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Ezra exhales slowly and is the first to approach me. “You will not walk home.” He lifts me into his arms and holds me bridal style. I have half a mind to tell him no, because I’ve no doubt he’s covered in blood, and that’s nasty. But the gesture is so heartfelt that I melt against his chest.
I don’t care if my dress gets ruined. Mikhail can buy me another one.
Andrei meets my eyes, his pakhan mask firmly in place. “If we leave him here, Valentina, he could go after your grandmother.”
I shake my head. “She can handle Liam. I’m not worried about that.”
I am worried about Andrei making good on his word of punishing Katya, but that’s a problem for tomorrow. Tonight, I want to shower, eat, sleep . . . and maaaybe fuck a little of my frustration out. We’ll see how the night goes, first, and who earns a spot in my bed tonight.
So far, Ezra’s winning.
Mikhail picks up his bloodied knife off the ground and wipes it on his pants. “He could come back for you, malyshka.”
I know that, too.
“I’m betting on it.” I nod towards Mikhail’s knife. “Will you buy me a knife of my own, babe? Teach me how to use it?” Next time, I won’t be caught off guard. Now that I know who Liam really is, I won’t let him so much as touch me.
Resignation washes over me like an ocean wave blanketing the shore. This violent world has always been theirs, but now, it’s becoming mine.
I wrap my arms around Ezra’s neck. Not just theirs, and not just mine.
Ours.
“Gladly,” Mikhail responds immediately, folding the knife closed and setting it in my lap. “You hold onto that. Get a feel for its weight and size, and we’ll pick an entire set just for you, love.”
Warmth fills my chest. I love when he calls me that.
Finally, Andrei nods. “Okay. Let’s go home, boys. Queen’s orders.” He leans in and claims my lips in a tender kiss, not caring in the slightest that he’s doing so right in front of Ezra’s face. When he pulls back, he glances up at his right hand man.
They have a silent conversation mere inches apart from each other, and then Andrei takes a step back. Ezra cradles the back of my head in his hand, stealing my attention from my fiancé. “Lisichka. I am sorry I did not arrive sooner.” Slowly, he closes the distance between us and sighs against my lips. The kiss is just as tender as Andrei’s, and it takes my breath away.
How can men so violent be this gentle?
“I will make up to you. I promise.”
I cup Ezra’s cheek. “I know you will.”
Mikhail’s turn is next. He grabs my face and pulls me away from Ezra’s chest. “That was so hot, when you said my name like that.” He licks his lips. “I’m gonna make you scream it for me soon.” He brushes a strand of hair from my eyes, his lips twitching into a frown when he glances at my cheek. “When you’re healed.”
I know Liam slapped me, but I didn’t think it left a mark.
A growl catches in his throat, but I don’t want to hear any more anger or jealousy tonight. I hold my fingers over his lips to silence him. “Kiss me, Mikhail. Make the pain go away.”
He grins and does as he’s told, kissing me hard, sweeping his tongue past my lips with a groan.
“Mikhail.” Andrei sighs. “For fuck’s sake.”
Chuckling to himself, Mikhail lets me go with a wink. “We’ll finish that later.”
None of us give Liam a second glance as we return inside the club. All three of my men lead me back across the dance floor to the front entrance. I know people are looking at us—three impossibly handsome men who can’t keep their hands off the same woman, a woman they share, for even a second. Mikhail keeps a hand wrapped around my ankle, Ezra cradles me against his muscled chest, and Andrei keeps everyone at bay with a single, sharp look in their direction.
I’m blessed. I’m cursed. Maybe it’s a bit of both.
But, blessing or curse, in the end, it’s all the same.
Love radiates off of my men, strong enough that I can feel it pulsing through the air harder than any bass rumbling from the speakers.
It wraps around my heart and fills my soul with peace.
