I was almost to the spot where my life had changed when I heard a horrible yelp. Freezing, I scanned the perimeter.
“Golden! Golden Angel. Come here right now. This instant.”
Terror sparked a wave of adrenaline, my heart racing so fast I was lightheaded. I took off in the direction of the sound, tears slipping past my lashes. If anything happened to my little baby, I couldn’t go on. Life wouldn’t be worth living.
“Golden.”
Another yelp floated into the air. The sound was closer. Oh, no. She’d found the briar patches, a horrible section that had yet tobe cleaned for the year. With my legs pumping I pushed through brush and trees, stumbling over fallen limbs and breaking through to a partial clearing.
“Golden!”
Kazimir was on the ground and flashed me a look that said to calm down. He was whispering to Golden, who had her thick fur stuck in the briars. He was carefully trying to free her, keeping her calm so she wouldn’t bolt and hurt herself.
What was the little monster doing? Licking his face while he picked and pulled, creating bloody scratches on himself as he did. But he didn’t care. All he wanted to do was to save my baby.
For me.
All for me.
No one had ever done anything so nice in my life.
I clasped my hands over my mouth, holding back tears and every sound.
By the time Kazimir had freed Golden, I heard footsteps.
“Oh, baby.” I rushed forward, only to be jerked back with a hard pull.
“Non avvicinarti a lui, principessa. Quell’uomo è un mostro.”
Do not go near him, princess. The man is a monster.
I jerked my arm free, hissing when I did, even crouching on my knees so Golden could run into my arms. “The only monster here is you, Marco.” I’d purposely used English so Kazimir could hear and the fact Marco had difficult time understanding the various nuances of the language.
And I did so adore pissing him off. I had my reasons and he knew it.
Kazimir rose to his full height, his chest rising and falling as he pinned a heavy glare on the brutal overlord. That was the nickname I’d given the horrible man years ago when I’d caught him…
I couldn’t swallow what he’d done, the horrors he’d inflicted.
Marco stormed closer to me, close enough Golden Angel growled.
“Stay away from her,” Kazimir ordered. There was no emotion in his husky voice, just a command that he expected would be followed.
As I’d expected, Marco’s reaction was one of violence, threatening to throw a fist, but I was too quick for him, jumping in front. “Leave him alone, Marco. He rescued Golden Angel from the briars. Can’t you see yourself? Maybe he is dangerous but it’s apparent he’s also kind. How sad that I can’t say the same for you.”
Once upon a time I’d been terrified of the man. Not any longer.
Maybe over the last few days I’d been given the greatest gift of all and from a perfect stranger.
The will to live. My way.
I could feel Kazimir’s heated breath even from standing a few inches away. He was furious, so much so I feared him doing something that would cause him more pain.
Golden Angel continued to growl, even baring her teeth, which wasn’t like her at all.
Marco huffed and puffed but finally lowered his arm. “Go home, Rafaela. This man has work to do.”
There was no chance in hell I’d trust him, but the low second command whispered by my hero was enough of a reminder he could take care of himself.
