Page 80 of Protective Phlox

I made sure that the men were clothed for Savannah. They already had bruises and scars lining their bodies from the beatings they’d been through since her shooting. I knew she could handle seeing them that way, but I didn’t want to subject her to any more than necessary. She would punch me in the balls if she knew that was what I was doing, but after today, they would go back to Romeo in caskets for him to do what he wanted with their bodies.

Snapping my fingers, the guards off to the sides marched over to remove the headphones and blindfolds. As soon as the two men were touched, they jumped and yelped, which made my inner asshole smile. Aldo looked our way first, and as soon as he saw Savannah holding my hand, his scared expression turned volatile.

“What the fuck? You’re supposed to be dead,” he said.

“Not sorry to disappoint you.” Savannah looked around the small room that housed almost every tool and torture device known to exist. “Have you been enjoying your stay,” she asked casually.

“You fucking cunt. You ruined my business, arrested my best people, and made my brother turn on me.”

“How talented I am to accomplish all of that, and I barely remember your name,” Savannah said dryly. I was unable to stop the corner of my mouth from turning up. Savannah let go of my hand and slowly walked around the two men, their chains jingling as they moved to watch her.

“Actually, I do know your name, Aldo. I know your name because you’re the laughingstock of the Mancini family. You’re the one who got caught. The one who allowed FBI agents into the organization. Broke bread with them, drank wine with them, paid them to bring you down, and for what? You and your men not only didn’t do your job to kill me or my son, but your family turned you over to the one person who wanted you dead.”

“Fuck you, Fed whore.”

Savannah smiled and walked past the shooter giving him a look that had my heart pounding and the rest of me ready to lay her out and fuck her in front of them. Stepping into my side, Savannah ran her hand over my chest.

“I’m only a whore for one man, and he’s going to skin you alive for taking the life of my friend and trying to kill me and our son. I want you to remember my smile. I’m Savannah Mikhailov, and you messed with the wrong family,” she said, the words rolling off of her tongue like her mouth was full of candy.

Yup, I was fucking her tonight. Grabbing Savannah by the back of the neck, I kissed her hard. My tongue invaded her mouth, and I groaned as she willingly handed herself over to me in sweet submission.

“Go with Chad. He’ll keep you safe until I’m done,” I whispered in her ear. Hugging her against my body so she could feel exactly how hard I was as I nipped at her ear. “And when I get you home, I’m going to indulge in your tempting pussy all night long.” Savannah’s cheeks were red with a blush as she stepped back. “Go rest, Kisa.”

I watched her leave, and as soon as the door was closed, I punched Aldo so hard across the jaw that blood and a few teeth went flying and pinged off the floor.

“That will be the last time you insult my wife. Get me the pliers,” I ordered. Grabbing Aldo’s jaw, I made sure he was focused on my face. “I’m going to start by pulling your teeth out one by one before ripping out your tongue. Then I’ll move on to Savannah’s suggestion to skin you alive, one little piece at a time.”

He tried to jerk his head away. “Fuck you, I’m not afraid to die.”

“It’s not the dying you should be afraid of. It’s the slow and excruciating journey there that will be terrifying. It’s no wonder your nephew set you up to die. You’re stupider than a box of rocks.” I held out my hand and smirked as the metal pliers were placed in my palm. “Get ready to scream.”

Chapter

Thirty-Two

SAVANNAH

ONE MONTH LATER

Ismoothed down the front of my stunning gown. Getting shot in it wasn’t ruining this dress for me. The owner had wanted to give me this replacement for free because she felt so bad that I was shot in her store. It was totally unnecessary. If anything, I should’ve been apologizing to them for bringing that shit to their door.

The butterflies in my stomach had been going crazy all morning. Nathan and I were already married, but this was different. I hadn’t fought him the first time, but it hadn’t been the happiest day of my life. Today was a new beginning for us as a family. Every time I thought about it, I teared up and already had to fix my makeup three times.

I looked over my shoulder at the knock, and Goran poked his head in. “You look stunning,” he said.

“No hitting on my wife,” Nathan said from somewhere out in the hall, making me smile.

“I’m allowed to say that she’s beautiful. She looks like a queen, and it would be rude if I just stared,” Goran argued back. “Anyway, your annoying husband would like to see you.”

“I think I liked you better in employee mode. You’re a lot more irritating as my best friend,” Nathan grumbled, making me laugh. Some of the tension lifted as Goran rolled his eyes at me.

“Tell him it’s bad luck to see the bride before the wedding, and we don’t need any more bad luck.”

“Oh, he already has that part covered.” Goran opened the door, and I covered my mouth to hold back the laugh as he led in a blindfolded Nathan. I shook my head at the pair of them.

“You’re crazy,” I said, walking to meet him in the middle of the room. He looked incredibly sexy, wearing an all-black suit with a red rose pinned to his lapel that managed to accentuate the dark and dangerous vibe he wore like a cloak. He held out his hand, and as soon as I put mine in his, Goran gave me a smirk and left us alone, the door closing behind him.

“You’re right. I am crazy and certifiably insane when it comes to you.” Nathan stepped in close to my body. The heat radiating off him wrapped me in a blanket of warmth while the dark cologne he wore filled my senses. “I’d accepted that my life was dark as easily as I accepted that the sun would always rise in the east and set in the west, but what I hadn’t expected was you. Now, even on the stormiest of days, there is light, and that light is you. You’re my beacon to sanity, but my love, like the rest of me, comes with a dash of depraved. It runs through my veins as surely as my blood. I’m an obsessive man. I’ll be possessive over you to the point of being dangerous and unhinged, but you, Savannah Mikhailov, are the only woman who will ever touch my heart, soothe my soul, or quiet the demons that claw at my mind. You’re mine, as I am yours.”