Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 56771 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 284(@200wpm)___ 227(@250wpm)___ 189(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56771 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 284(@200wpm)___ 227(@250wpm)___ 189(@300wpm)
“Let her go,” Leo says, “and you might make it out of this alive. I might let your worthless ass live.”
I can feel the man’s heartbeat pounding through my back. We’re that close. It makes me sick to feel his body pushed right up against mine, his arm tightening around my torso. He aims the gun at Leo.
“You are not in a position to offer me anything, American.
“Last chance,” Leo growls.
“Maybe I should count to three,” the Russian snaps.
“Emma, close your eyes.” Leo looks at me like none of this is happening, the forest melting away, the violence and the men. All of it fades and ceases to matter as he holds me steadily in his gaze. “Please do it, Emma.”
I do as he asks, fear gripping me, but I know I must trust my man. I have to believe he wants the best for me and put the silliness of the argument behind us. It’s like the universe is sending me a message. Stay with my man and be safe. Run from him, and this is what I get.
Suddenly, the man holding me jolts. There’s a loud crack, and I fall forward, yelling as more gunshots surround me. Men are yelling in Russian. Leo shouts something I can’t make out over the sound of the bullets. Mayhem erupts all around me, a rapid-fire succession of gunshots. I wish I could help somehow, but animal reflexes have taken over. Fight-or-flight puts me into pure survival mode as I cover my ears with my hands and squeeze my eyes shut. I open them when I hear Leo’s voice.
“Insult my woman?” he roars. “Threaten my woman?”
Turning, I see Leo shoving the kidnapper against a tree. The other two men are lying on the ground, pools of blood surrounding them. Leo lifts the kidnapper off his feet, the man’s legs kicking like a scared kid with no semblance of control. My man has all the power.
“Apologize,” Leo says, sounding unhinged as his muscles push through the fabric of his clothes. “Now.”
“Leo…” Dario stands off to the side, red splattering his face and neck. “We should keep one alive. Fyodor didn’t plan on us catching these pricks. They could be useful.”
Leo gives the man a shake. “That depends on him.”
“S-sorry,” the man moans. “Puh-please…”
Leo punches him in the gut, a vicious strike that sends the man to the ground, coughing and spluttering.
“Call the men,” Leo says, walking toward me. “Clean these bastards up. Get this one somewhere we can question him.”
Leo kneels beside me, softly touching my shoulder. “Are you okay, Emma?”
“Yeah, I’m not hurt.”
He tenderly helps me to my feet, then hugs me. It’s the most love-filled embrace we’ve shared yet. He squeezes me tightly, and I hold him with just as much fierceness, just as much need. We stay like that for a long time.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper into his chest, enveloped in his scent, his protection.
“Don’t,” he replies. “All that matters is you’re safe.”
“But I was an idiot, running like that.”
“You were running from what we have to do.”
“Tell Rosa?” I whisper.
He leans back to look down at me, his blue eye glistening with emotion, his brown eye staring firmly. “We’ve got no choice. You were right. After seeing what these bastards almost did, I can’t lose you. I wouldn’t survive it. You’re the most important person in my life.”
I gasp. “You can’t say that. What about Rosa?”
“You’re my woman,” he snarls. “It’s you and me forever. Rosa will have to accept that. She’ll have to.”
He speaks as though trying to convince himself.
“And if she doesn’t?” I ask.
He swallows, shaking his head slowly. “She-she will.”
It’s one of the few times I’ve heard him sound unsure, and I don’t like it. At least we’re together for now.
“I promise I won’t run again,” I tell him. “I think I went a little crazy. I’ve got a habit of doing that. Maybe you should think twice before you sign the rest of your life away to me, huh?”
I try to laugh, but it becomes more of a trembling sob as the shock fades and events catch up to me.
“It’s okay,” he whispers, sounding tender and comforting, unlike a man who just went to war and seriously hurt others. “You’re safe now. You’re with me. I’m not going to let anything happen to you. Ever. I…”
I love you, I will him to say, sure that’s the direction he’s going. Then he trails off, saying nothing, leaving me to wonder.
“I’ll always be here,” he says after a pause.
Even if Rosa hates us? Even if she tells us no? But I don’t voice these concerns, refusing to shatter the moment. Instead, I cling to my man, the future father of my children, as the adrenaline pumps through my body and the love pumps through my heart.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Leo
“What happened?” Rosa says the second we walk through the door.