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He shook his head, looking disappointed, and my heart clenched. Without looking up, he poured two glasses of water. He handed me one, and I gulped it. My throat was dry from all this talk about moving in and engagements. The ring glinted as I brought the glass to my mouth again, mocking me and pointing out that I’d not taken it straight off. Sean watched me intensely as I tried to hide behind the glass, finishing it to avoid speaking.
“You’re in danger,” he finally said.
“What?” I sucked in a breath.
He signalled one of his men, who passed him an envelope. He pulled a selection of grainy photos and a mugshot out and placed them on the table. My heart stopped as my eyes fell on Niko’s unforgettable face. I seized the other images and realised Niko was sitting in a car behind a familiar set of shops. Dizziness swarmed me, and I jerked back in my seat. I couldn’t help but dart my head around as if he might jump out of the shadows.
They had found me. I need to run.
My head spun with panic as I jumped to my feet. My chair bounced to the floor. Were they watching?
“I-I… I need to go.” I stumbled, and a firm hand gripped my arm.
“Calm down, a chuisle.” Sean’s sharp command made me flinch.
I had to get away.
“Look at me.”
Two Seans filled my vision.
“No one is going to hurt you. You’ll come with me, and I’ll hide you while I take care of everything.”
My brain was sluggish, and my vision hazy. How much had I drunk?
“You don’t understand,” I slurred, leaning against all three Seans.
“I understand perfectly well, Rosa Cortes.”
My old name shot an electric current through me, paralysing me. My blurred vision flew to his face, and all his faces swam against the city skyline.
“I’m sorry, a chuisle. But I’ll keep you safe.” His voice echoed as if down a tunnel, and everything went dark.
18
Adjusting Amy’s weight in my arms, my gaze fell to the rock on her finger. She might have been shocked, but she hadn’t taken it off. My men flanked me as we descended the restaurant through the private hallway. I hadn’t wanted to drug her, but she was taking too long to come willingly.
Niko Zhirkov was outside her flat this morning, which was unacceptable. Slow romancing was off the cards. Personally, I thought I deserved a medal for my restraint until now. I’d given her nearly two weeks to warm up to me, but I wouldn’t compromise her safety any longer, and that new door on her flat wouldn’t keep the Stefanovs out indefinitely. I had an ally, and we would end this together for our mutual good, but I needed her to be safe. She would remain with me until I took care of the problem. And by then, she would never want to leave.
I climbed into the back of the car and arranged Amy across my lap. She was dribbling again, and I couldn’t help but smile down at her. Stroking a finger across the soft skin of her cheek, the fanatical beast inside me was finally happy.
My phone rang with a video call from Loch.
“You went with Plan B then,” he said as I angled the screen to show him Amy in my lap.
“Got my ring on her finger.”
“Did you put it there after you drugged her?” Loch asked, and I shot him the bird.
“What have you found out?”
“Not much yet.”
I’d sent Loch on a scouting trip to Manchester because I wanted first-hand information about the Stefanovs. Boyan was being released any day now.
“We are heading home. Ian and Craig are grabbing her stuff with Cian.”
“I wouldn’t trust that ginger prick to collect the trash, let alone her stuff.”
