Love in Montana (De La Fuente Family 1)

But while Talya and Yuri played eye hockey, Sylvia decided it would be best if she collected the rest of her things from her locker. There wasn’t much inside, but she remembered the silly photographs she had pinned to the inside of her door. They had been taken at a fun fair with Talya. Nothing special to anyone else, but to her, they were.

“Is it safe to go back there? I want to grab some photographs from my locker.”

“I am sure it is safe, but to be safer, Gavriil will go with you.” He turned and called the big Russian fighter over to her, and after a few words, he indicated he was ready to go.

“Thank you. I’ll be quick.” Sylvia let Gavriil lead her through the crowd, his large body pushed everyone back and they arrived at the dressing room in no time at all.

Gavriil put his head inside before he deemed the room clear.

Sylvia closed the door on him with her heart pounding in her throat. Their actions told her that the culprit hadn’t been found.

Her nerves crackled out and made her dash to her locker. She made quick work of opening the door where she snatched the photographs, and shoved them into her purse.

As she fastened her purse, there was a thud at the door before it opened. Her eyes widened, and her purse fell from her fingers in fear when she saw Robert, the stagehand, walk through with a sneer. Behind him, she saw Gavriil on the ground.

Her hand covered the gasp, which left her lips at the sight and the realization that it really had been a member of the staff who’d gone after her. Because he stood before her knowing that he’d won. At least he had then, but she wouldn’t go with him without a fight. If he took her out of there, she would have to be carried, which would hopefully call attention to them.

He took a step toward her.

She took a step back.

“So, you had no idea it was me?” He smiled. “I couldn’t believe Yuri didn’t find out it was me. He knows everything that goes on here, except my secret desire for you. I hid it well. But I’ve waited long enough.” He took a step forward, his eyes darting around in agitation.

Sylvia’s heart rate wouldn’t slow down. Her palms felt damp, and fear trickled down her back and between her boobs. She knew it was fear, and she hated herself for not being stronger and sticking up for herself. But the fear was real and it kept her quiet.

“Gavriil wasn’t going to keep me from you, but we do need to leave quickly before the shock I gave him wears off.” He stepped closer. “Are you going to come quietly or do I have to carry you?”

She found a bit of courage from somewhere, or was it survival instinct? “I’m not going anywhere with you.” Her breathing was choppy, and it grew choppier the closer he got.

He’d always given her the creeps but knowing what he wanted to do to her, she was scared out of her mind. She’d told herself if she ever came face-to-face with the bastard responsible for the notes that she’d give him a piece of her mind. Faced with him though, she could hardly string a sentence together.

“I guess I’m going to have to Taser you as well because we don’t want others to know you’re leaving.”

She pressed against her locker, cowering as she sank to the floor as he stood over her. She tried to breathe through her fear, and just when he was about to hit her with the Taser, she found strength and the ability to move from somewhere. She sprung forward and knocked him back. He stumbled but managed to right himself, which was when she saw he now had a gun in his hand.

A roar from behind the closed door drew their attention seconds before it splintered. Gavriil stepped inside and he was angry. He’d lost the jacket, which showed his muscular build. He wasn’t known as Scorpion for nothing.

The veins popped on his neck as his muscles flexed. He wanted blood and she didn’t think anything or anyone would be able to stop him.

For the first time, Robert looked fearful, and as he raised the gun and pointed it at Gavriil, he pulled the trigger.

Sylvia screamed as she saw blood start to ooze from the wound in Gavriil’s arm. She didn’t think and grabbed a boot from her locker and launched herself toward Robert without a thought of her own safety. The pointed heel stabbed into Robert over and over again as she screamed. Another shot fired seconds before Gavriil grabbed his wrist and bones crunched. The gun fell to the floor, and Robert became the one that was screaming. Gavriil closed his huge fist and punched him in the face with such force that it sent Robert into the wall where his head bounced. He dropped to the floor like a bag of potatoes.

But that’s when Sylvia started to feel lightheaded, and the ache in her stomach, which had been a constant from her nerves, blossomed into an intense pain. It felt like a ball of fire had ripped her insides out. She looked down and saw her dress was soaked in blood.

Gavriil cursed in Russian and yelled something she couldn’t comprehend before his arms were around her and he laid her down on the floor.

He talked, but she couldn’t hear. She was so tired. She’d hardly slept for a week.

Her eyes drifted open and she saw Talya hovering over her, and Yuri was there as well. All talking, but it was like they were on mute. She thought she saw Talya say Eric. Why would she mention Eric?

“No, Eric. Please,” she mumbled, but had no clue why she said that when she missed him like crazy.

Her tears started to fall.

Yuri pulled Talya into his arms and Sylvia felt like she floated on water.

It never occurred to her that she had been shot.