NIKOLAI
I WANTED TO put a bullet through her skull. The thought burned bright, searing through every rational part of me.
But it was Claude’s unsteady steps that dragged my attention. He limped back towards me, his movements sluggish, and I was on my feet before I could think twice.
“Christ,” I muttered, catching him as he stumbled. I pulled him flush against me, feeling the weight of his exhaustion in the way his body sagged.
Guiding him to the wall, I eased him down until he was sitting. His skin was pale, his breathing uneven.
“You’re pushing too hard, Claude.” My voice came out low, softer than I intended, and I forced a smile I didn’t feel. “You need to rest.”
He didn’t argue, his head leaning back against the wall, his expression tight with pain. My eyes dropped to hi
