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A warm hand touches my arm “Katyusha, talk to me”

I force ht”

He utters so in Russian, a curse oryour seatbelt Brace yourself”

The clip s with an oomph as my back hits the roof

“I’ his seatbelt before pushing hih the

Dazed, I lie in the wreck We’ve crashed I scan the space in front of ainst theThe guns are no longer in his hands They’re nowhere in sight

Pain burns in ht ar spot

It’s wet

I lift my hand to my face

Blood

I’ve been shot

“Katerina,” Alex says next to me

I turnin the snow, his face pinched into a mask of concern

“Push your upper body through the ,” he urges “I’ll drag you out”

I try to do as he says, but my left arm won’t cooperate

“Just a little more, my love” His tone is calh the forced tranquility of his expression “I’ve got you”

Hooking a hand under lass has shattered into tiny pieces, but the puffy jacket protects es