Dark Vow (Blackwoods College)

“Why would Brnovich want to do that?”

“I don’t know.” Then he shook his head. “Unless he’s working with my brothers.”

“Your brothers?”

“The Solar family doesn’t get along.” He dragged me to the door and shoved the commanding soldier. “Clear the way. Move it.”

The soldier didn’t look happy, but he obeyed. They kicked outside and burst into the sunshine. Gunfire erupted and two went down, but Calvin shoved me onto a back porch and came out firing.

My ears screamed and rang from all the commotion. More soldiers followed. We were on a small gravel lot on the side of the mansion clearly meant for deliveries and staff. Men with guns were set up nearby behind improvised barricades made from garden furniture.

Fortunately, the pathetic cover didn’t do much to protect from Calvin’s men. They fired high-powered rifles that blew holes in wood and bodies alike, sending the attackers scattering.

Calvin looked grim as more of his men joined the group. He gestured for them to push forward, past the barricade, and up a steep driveway. Matthias was there, barking orders, as the soldiers spread out.

The parking garage was attached to the side of the driveway. The soldiers angled for it, firing at men that were perched on the porch to the left. Calvin sprinted ahead, dragging me along, until we reached the side of the garage. He kicked in the door and shot a man in the face, sending blood and brains splattering against the garage door. More bullets hit the wall next to him but he shoved me back and out of the way as he dropped to one knee and returned fire.

The fight was over in seconds. Calvin’s men stormed in and overwhelmed the guards stationed to watch the SUVs. Soldiers piled inside as the garage doors were opened, and Calvin shoved me into the back of one, making sure I was safe before shouting at his men to form up and get prepared to run.

More men appeared outside of the garage. They fired on the cars, and Calvin’s men fired back. I was thrown sideways as Calvin leapt into the side next to me and Matthias got behind the wheel. We jolted forward, ran a man over, slammed into three more, before breaking clear of the attackers. The windshield was cracked and peppered with bullet holes, but it held.

Calvin looked grim as we drove away. One of the SUVs was trapped by the attacking men and the soldiers inside were yanked out. I saw them execute one, his body falling limp in a pool of blood, before they were lost to sight.

I sat back, my heart racing, my ears ringing, and tried to make sense of what happened.

I estimated half of Calvin’s men died back there. We nearly died more than once. Brnovich double-crossed him, and it would’ve worked if Calvin hadn’t been smart enough to keep his forces all in one place and heavily armed. As it stood, Calvin’s forces in the country were severely depleted, and he had the freaking defense minister out for his head.

Nobody spoke as we drove back to Riga.

One second, I was worrying about Calvin’s hands on my body, and the next I was terrified I might die.

It happened so fast, so sudden.

And he’d reacted like it was nothing.

That was his true strength. His true power. He flowed with events and dominated them.

I looked across the back seat and felt like I saw him for the first time. He brooded, glaring out the window. I could practically hear his brain thinking.

“We don’t return to the planes.” Calvin’s voice was raspy. “We go to the safe house.”

Matthias glared at him in the rearview mirror. “That’s insane. We have to leave the country now, before—”

“I have one stop to make tonight. I can salvage this.”

Matthias groaned. “Brnovich is the defense minister. He has resources, connections. If we wait even a few hours, we’ll be stuck in this hellhole of a country, and they’ll find us.”

“It won’t matter.” Calvin leaned forward, staring at his assistant. “You trust me, don’t you?”

“I think you’ll do anything to win.”

“Then trust that I’ll win.”

Matthias sighed. I wondered how many times they’d had a conversation like this one before. I bet hundreds, thousands.

“One night. In the morning, we’re leaving.”

“That’s all I need.” Calvin sat back, arms crossed.

“What will you do?” I asked, afraid of my own voice. I sounded surprisingly steady, even though I felt like I might crumble and break.

“Brnovich wants to kill us. He wants to double-cross me. There has to be a reason for that, and I’m going to find it.”

I wanted to press more, but he lapsed into silence, and I knew there was nothing left to say.

I gazed out the window, at the pretty landscape, at the receding lake, and wondered if I’d ever see home again.

11

Calvin

Money buys most things.