All Chapters of SHADOW AND BLOOD: THE PRICE OF LOVING YOU : Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

LORENZO GRAYSON\ KERZHAKOV ©I lit another cigar and drew in a slow breath. Smoke filled my lungs and eased the sharp pain on my arm.The room smelled of dust, iron, and old wood. Kyle’s men had done their work well. The man sat tied to a chair in the center of the storehouse, his wrists bound, his legs fixed in place.“Everything is set,” Kyle said and I gave a short nod. My eyes stayed on the man as I took a slow drag from my smoke.“That kid must have been scared,” I muttered.Kyle let out a soft laugh. “You sound worried about him. You seem to have forgotten the bullet in your arm.”I glanced at him and scoffed.I put off my cigar and pulled off my shirt. It was soaked in blood and sweat. I sat on a crate and braced myself.Kyle stepped behind me. “Hold still,” he said.I bit down on a piece of wood as he worked. The pain hit at once. It spread through my arm like fire. I kept still, though my breath was rough.“Almost done,” Kyle said.I grunt as I focused on the dull taste of wo

LORENZO GRAYSON\ VADIM KERZHAKOV ©My fist hit the mamba bag again.And again.Each punch came fast and hard, like I was trying to break something that would not break. The chain above the bag rattled with each hit. Sweat ran down my face, down my neck, and soaked my shirt. My breath came out in short bursts, rough and sharp.Yet, I didn't stop.After a while, my arm began to ache. The wound there pulsed under the bandage. I ignored it and threw one last punch before dropping to the gym mat, lying flat on my back.I stared at the ceiling. Everything was blank and quiet but my life was not.I ran a hand through my damp hair and checked the time.7:25 a.m.I tiredly pushed myself up and walked to the fridge. My body felt heavy, but my mind would not slow down. I grabbed a bottle of water and drank it in one long gulp.Soft footsteps entered the gym, careful and almost silent, like the person did not want to be noticed.“Good morning to you too, Kyle,” I said while turning around. The m

NICK WALKER ©For the first time in a long while, I spent the whole night thinking. Thinking about whatever Professor Grayson did the previous night.No matter how hard I tried, I could not get what had happened last night out of my head.The way my whole body reacted when I felt him kiss my ear.I barely slept. Even after getting dressed for school, my eyelids still felt heavy. My head hurts from lack of sleep.Professor Grayson sure has a way of getting into someone’s mind without even trying.“Could you hurry up with my hair, please?” Mira complained, turning to look at me with wide puppy eyes. “Or would you just let me do it myself.”“No chance,” I replied while fixing the braid. “Sit still. I’m almost done.” She puffed her cheeks but stayed still.The front door suddenly opened.“Good morning! It's Avery and it is time to head to school.” Avery announced dramatically as she walked in.Mira groaned immediately.“Good morning, Nick,” Avery said with a grin. “Move aside and let me h

NICK WALKER ©It was already past 4 p.m, and Mira still wasn’t back from school. Avery and I had already gone to her school to search for her, but there was no sign of her anywhere.“We should go to the police station if we still can’t find her within the next hour,” Avery said as she wiped the sweat from her forehead.“I’m going there now,” I replied immediately and started walking away, unable to hide the panic in my voice.“Nick, wait!” Avery called after me. “Maybe she’ll find her way home before then.”“Mira is only seven, Avery!” I half-yelled as I turned to her. “She’s still a child.”“I know,” she said quickly. “I know you’re scared right now, but let’s wait a little longer before we head to the station.”I bit my lip and looked away.Inside, I was already panicking badly. My mind kept running through different thoughts, and I didn’t even know where else to search.Mira wasn’t the type to follow friends around or disappear without saying anything. Something like this had never

LORENZO GRAYSON \VADIM KERZHAKOV ©“I’m sorry, Vadim. We lost your Мать' {mother}.” Father’s right-hand man stood in front of me, his voice low.“What?” My voice shook at once. “What are you talking about? Where’s mum?” Tears filled my eyes before I could stop them.“Vadim!” Father snapped. “You should never be seen crying. Your mother is gone, but you must stay strong. You are the heir to this organization.”I turned to him, anger rising in my chest.“Shut the fuck up!” I shouted. “Mother is dead!” I flipped the table over in rage.“Vadim! Vadim! Vadim!” I heard voices called my name. I gasped and sat up at once.My chest rose and fell fast as I looked around the room.Suddenly, a sharp pain hit my head. I groaned and pressed my hand against it.“Fuck,” I muttered under my breath.I smelled like alcohol. Tired, I pushed myself off the couch where I had slept and dragged my feet to the bathroom. I splashed water on my face and looked at myself in the mirror.I clenched my fist.I got