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“Your dads are moving fast,” she said. “Do you think he was a hired killer or just a desperate man?”
“He was hired,” I said. “There’s no way anyone could be that strong without some training. The son of a bitch knew what he was doing.” I didn’t like that I wasn’t able to win that fight. If Emily didn’t know how to handle a gun, she would’ve been dead. I hated that I couldn’t protect her.
“The doctor’s on his way,” River said, coming into the room.
“You don’t have to worry,” she said. “It’s just a bullet wound.”
“You shouldn’t have been shot,” Caleb said.
I gritted my teeth, standing up. I grabbed the vase closest to me and launched it across the room.
“Vadik.” Emily went to grab my arm, but I pulled away.
“I don’t know what’s going on,” Gael asked.
“I couldn’t protect her.” I yelled the words, letting them fill the room, echoing off the walls. I couldn’t stand that I was weak.
Emily wrapped her arms around me. “Stop it.”
“You need to rest.” I didn’t feel like I deserved her love. I was useless to her.
“Vadik, stop it.”
“I’m not good enough.”
She squeezed me tighter. “I said stop it, and I mean it. Do not think I won’t kick your ass, even with a gunshot wound. You did everything you could to save me. He took us by surprise. Anyone would have struggled in your position. We’re both alive. Don’t do this.”
I couldn’t help it. I still felt like I’d fucked up.
She spun me around, cupping my face and drawing me down to kiss my lips. Wrapping my arms around her, I pressed my face against her neck, breathing her in. I wouldn’t fail her again.
****
Emily
The following day
“I’m bored.”
“Then get unbored,” Drake said.
He was my company until all threats were removed. I didn’t like it. After I put one of my cards down on the pile, Drake immediately put his down.
Throwing the rest of the cards down, I stood up. “I don’t want to play.” I moved toward the library window, pushing some of my hair out of my eyes. All I wanted was for Ashley to get here.
Caleb, River, Gael, and Vadik were out. All of them on the hunt for their fathers. Crude Hill wasn’t exactly a big town, but it sure had a lot of places to hide. They wanted me dead and from what little information I’d gotten, this went beyond ignoring their orders. I didn’t like it.
I hated that they were in danger because of me. Letting out a breath, I shoved my hands into my jeans and looked out across the gardens. The last seven years, I’d been able to come and go as I pleased. Now I’d been ordered to stay inside the house. The same house I’d nearly been killed inside.
“Where do you think they are?” I asked.
Out of all of the men in my life, Drake was the only one willing not to treat me like a baby, and he was the only one I wasn’t in a relationship with.
“If I was them, I’d go to a place I knew my sons wouldn’t look.”
I glanced back to see Drake shuffling the cards.
“Come on, I’ll let you win.”
“I don’t like cheating. I can play just as good as you.”
“Then prove it. Stop behaving like a girl.”
“You know, I don’t like you,” I said.
“Don’t care.”
I stepped toward the table and threw the cards across the room. “Now they’re shuffled.”
“You’re a child, you know that?”
I rolled my eyes. “I don’t need to be here.” I rushed toward the door, charged out, and ran down toward the door. I didn’t get far before Drake was on me, his arms around my body. He was too strong. Even as I wriggled, he didn’t let me go. “Get off me.”
“You’re being a very naughty girl and I’m growing tired of this.”
Before I knew what was happening, he had me thrown across his shoulder and he was carrying me upstairs. I didn’t think about safety as I punched his ass and the backs of his legs. At one point, I thought I even bit him.
For my trouble, he slapped me hard.
“I’m going to make them gut you. No one is going to ever recognize you, not even in hell. Let me go.”
I entered a room and within a matter of seconds, he had me tied to a bedpost. Then I felt something click around my neck.
“What the hell?”
Drake sighed. “I think the beating I’ll get for this is worth it.”
I glared at him. “You’re not funny.”
“I don’t claim to be funny, but you sure look sexy as fuck with my chains on you.” His arms were folded. “It’s a shame I don’t see you as anything more than a pain in the ass and my bosses’ woman. You look nice chained up.”
