Chapter 164

An incredibly deep anguish came over me and I began to yelp.

I could not do anything. Nothing. That was bad.

If I moved—

“Mom, don’t do it…” I begged her, in Russian.

She looked at me over her shoulder and smiled.

It was a strange smile.

Haydar climbed down from his rock, holding my daughter in front of his chest as a small living shield, jumping from rock to rock until he reached ground level. How many hours had I been fleeing through the forest, avoiding teeth and carrying my daughter like a common rag doll? He moved with an elegance and balance that reminded me of Zaira, at times. His eagle gaze was on my mother; she was the center of his attention. But if any of us flinched so much as a muscle, I had no doubt he would shoot.

Mom moved forward and he grabbed Sasha by the armpits, handing her to her.

The girl’s terrified screams and kicks only made my nerves worse.

Sasha stopped crying as soon as her grandmother touched her. My