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  "Hm."

  My gaze narrowed at the firmly-closed door and I felt a slight bruising to my feminine pride.

  Well, fine. I guess I don't look quite as sexy all bruised and shit. But you don't have to send mixed signals, either, dick.

  Even as the thought crossed my mind, I admonished myself sharply.

  Dude, you have bruises all over your body and were passed out for hours. Probably a good thing he didn’t want to jump your ass. Also, he knows what Korol did to you. You’re damaged goods.

  At the sobering thought of Korol, I sat back down on the bed. Staring straight ahead, I realized… I had done it. I had escaped. I had escaped and as far as I knew, everyone that had helped me was safe.

  "I can't believe it fucking worked."

  A single startled laugh escaped me. Then another. After a few moments, and even though my ribs screamed in agony, hysterical laughter continued to pour out of me in steady streams until tears were once again rolling down my face.

  "You've changed."

  "No, Viktor. Sadly, I'm no different. I'm just not the person you thought I was."

  My laughter died a swift death, and the last of my tears dried up with it. I looked up at the ceiling, blowing out a long breath. The painkillers they had probably fed me were kicking in, and my ribs hurt less and less as the moments passed.

  A million different emotions were swirling inside of me, shock among them, but I closed my eyes and merely waited. I felt the cold, iron grasp of determination inside of me slide into place, and all the other emotions were extinguished without mercy. More long-forgotten words from my past bubbled up, and I let them wash over me.

  “Remember, Emilia. Feel nothing. If you let it mean something, you give them a piece of you to hold forever. If you give up all of your pieces… you’ll never win the game.”

  I couldn’t afford to lose any more pieces.

  My eyes opened slowly, and I stood up once again. I slid into my clothes with cautious motions, mindful of the many cuts and bruises across my body. After I finished, I stood straight and tall, my arms spreading wide in the center of the room.

  My lips curled into a crazed smile.

  Ah, Zakhar. You have no idea who you brought to Russia.

  • • •

  Viktor

  "Viktor! Is she awake?"

  I looked up from where I was standing outside of Emilia's room at Smith fast approaching.

  "Yes. She will be ready in a moment."

  "Ah, that's great news." Smith looked me over slowly, her eyes narrowed and searching.

  "How is our little heroine?"

  "She's moving about better than expected." I grunted out.

  "Well, she has built up quite a tolerance for pain over the past year." Smith said matter-of-factly.

  My fists clenched at my sides, and my face turned deadly.

  "Now, Viktor-"

  The door opened behind me and I turned back, quickly wiping all expression from my face. I looked on at Emilia, garbed in a form fitting black t-shirt and loose-fitting yoga pants, with her hair wet from a recent shower and pulled up into a bun. She was so simply dressed, it was almost laughable after seeing her dressed in nothing but the finest jewelry and dresses for the past year.

  And she's so stunning, I can barely breathe.

  Emilia walked a little stiffly, but her range of movement was impressive considering all she had been through. She looked at Smith, and her eyes remained the flat, cold orbs that had taken me by surprise earlier.

  "Jane. Fuck you for looking so good." Emilia's voice was slightly scratchy, but strong all the same, and Smith laughed loudly.

  "Ah, there she is! My dear Fox, you are quite the escape artist. Your plan worked out fairly well for it being your first escape from a mafia overlord." Her tone bright enough to light the dark hallway, Smith linked arms with Emilia and started walking towards the stairwell with me following close behind.

  "Now, everyone is gathered in the front living room. We have some things to settle and I figured they might be better discussed with you fully conscious." Smith continued in her cheery voice, the sound grating on my nerves. "I am sure everyone has quite a few questions for you, as well!"

  "Oh, I'm sure. But if I may ask, why aren't they all on their way back to their families? Are you going back on our deal, Jane?"

  All three of us stopped at the question, asked in such a quiet, silky tone. Thick tension rose immediately in the closed confines of the hallway. Jane turned to Emilia, breaking their arm contact and merely stared at her with a blank stare.

  I frowned at Smith, knowing full well that everyone had wanted to stay. I opened my mouth to say exactly that but was stopped by Smith.

  "And what if I am, Fox?"

  Emilia's head was lowered to the floor, but at that, she slowly raised it inch by inch, turning to face Smith. Her eyes locked onto the blonde woman, and I felt my face go slack in shock yet again.

  A different person stood in front of me. This woman had dead, grey eyes that were devoid of any hints of a soul. Her face was icy calm, and she answered in a soft voice that was so matter-of-fact, her words didn't register for a moment.

  "I would hate to stain these new clothes with your blood, Jane."

  The women stood at a standoff for another full sixty seconds, with only the low murmurings of the convicts gathered below as background noise. I stared at Emilia, with those cold, dead eyes of hers locked onto Smith, her very stance suggesting she wasn't going to give an inch.

  Smith suddenly sighed, flicking Emilia in the forehead with her finger.

  "Threatening your new ally is against the rules, you tosser."

  Emilia blinked, and suddenly she was my Emilia again. She rubbed her forehead, glowering at the mad British woman and exaggerating a pained grimace.

  "Don't hurt your patient, idiot. What kind of doctor are you, anyway?" She stuck her tongue out at Smith, but still linked arms with her again all the same, and the women walked on like the small, tense scene had never happened.

  I stood frozen for a moment, unable to do anything else but blink stupidly.

  What. The. Fuck.

  "Vik? Come on, I might need help down the stairs." Emilia smiled at me, and a sense of rightness came over me, evaporating any of my bewildered feelings from moments before.

  We’re finally here.

  Together.

  And that was all that mattered.

  Chapter Ten

  Pair Of Queens

  Emilia

  "EMILIA!"

  I smiled, holding up my hands at Ludo and Kamili who screamed my name.

  "Gentle, please!" I yelped as they held out their arms and ran. Their tear-stained faces leading the way, they slammed their warm bodies into me. I ground my teeth at the pain, but endured it all the same as they sobbed against me. I went to put my hands on their heads but suddenly they were lifted into the air by strong arms coming from directly behind me.

  "Ah, it's okay Viktor! I don't mind." I laughed, though I couldn't help but feel relief at the sudden break in contact.

  "Be gentle, or don't touch." Viktor glowered, and the kids calmed down. He sat them down and they each took one of my hands, looking up at me with shining eyes. I smiled down at them, clutching their hands tightly.

  "So, yer lazy ass finally decided to get out of bed, eh?" Kiernan taunted from the couch, where he sat next to Fritz. There were pints of dark beer in front of them, and Kiernan's face was red. He laughed loudly, slapping his knee and standing, though it was an unsteady stance.

  Fritz stood as well, though his movements were precise, and he raised his mug in my direction.

  I rolled my eyes at them, though I was smiling, and looked around the room. The convicts looked washed and refreshed, and I sighed in relief to see that save for a few bumps and bruises, they were all safe. I walked forward, Viktor's presence right behind me, with the kids clamoring for attention, my hands still firmly grasped in theirs.

  I sat in the chair in front of e
veryone, and everyone that had stood up at my entrance sat back down. Roy shooed the kids onto the sofa to my right, though it was clear neither wanted to be far from me. I looked to the window where Masamune was perched, and he inclined his head to me. Meiling and Jazz were perched on a sofa together, both with what looked like whiskey in their hands. They raised their glasses to me, and I smiled back at them. Cin sat on the floor in front of a chair where Silas was perched regally. The pale boy looked like he had a few bruises that were healing, and I was reminded of what he had done for Ludo when I had been taken out by the guard with the whip.

  My smile left my face as I looked at the young man, and he stared back at me, raising a brow at my look. He gave me a half smile, and an incline of his head and I forced back the prickly feeling at the back of my eyes that signified tears rising. I inclined my head back at him, and merely took a moment to take in the warm welcome from these convicts from around the world.

  I took a deep breath and released it loudly.

  "What does a girl have to do to get a whiskey around here?"

  Everyone chuckled, and I felt Viktor move to the liquor cabinet by the door. He poured my signature whiskey on the rocks, and I was taken aback for a moment. Either the big guy was extremely lucky in guessing my favorite drink, or he remembered serving me before Korol sent his ass packing to the basement prisn. Shrugging the thought off, I smiled my thanks to him and took a long drink. I sputtered a bit at the fiery liquid sliding down my throat, and Kiernan laughed loudly at my expression.

  "Well, now that everyone is here and in a chipper mood, let us progress with our meeting!" Jane announced in her bright tone, which grated my fucking nerves, and sat in the chair across from me. We all were silent for a moment, everyone becoming serious, a slight tension filling the air.

  "This is an extremely radical situation, mates. It is not the policy of MI6 to pardon individuals who have your unique criminal rap sheets, and if we were not in the position we are now, we would not even consider the possibility of what I am proposing to you. However, the world is in an extremely unstable position, and those rising to power are more dangerous now than ever before." Jane was serious as she addressed us all, and I listened intently, my face a blank mask as I took her words in.

  "Korol can no longer go unchecked. His influence spans continents, and he is fast becoming the strongest organized crime leader in the free world. As loathe as I am to admit it, both the United Kingdom and the United States can no longer contain Korol's influence. We have attempted several assassinations which have all ended in failure. He has gathered some of the world's most dangerous assassins, war criminals, and intelligence officers to his side, and he is in favor with the current Russian regime. He is supplying multiple terrorist organizations with weapons and in return he has been provided safe passage wherever he goes. He runs the world's largest sex trafficking ring, and his wealth multiplies by the day. MI6 and the CIA can't touch him without starting a war."

  Jane took a large breath and let it out slowly, then turned her sharp gaze to me.

  "But you can."

  I stared back at her silently while protests burst forth.

  "Now, this is the shit I was saying earlier. Emilia's just a simple American girl. No offense to you, dearie, but the mere fact you planned our escape and helped execute it was a bloody miracle!" Kiernan fired back hotly, sitting forward.

  "Oui, Emilia does not belong in this world." Silas agreed.

  "Why would you agree to something so crazy, Fat Girl?" Meiling asked, her head tilted curiously.

  "I would like to know the same. This isn't some movie you Americans love so much. This is your life you will be putting on the line. And not just once like you did today, but every day. If you decide to go chest to chest with Korol." Jazz said, sneering at me.

  "It's head to head, Jazzy." Kiernan corrected, which earned him a pillow hurled at his head with swift accuracy.

  "Why did you risk your life to free us, Emilia Fox?"

  This question stopped everyone's arguing, and came from Fritz, who I had heard say less than ten words ever since I had met him.

  "That's what I'd like to know. Nothing is free, and this was a pretty big favor you did us. What the fuck do you want?" Cin growled out, which earned him a slap across the back of the head from Silas.

  I looked to Masamune to see if he would chime in but was just met with his assessing gaze. I looked over to the two kids who were looking at me still with that shining look. I smiled at them, gesturing.

  "What do you two think?" I asked in a soft, kind voice.

  Ludo and Kamili looked at each other and then back to me. Ludo spoke up next, tilting his head, as if confused by the question.

  "I will not leave you, princesa. My family is dead to me now. Kamili has no family and nowhere to return to. We go with you."

  That statement had me looking up to Roy, who was staring down at the kids with a sad expression on his face. I tilted my head at the man, whose eyes rose to meet mine.

  "And how about you, Roy? What does the protector of the innocent think of all this?" I inquired quietly.

  The man just sat silent for a long moment. He opened his mouth, then closed it again. Dropping his head down, he answered back just as quietly.

  "If there is a chance of bringing Korol down, it lies with you."

  "How can you say that, Roy? Isn't that going to put her into more danger?" Kamili yelled at the poor man, her hands going to her hips.

  "Viktor." My quiet voice stopped Kamili's tirade, and I looked up at the hulking Russian. I stared at his handsome face, stoic as ever, and asked him the same.

  "What do you think? Please be honest."

  Viktor didn't hesitate in his response.

  "I will not leave your side. I don’t care what path you choose, as long as it is you that is choosing it and no one else."

  Shaking my head, I marveled silently at the man's strong allegiance to me. Looking back to the group, I again took a long swig of my whiskey. I didn't wince or sputter at the fiery taste this time, and just calmly addressed the room.

  "You want to know why I 'rescued' you. The answer to that is, I didn't. Without Jane and MI6's help, I wouldn't have been able to do shit. I made a deal that saved all our asses, that was all I did. A simple transaction. My freedom was a small price to pay for getting us all out of Korol's grasp alive. I knew what I was doing, so if any of you feel that you owe me anything, you couldn't be more wrong." I paused, looking down at my whiskey, swirling it around in my glass.

  "I know your names, but I don't know all that you've done, who your family is, or why you were locked up by Korol. All I know is that several people trapped in a basement prison, taken captive by one of the most feared mafia leaders in the world, helped keep two children safe from harm. Even if it meant risking your own necks. I saw every single one of you help in some way or other. Knowing Korol as I do, these two wouldn't have survived without interference from you all, that's why he was holding them down in that basement with you. Don't bother denying it, I know how that asshole works, and I know how he likes to make people cooperate."

  I smiled sadly at everyone. "You all made me start to like you, you bunch of assholes, so that's why we're all sitting here together now."

  Everyone just stared at me in varying degrees of bewilderment, until they all threw back their heads in laughter. The only one who continued to not move a muscle and remain silent was Masamune, who never took his eyes off me. I didn't know what he was trying to figure out, and I didn't much care.

  That stare is getting to me a little, though. Guy definitely knows how to intimidate without having to say a damn word.

  "Och, well that decides it, then. I'm with ye too, dearie. I don't think I'll much mind working for a gorgeous woman instead of an old, fat Irishman. Few of me boys back home will feel the same way, too." Kiernan laughed, slapping his knee. He shoved his elbow into Fritz's side, who didn't even flinch at the contact.

  "Come, now, German. Ye've
been tagged by MI6 now. Might as well join in. And ye'll still make yer blood money!"

  Fritz took a moment, then nodded his head in affirmation.

  "Das plazet."

  "He says yes!" Kiernan guffawed, slapping Fritz on the back. Kiernan stopped, turning to Jane, his face serious.

  "Wait. We will still make money, right?"

  "Well, that would be up to you, wouldn't it?" Jane tsked, rolling her eyes. "This will be an organized crime group, after all. You may be working with us, but I'm not your bloody mum. I imagine there will be a lot of money to be made from the bounties on many of these gangsters' heads that you'll be hunting."

  "Count me in too, then. As long as I can still do what I love, I would rather have Emilia as a boss, anyway. Though I'm still not sure how the fuck she's going to lead an organized crime group. American girl hasn't killed a day in her life. How the fuck will she have the stomach for this?" Jazz rolled her eyes, taking a long drink of her whiskey.

  "Hm. I'm wanted by my own group, so fuck them. I will join you." Meiling stated, nodding. "Fat Girl has seen things. She's experienced the mafia for over a year, she knows how our world works by now. I still don't know how she going to kill anyone, I agree with Crazy on that." Meiling nodded again, and clinked glasses with Jazz.

  "Oh! Maybe British lady, you going to be our real boss, right? That's what you mean when you say we going to take down Korol?" Meiling practically shouted.

  "Not at all. If you get caught and exposed, you are a private group formed out of retribution with no ties to the CIA or to MI6. The only thing we will be supplying you with is your base of operation, a one-time paycheck to Emilia for her intel that she gathered over the past year, and I will share any intel I gather that is pertinent to bringing Korol and his empire crashing down. Other than that, you are on your own. Emilia will be in charge." Jane said all of this in her cheery tone, and I almost leapt up to slap her smug face.

  "So, you and your English dogs are not our boss, ça va?" This from Silas, who raised a haughty brow.

  "That is correct, dandy." Jane affirmed, in that fucking chipper tone.

  I'm going to strangle this bitch.