"Why are you doing this?" I demanded.

The rough terrain and the speed we travelled made us rock back and forth. It didn't give Pavel a clean shot, but I was still wary of the gun; his finger wasn't on the trigger, so I didn't need to worry about an accidental shot. Granted in such a tight space, any shot he took would likely kill me.

Dimitri laid on the ground flashed in my mind, and I felt my heart break. He had to be okay.

Pavel eyed me, holding none of the warmth he once did. A man who had known me my whole life and acted as a second father at times was the same one trying to kill me. Pavel sighed, "I only wanted you gone. You could have just lived on that ranch."

I scoffed. "Lived? You put me in a hell hole!"

"I didn't want to kill you unless I had to."

"And what's your plan now?" I started down the barrel. I wasn't scared to die, but I never thought it would be at the hands of someone I trusted. "Why even take me?"

"Because," he began, throwing a hand out to grab the wall for balance, "Abe will know the truth by now. You're worth more to me alive than dead. I already know that Zmey will do anything to get you back."

A sickening feeling took over me; my nails dug into the wooden floor. "Why are you doing this? You are like family; my father trusts you completely."

His expression became dark and dangerous, the glint in his eyes enough to make me cringe back. "Abe lost my respect the day he let your mother die! I warned him, but he did nothing! He didn't want to start a war in the city and was weak when they struck. I just wanted him to be the man he used to be, but I know now that he is still weak! He doesn't deserve his empire, and I will watch it fall before I kill you in front of him."

"You're insane!" I lunged at him, hoping to knock him down. Maybe then I could try jumping out the door. The coach was more for moving goods, not for people to ride in. My only hope was the door; the only window was too high for me to easily climb out of. I didn't know if I would survive, but it was better than being kidnapped by a madman.

I shoved at his chest, knocking him back a step and almost into the door. We hit a bump that rocked the coach violently; we both tumbled to the ground in a painful heap. Pavel gripped my arm when I tried to stand again; I balled my fist and punched him in the face. He growled and smacked his hand across my face.

"The hell is that bastard doing!" Pavel took a step toward the front of the coach when a bullet shot through the glass window in the back.

I protected my face from the shattered glass that fell. Pavel cursed and ducked out of sight, stumbling across the coach to the window. He held his gun up again and peered through the opening. More bullets shot by his head, but none hit. Pavel tilted the barrel out the window and shot blindly.

I pulled myself up, reaching for his hand in an attempt to take the gun away.

He snarled at me, "Let go!"

"No!" I fought him; my nails dug into his palm and drew blood. Again, he hit me in the face; the third blow caused pain to spike in my head as the dizziness became worse. But I refused to let go. I wouldn't go down without a fight.

I managed to angle the gun between us, wedging my finger next to the trigger, and pulled. He was stunned by the shot, and I could twist the gun more; before I could cock it and shoot again, we hit another bump.

I felt weightless.

It reminded me of when I would jump off the swing and fly for a moment before my feet touched the ground. My feet were no longer on the floor, and I had a second to realise we were falling.

And then gravity returned.

The pain I felt previously was nothing compared to when my back landed on the solid wood. I hit my head again. The floor of the coach was above me, and I was on the ceiling.

I need to move.

One thought wouldn't connect to the next; the pain in my head distracted me, but I knew I needed to move.

The warm breeze fanned my face, and bits of dirt caught on the wind and hit my skin. I was beside the window. With shaky hands, I pulled myself forward. I heaved myself out of the window, tumbling to the ground with a pained groan. Most of me felt okay, but my head pounded and sent waves of pain if I so much as twitched a finger. Blood trailed down the side of my face, warm even compared to the sun; it dripped onto the dirt as I crawled.

"Where is she!"

Voices called my name, but I couldn't place them.

They sounded so far away.

I had to move.

The voice in my head screamed at me as loudly as my blood pulsed in my ears. So, I continued to crawl; I had no plan of where to go, only that I had to get far from the upturned stagecoach.

A pained groan sounded behind me, followed by hinges squeaking and wood hitting wood. I didn't have to look to guess who was behind me. I rolled over as the heels of his boots grounded the dirt; Pavel staggered out of the stagecoach with his gun still in hand and a bleeding nose.

He spat blood on the ground and advanced with cruel eyes. "Tell your mother I'm sorry."

A shot rang out.

But it wasn't from his gun.

Pavel shouted, falling to his knees as blood ran from his shoulder. The gun in his hand cluttered to the ground.

Footsteps grew closer; rocks and dirt fell down the short cliff to our side—we must have fallen. A cloud of dust concealed who was running down it, but I spotted the horses up top. The dark coat of Darcy filled me with an indescribable relief.

It was hard to confirm, but I could only see three horses… Where was the fourth?

Pavel shot Dimitri.

Was Dimitri truly dead?

The dirt caught on the wind, blowing into my eyes and making me squeeze them closed. It felt good to close my eyes.

I was so tired.

I didn't want to be awake if Dimitri was dead…

Pavel yelled in pain again, more boots scuffing in the dirt, and guns were cocked.

"Don't move." It was Ivan's voice.

At least I knew I was back with someone I could trust.

Another rushed to my side, their steps knocking more dirt at me. They skidded to a halt and blocked the heat of the sun from my face. A shaking hand cupped my face, and a calloused thumb gently brushed my cheek.

"Roza?"

Had I died?

I expected my mother to be the one to greet me if I died, but perhaps it made more sense for it to be Dimitri. We had shared so much in the short time I knew him; why shouldn't I share my entrance to the afterlife?

"Roza, open your eyes! Dammit!"

I peered through half-closed eyes. A silhouetted man hovered above me with the light of a halo behind his head. The wind moved through his hair and blew strands across his face; I loved to touch his hair.

"Roza?" Dimitri asked gently, though still with a hint of desperation in his tone.

I grinned. "You're beautiful."

"Damn, she hit her head hard," Eddie chorted. I couldn't see him, but he sounded relieved.

Dimitri shifted, allowing the light to hit his face; his eyes pinched, and his bottom lip trembled. I could feel the heat from his hand just as much as I could feel the heat from the sun.

I don't think this is the afterlife.

I sat up quickly, moaning pitifully as pain washed over me again. Dimitri cursed and placed his arm around my shoulder to support me.

"Be careful. You're bleeding."

His fingers brushed my forehead, but I slapped him away. I ignored the pain and turned into him, hands searching his chest. I know I saw Pavel shoot him, but there was no wound. "I don't understand. I thought you were dead!"

Dimitri caught my wrists, easing them to my lap before he cupped my cheek again. He tilted my head up to meet his eyes and smiled. "I would have been, but this stopped the bullet."

He reached into the front pocket of his duster and showed me my necklace. Right in the middle, buried deep in the rock, was a bullet. I forgot to ask for it back after we bathed, and it had remained in his coat for safekeeping. It had saved his life.

I surged forward, latching onto Dimitri tightly with my arms around his neck and my cheek pressed against his. Tears pooled in my eyes. "You're okay," I gasped, pressing my palms flat to his back to feel his heartbeat and the rise and fall as he breathed.

"I'm okay," he promised, carefully returning the embrace.

My hands continued to shake, refusing to release him even as he tried to pull back to examine my injuries. I didn't pay much attention to what was happening around me, only that Dimitri was alive. Maybe it was because of the injuries to my head, but I refused to part for even a moment as if he would disappear if I did.

Dimitri carried me back up the cliffside, concerned about the cut to my forehead. He barked orders to the others to tie up Pavel and drag him to the sheriff while he took me to the town doctor. I didn't fight him once, grateful to just be with him. I leaned against his chest, listening to his voice as he told me to stay awake.

I wouldn't take my eyes off him.

Whatever the doctor had given me for the pain made my fingertips tingle. I couldn't feel much of anything as I laid in bed at the inn. One of the women working there had helped me bathe, and then the doctor had stitched the cut to my forehead. I had a few other minor injuries, told they would heal in a few days. The headache would take a day or two to ease, but I was fortunate not to be worse.

Ivan needed his bullet wound sewn closed, and Eddie had a few grazers. Spiridon had been shot in the leg when he dragged Dimitri out of the line of fire. They had all believed he was dead, just as I had.

Pavel was locked away, and the news was sent to my father.

Abe was on the next train in the morning to Reno.

Not even the morphine could rid me of the unease that notion gave me. I knew the day was close that I would have to confront my father; I just hoped to have a little more time.

Pavel's betrayal made it worse.

The hurt that he was behind all of the pain and hardships I faced in the past two months cut deep. It was like an open wound that continued to bleed no matter how many times I thought it had closed.

A soft knock at my door pulled me from my thoughts, and I was grateful for the distraction when Dimitri stepped in. I grinned, feeling my lips stretch wide in giddiness, "Hi."

His lips twitched, an attempt at a smile, but it fell quickly. There was still a haunted look in his eyes, one that had been there since Pavel had his hand on my shoulder. "How are you feeling?"

"Like I lost a fight with a stagecoach."

Dimitri made a sound in the back of his throat, lowering into the chair by my bed. I would have preferred him to climb in beside me. "Your father should arrive at some point tomorrow night."

"That won't be an enjoyable conversation," I mused. I turned my head to meet his eyes, "Will you be there with me?"

His eyebrows drew together. "It's better if you speak to him alone. I think that conversation is best between family."

I waved him off, "You practically are. I'll have to tell him that, too."

"What do you mean?"

Foolishly, I smiled, "I'm talking about making you an honest man, Dimitri. While I don't need my father's blessing, I should at least tell him that–"

"Rose," Dimitri cut me off in a detached tone, "there's been a misunderstanding."

My heart plummeted. It understood before my mind could. "A misunderstanding?

He shifted in his seat, back straight as a wooden board and expression blank. "I misspoke at the lake. I never should have said what I did—I made you a false promise I cannot keep."

There was that feeling again—I was weightless and spinning in the air. I braced for the impact. "What are you saying?"

"I cannot marry you."

Could you feel your heart shatter? I felt mine break, the cracks spider-webbing throughout. The weight of it settled on my chest, and I couldn't even draw in a full breath. "I don't understand," I replied lowly, "You said–"

"I know. I shouldn't have."

"Was it all a lie!" The question ripped from my throat, I didn't mean to shout, but I wasn't in control anymore. "You said you love me!"

The mask he wore cracked. "I do. I did. More than I do myself. That's why I cannot marry you."

"How does that make sense? What did I do?" I demanded, sitting up in the bed and seconds away from throwing myself at his feet. It had to be something I did, right?

His expression pinched, shaking his head while promising, "You did nothing. You are perfect, strong, and fierce, and everything I've wanted for the person I chose to spend my life with."

"Then why!"

"It's too dangerous. This life—my life. Every day, I am at risk of being killed, and I could never bring you into that. I can't promise to keep you safe."

"I can protect myself–"

"You almost died today because I wasn't able to protect you. The man that was trying to hurt you walked up and took you right from under me. I have enemies, Roza; I always will as a pawn of Zmey's. I refuse to put you in that situation again—I refuse to see you laying on the ground still and bleeding."

My fingers wrapped around the hem of the quilt on my bed; I pulled so tightly I could rip it to pieces. I didn't want to believe what I was hearing. How could he turn his back on me? "What about what I want? What if I'm willing to stand against anything as long as I'm with you!"

"You don't know what you want," he breathed deeply. "I never should have confessed my feelings or allowed it to go as far as it did–"

"You regret being with me?"

I had asked the same question in the cabin, and Dimitri had been quick to deny me. I waited for that same response…

…but he sat in his seat, silent.

"This is for your safety, Roza. You should stay in your life of comfort and find happiness in it, and forget about me. What we had wasn't meant to be." He stood, shoulders hanging heavy like the weight of the world was on them. "It was never meant to last."

My lips parted, but my throat was dry. Any word I tried to say became stuck and died on my tongue. How could he walk away from what we had?

Dimitri had his hand on the door handle when I managed to form a sentence, becoming still like a statue as I spoke.

"I love you. Why isn't that enough?"

He didn't respond for a minute; each second gave me hope, but his response destroyed it. "In a perfect world, it would be. I'm sorry, Roza." I heard him whisper as he disappeared from my sight.

Let's all put away the pitchforks and the threats, I promise it will get better.

Maybe...