life, even if justified, wasn’t a nerve-settling act. It was a gut-wrenching act that should never be taken lightly.

I clung to Daniil’s arm as he walked into the cheering people. I stayed there and accepted their hugs and kisses, but I couldn’t muster up a smile. I just nodded when I needed to and hoped I would be able to sleep tonight, and hoped I had made the right choice by choosing to do it myself.

Daniil handled my parents and aunts and uncles while I trudged up to bed after I had killed two people. Mary had been as somber as I was, staying by my side for most of the remainder of the evening as Daniil’s family proceeded to really get the party started after the corpses had been carried out. Inna…God, help her…she had hugged me the longest. Daniil had offered her a room here, and she accepted. I think she was now getting comfortable in the room across the hall from Eva.

My mom tried to talk with me, but I… I just didn’t want to discuss the finer details that she wanted to know. Her bloodthirsty eyes took in any little blood splatter I had missed or that had stained my outfit. I planned to burn this dress as soon as daylight broke tomorrow, and I wasn’t so weary. Dad only hugged me, saying I could talk to him anytime I needed to, a little of the preacher peeking out in him.

After that, I left, my ten bodyguards following me. I still hadn’t formally greeted them. I understood now why Daniil rarely ever talked with his. If you do, you become personally invested in them, and you feel responsible for them when they are there to take the bullet for you, not the other way around. One day, I knew I would break down and talk with them. If they were offering up their lives for me, it was the least I could do.

I merely needed a little more time.

I shut the door to our room, seeing the guards take up their stance around the door before closing it, and made my way through the living room into our bedroom. I was tempted to fall headlong into bed, but I wanted the dress off. I stripped, dropping the dress to the floor after ripping the damn thing to get it off. Yanking open the door to the dresser, I had to steady the picture frame on top of it because I jerked it too hard, pulling out a thin cotton nightgown that I had bought for my biggest days to come, wanting something comfortable. I tore off my bra and underwear, putting on the nightgown. And stopped, staring at the dress and undergarments on the floor that was soiled with my kidnapper's blood.

I rushed to the toilet and promptly puked up my guts.

And I sobbed over the toilet.

I was no hardened killer. Their faces flashed in front of me, but at the same time, six others took their place. And then, my own personal Hell flashed in front of my eyes.

I caught myself singing as I cried.

I shut my mouth immediately, knowing I was a little fucked in the head.

Time. I just needed to give it a little time. Their deaths and my own ordeal had been eradicated. Now, I only needed to heal like I had been doing.

I took a shuddering breath in, and wiped my face off, flushing the toilet and standing. I brushed my teeth and washed my face in the sink, and then glanced up at myself in the mirror. My dripping face in the mirror was pale and terrified. I hoped I hadn’t looked like this while his family had been congratulating me. But who knows. Maybe this was how most people looked after offing someone.

I blinked, my eyes focusing, and noticed what was behind me in the mirror.

Or more like someone was behind me.

I shouted, and jerked around, wiping my face off as I stumbled out of the bathroom.

In the shower, I could have sworn I had seen hair peeking out from behind the wall.

And…my cousin, Katie, stepped out of the shower, following me into the bedroom.

My heart slowed down, and I asked, “Katie, what are you doing in here? You scared the shit out of me!” I wiped my face off, flicking the water away. “What the hell?”

I rubbed my eyes when she didn’t respond.

My brows snapped together when her right hand lifted. Holding a gun.

I froze, asking slowly, “Why do you have a gun, Katie?” I tore my eyes away from the weapon to look at her face. My attention stayed trapped there. “Katie, what are you doing?”

“Don’t act like you don’t know,” she hissed. “I’m sure Valentina blabbed all about me.”