Alexei stopped hearing my scream followed by furious Ralph and anticipated Killian.

“I’ll kill her,” Alessandro said in my ear as a chill ran down my spine. Alexei’s hold on the gun tightened.

“If you don’t take your hands off her in the next two seconds, you won’t have hands.” Suppressing a shiver, I flinched when I felt Alessandro tensing behind me. His hand on my throat twitched, and the knife trembled. I knew he was scared, and he also knew Alexei wasn’t bluffing. He’d kill. He’d kill him. For me.

I shut my eyes, ready to accept whatever fate had in store for me. Ready to face death. My...