30: Blood

VIKTOR

Did Raymond really think he could betrayal me and I would just let him go?

I already knew that I had to rat among us and I confirmed the moment we were attacked.

We had to come out alive first before I went after the rat I just didn't know who it was yet.

Immediately after the attack Romanov was already checking through everyone that worked for me.

We would have found him first but Kathy was...faster.

How did she even know it was him? I guess she really is the good detective that they say she is.

Kathy.

My head kept thinking about Kathy even as I talked to all this degenerates in this charity gala.

Rich pricks, tailored suits, expensive jewelries and tacky behaviors.

Speaking of Kathy, where had she gone off to? I was watching her every move even as I talked to people. I had just turned my head for one minute and I couldn't find her anymore.

"Excuse me" I said to the man I was talking to before casually walking around the hoard of people to see if I could find her.

I didn't.

I took out my phone from my suit pocket and dialed her number. It rang but she didn't answer.

Now I was genuinely starting to get worried. Had the attackers from Italy followed us here?

That wouldn't be possible because we killed them all.

I searched as much places as I could, cold sweats slowly started breaking on my body as I wondered all sorts of things.

I checked the last hallway again.

Nothing.

"Where the hell is she?"

I pulled my phone out again and called her number.

Nothing.

Straight to voicemail.

My chest tightened.

Then I heard something.

A faint sound coming from somewhere behind the building.

When I turned I saw an alleyway between the building and the next one.

It was dark and empty.

I walked towards it slowly, the moment I walked past the first bin I saw her.

"Katherine."

She was lying on the ground and for a second I couldn't move my feets.

There was blood on her dress. Too much blood.

My heart stopped.

No.

No.

I ran toward her and dropped to my knees beside her.

"Katherine."

Nothing.

I touched her face.

Cold.

"Katherine, open your eyes."

Her eyelids moved slightly.

A small sound escaped her lips.

She was alive.

Barely.

"Romanov!"

My voice echoed through the alley.

"ROMANOV!"

Footsteps came running behind me.

"Boss!"

"Call an ambulance."

"Now."

I pressed my hand against the wound, trying to stop the bleeding.

My hands were shaking.

I couldn't remember the last time my hands had shaken.

Maybe never.

"Katherine."

Her eyes opened for a second.

She looked at me.

Then they closed again.

"No."

I touched her cheek.

"No, no, no."

I had seen this before.

That was the problem.

I'd seen this exact scene before.

My mother.

My sister.

Blood.

Smoke.

Screaming.

My little sister had been calling for me.

I was too late.

My mother had been trapped and I was too weak to save her.

And my brother...

My brother had been the one person who remained.

The one person who took care of us after everything.

He became the leader.

Not because he wanted the throne.

Because someone had to protect what was left of our family.

Then they took him too.

An ambush.

A betrayal.

A dozen bullets.

And just like that, I became the man everyone feared.

People thought I wanted this life but they were wrong.

I never wanted any of it, i never wanted the money or the power.

Not the blood.

The men who looked at me and waited for orders to kill.

I wanted my family.

That was all.

When my brother died, there was nothing left except Natalia and Anya.

So I made a promise.

I would protect them.

No matter what it cost me.

I would never lose anyone close to me again.

Never.

And now...

Katherine was lying in my arms.

Again.

I looked down at her.

She looked so small.

So still.

"You're not dying."

My voice cracked.

I didn't care.

"You hear me?"

Her lips moved.

I leaned closer.

"Viktor..."

"I'm here."

I swallowed hard.

"I'm right here."

Her eyes opened slightly.

For a moment, she looked confused.

Then she whispered,

"I'm sorry."

My chest tightened.

"For what?"

She didn't answer.

Her eyes closed again.

"No."

I shook her gently.

"Katherine."

Nothing.

The ambulance sirens grew louder in the distance.

I looked toward the entrance of the alley.

Too slow.

Everything was too slow.

I had spent my entire life making sure no one could get close enough to hurt the people I loved.

I built walls.

Hired guards.

Created enemies before they could become threats.

I became ruthless because I thought ruthlessness would keep everyone safe.

And yet here I was.

On my knees.

Holding the woman who had somehow gotten past every wall I'd built.

The woman who was supposed to be a temporary part of my life.

Anya's tutor.

A detective.

A stranger.

Someone I shouldn't have cared about.

Someone I had no business caring about.

But I did.

God help me.

I cared about her.

"Don't you dare die on me."

I pressed my forehead against hers.

"I've already lost enough."

My voice was barely a whisper.

"I can't lose you too."

The ambulance finally arrived.

Paramedics rushed toward us.

One of them tried to pull me away.

I didn't move.

"Sir, we need to treat her."

"Then treat her."

"We need space."

I finally let go.

But my hand remained wrapped around hers until they forced me to release it.

I watched them lift her onto the stretcher.

Blood stained my hands.

Her blood.

I stared at it.

For the first time in years...

I was afraid.

Not of death and not of my enemies.

I was afraid of waking up tomorrow and finding out that Katherine hadn't survived the night.