Total pages in book: 148
Estimated words: 147734 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 739(@200wpm)___ 591(@250wpm)___ 492(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 147734 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 739(@200wpm)___ 591(@250wpm)___ 492(@300wpm)
“Actually, I have a lot of girls crushing on me.”
“Because of your looks and money, maybe even your intellectual abilities, but definitely not for your personality.”
“That’s not true.”
“Think about it. What do they say to you? You’re so smart and you’re so handsome, right? Did any of them say you’re so funny?”
His lips fall open, but then he purses them again.
“Ha, told you! My condolences, Mishka. Girls prefer funny guys over stuffy intellectuals like you.”
He punches my side. “I told you not to call me that.”
“Aw, hit a nerve?”
He slams his entire body into me, flattening me against a tree as he grabs my collar in a tight fist. “I’ve been trying to ignore your provocations all day, but you’re so annoying and should learn when to shut the hell up. Stop trying to make me fight you.”
My lips part.
That wasn’t what I was trying to do, though.
Yes, I wanted to get a reaction out of him—not sure why—but I haven’t really thought about fighting him.
But now that he mentioned it…
I grin, about to throw the first punch when the sound of gunshots echoes in the forest.
Then I see it.
Someone dressed in black is aiming at us.
I don’t even think about it as I push Vaughn out of the way.
And then pain explodes in my side.
I’ve been shot instead.
Fuck this.
5
VAUGHN
We’re under attack.
It takes me only a split second to realize that.
I heard the gunshots, and my reflexes spiked fast, but not fast enough.
Not as quick as Yulian’s.
Not only did he shove me out of the way before I could protect myself, but he’s also hauled me toward a bush out of the snipers’ view.
I grab on to his arm and pull him with me as he scrambles.
Because he’s shot.
A splash of red widens on his side, soaking his striped shirt through. His face pales instantly, his lips are dry, and his temples are beading with sweat, but his eyes are bright and focused.
So focused, actually, it’s a bit unsettling.
We throw ourselves behind the bush, and I make sure he lands on top of me. Again, because he’s injured.
My hand lands on his back, holding him still as the earth keeps me grounded—or more like my backpack is spooning me, the straps digging into my shoulders.
Yulian’s heavy, and I struggle as he nearly crushes me, but my fingers dig into him to keep him in place.
He looks down at me with a little pained grin. “Are you sure? I’m all bloody. Isn’t that against your cleanliness code or some shit—”
“Shh.” I place my other hand on his mouth as I strain to hear any movement. “Stop talking for a second.”
I can feel his lips curving beneath my palm, but he doesn’t attempt to talk again. Instead, he plants a hand on the dirt near my shoulder and tries to hold himself up.
But I press on his back and knock him down again.
“Stay still,” I whisper-yell with a tinge of both rage and annoyance.
At myself. For not being fully prepared.
Yulian got shot because he was trying to save me.
Why would he?
He’s not my guard or a family member. We’re not even friends. Pretty sure he hates my guts and would love to leave this camp as much as I would.
So why…?
I don’t have time to ponder on that as the string of gunshots echo around us, our guards and the assailants each trying to get the upper hand.
The fact that no one is coming to get us to safety is a bad sign.
The worst sign, actually.
It means they’re so overwhelmed by the exchange of fire that they can’t spare anyone to ensure our safe transport.
“We need to go,” I whisper.
“Yeah, they’re outnumbered.” He stands up with surprising agility even as he groans.
I frown, watching him inhale and exhale sharply.
How did Yulian come to the same conclusion I did?
Pretty sure he’s a half-wit, so how did he make the quick connection…?
“You gonna gawk for long, sunshine? I know I’m a world wonder, but we need to get going.” He grins, pointing north. “Follow me. I know a place.”
“No, we’re going back down to the compound, where our guards are.”
“It’s cute that you assume the assailants haven’t thought of that possibility. Either the men below are neutralized, or the attackers have soldiers on every path leading to the camp to trap us. Don’t know about you, but I’m never getting fucking kidnapped again.”
Again?
Yulian’s already moving—too fast for someone who’s injured, might I add—using the trees as camouflage. His gun out.
I stare in the direction of the gunshots and rub a hand over my face. While I hate to admit it, Yulian’s probably right. If they went through all this hassle to attack us on the mountain while we’re mostly isolated, they probably thought we’d want to go back down and planted traps along the way.