That’s when I decide to make a run for it.
Straight to Mikhail.
No one bothers shooting at me. I’m no threat like the men are, with their weapons and power.
I reach Mikhail, placing my hands gently on his cut up chest. “Mikhail. You’re alive.”
“Just barely. You’re here. I never thought I’d see you again.”
“I’m here.”
“With Nico.”
“He… captured me. But I’m here to get you out. We have to go now while they’re all distracted.”
His hands are tied. The rope around them is over a hook hanging from the ceiling. I jump up but I can’t reach. I’m too short. Nico and Cillian’s men keep fighting each other. So much for allies, I guess.
My eyes land on a chair that’s fallen over in the corner of the room. Running as fast as I can, I reach it and pick it up, using it as a shield from any bullets. Standing on the chair allows me to reach Mikhail’s hands. I push the rope off the hook and he slumps right to the ground.
Using all my strength, I help Mikhail stand up.
“No,” he groans. “I don’t want your help. Baby, you need to run. You need to get out of here.”
“You’ll die otherwise. I’m getting you out.”
Mikhail tries to stand on his own but he slumps right against me. I’ve never seen him weak like this. It’s disorienting. It’s terrifying.
We can’t go for the front door since Nico is still blocking it, firing off his gun. I spy a door on the other side of the warehouse and slowly back away, helping Mikhail walk.
We’re almost to the back door when I hear the gunshots stop.
“Are you done?” Nico asks.
“You surprised me, that’s all,” Cillian responds.
“You took Mikhail for yourself. You wanted to kill him when you knew it was what I wanted!”
With a glance over my shoulder, I see Nico lunge for Cillian and the two of them begin to fight. Both of them are so caught up in their anger with each other, they don’t even notice me and Mikhail getting away.
We make it outside and for a moment, I let the fresh hair soak over me. I let it make me feel safe.
And that’s when I see Liam.
He runs out the back door, holding his gun up. “You can’t leave. Cillian isn’t done with you yet.”
I know the longer Liam stalls us, the more it gives Nico and Cillian a chance to come out here and stop us. The more chance it gives them to kill both me and Mikhail.
“Cillian doesn’t want me dead,” Mikhail says. “So if you shoot me, you’ll be pissing off your boss.”
“He’ll also be pissed if I just let you escape.”
Liam has his eyes trained on Mikhail. He doesn’t even see me. I’m not worth it to these men. I’m no threat. I’m just the innocent white swan they all see me as.
But I’ve grown into the black swan. I’ve grown into a fighter.
I only have one chance of doing this right.
With a burst of energy, I run forward. Mikhail slumps to the ground. Liam flinches, surprised at what’s happening. And that’s when I collide right into Liam, knocking him back. In his shock, he drops his gun.
