27: Under Attack

KATHY

I knew something was wrong the moment Viktor said we were leaving the country.

"A vacation" was what he called it. Although the few days I had been here had been beautiful so far, something just didn't feel right.

I could feel it.

I wish I could just know what was happening. But my best guess was that the Mafia was under attach.

The security around Viktor had doubled since we'd arrived. Romanov was constantly on the phone. Guards rotated shifts more frequently than before, and Viktor himself rarely relaxed, no matter how calm he appeared.

Which made it all the more reason to believe that they were having some kind of fight.

Would running away for a week really protect us?

That afternoon, I wandered through one of the quiet hallways, hoping to clear my head, because something just kept nagging at me.

I heard voices through a half-open door.

"...I've told you before."

It was Viktor's voice.

I stopped involuntarily.

I wasn't trying to eavesdrop or anything.

I had every intention of walking away... until his voice came again.

"...I'm only saying this once." His tone was colder than usual. "You need to stop."

None of them spoke for a brief second before I heard their voices again.

"I've done nothing wrong," Natalia replied.

"You know exactly what you're doing."

I carefully moved closer, staying out of sight.

"I've been patient, Natalia."

"You owe me."

"I owe your husband."

The words made me freeze.

"My brother trusted me before he died." His voice softened, but only slightly.

"I promised him I'd take care of you and Anya." He sighed "That's the only reason you're here."

My heart skipped.

"So that's all I am? A promise?"

"You are my brother's wife."

Natalia laughed bitterly.

"It didn't stop you from kissing me." She spat.

"I didn't kiss you." Viktor said, "I pushed you away."

Katherine swallowed.

"I've warned you before." His voice turned cold.

"Stop whatever game you're playing, Natalia. I made him a vow."

"And you'll keep pushing me away forever?"

She took a step closer.

"I can give you everything you need. You already have a family."

"My husband is dead." She said angrily.

Before Viktor could answer, Natalia reached up and grabbed the front of his shirt.

Then she leaned in, trying to kiss him.

Viktor caught her wrists before their lips could meet.

"Enough." His voice was firm. "I will never love you that way."

Natalia's face crumpled.

For a brief second.

I almost felt sorry for her.

Almost.

Viktor turned to leave and I ran out of the hallway, tiptoeing.

So that was the truth.

He wasn't keeping Natalia around because he loved her.

He was honoring a promise to his dead brother.

Everything suddenly made sense.

Why she lived with him.

Why Viktor tolerated behavior he clearly disliked.

It wasn't love.

It was loyalty.

For reasons I couldn't explain, the realization made something inside me feel... lighter.

I stayed on my bed thinking about everything. I almost thought Viktor had a thing for Natalia.

But how could Natalia be interested in her husband's brother?

She never loved her husband... I assume.

That evening, the villa had finally grown quiet.

After begging me to read her one more bedtime story, Anya had finally fallen asleep. I smiled as I tucked the blanket around her tiny body before quietly leaving her room.

I had barely stepped into my room when a deafening explosion ripped through the villa.

Boom!

The entire building shook beneath my feet.

Chaos erupted.

Glass shattered somewhere downstairs.

Then came shouting.

"Protect Mr. Svyatoslav!"

"Move!"

"Get everyone out!"

The windows rattled violently, followed by terrified screams from the few maids we had.

Then came the gunfire.

My heart slammed hard against my chest.

People began running in every direction.

Guards shouted orders in Russian while servants screamed, trying to find somewhere to hide.

My mind went completely blank.

Anya.

I took off running.

Guards rushed in every direction with weapons drawn.

Someone yelled for everyone to get down.

I ignored them.

I had to find Anya.

Smoke was already creeping into the hallway as I pushed past frightened staff members rushing toward the staircase.

"Anya!" I shouted.

No answer.

I reached her bedroom and threw the door open.

Empty.

Panic gripped my chest.

"Anya!" I shouted again.

Then I heard soft crying somewhere down the corridor.

I spun toward the sound.

There she was.

Standing near the staircase, frozen in fear with tears streaming down her little face.

"Kathy!"

"I'm here!"

I sprinted toward her.

"Let's go, Anya."

I reached out my hand.

At that exact moment Natalia appeared from the opposite end of the hallway, looking pale and frightened.

"Anya!" She called out, stretching her hand too. "Come to Mama!" she cried, stretching out both hands.

Without thinking, I reached out too.

"Anya, come here!"

She stopped in the middle of the hallway.

Anya looked at both of us.

Her frightened little eyes moved from her mother to me.

For a heartbeat no one moved.

Then Anya ran toward me.

I caught her in my arms without hesitation.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the look on Natalia's face.

Pain.

Real pain.

My heart tightened.

But there wasn't time to think about it.

Another gunshot rang out.

I lifted Anya into my arms and ran.

"Kathy!"

"I've got you."

"It's okay."

Holding Anya tightly, I hurried down the corridor, keeping low the way I'd been trained at the academy.

Glass exploded somewhere behind us.

A bullet slammed into the wooden railing only a few feet away.

I turned sharply around the corner.

Something sliced across my forearm and a sharp sting shot through my arm.

I winced but kept running.

The only thing I could think of was getting Anya to safety.

I didn't stop running.

Not until armed guards surrounded us.

"It's clear!"

"This way!"

One of Viktor's men hurried us toward the armored vehicles waiting outside.

Only after Anya was safely inside did I finally let myself breathe.

My arm burned.

I looked down.

Blood soaked through the sleeve of my shirt.

Several minutes later, the gunfire finally stopped.

The shouting outside slowly died down.

The surviving guards had regained control of the villa.

Anya still clung tightly to me, refusing to let go, even when we were now back inside the Villa.

Moments later, Viktor rushed into the sitting room.

His eyes searched the room frantically until they landed on us.

"Katherine."

"I'm here," I answered, my voice quieter than I intended.

His gaze moved to Anya wrapped around me.

Then his eyes dropped to my arm.

His entire expression changed.

I frowned, following his gaze.

Blood.

It was dripping from my forearm onto the polished marble floor.

Viktor crossed the room in three long strides.

"You're bleeding."

"It's nothing serious"

Anya tightened her arms around my neck.

"Kathy hurt..." she whispered, her lower lip trembling.

She looked at Viktor with watery eyes.

"Kathy save Anya."

I smiled at her, not because she was crying but because her English was getting better.

I must be doing a great job.