Page 29 of Claimed By River

“Step away from her.”

Everything slows. Damir spins toward me. From the corner of my eye, I see his bodyguard immediately reach for his own gun. I remain focused on Damir. I’ll leave Roman to handle the bodyguard.

Then I look at my wife, and the rage nearly drops me to my knees.

She’s standing. That’s the part that guts me. He hasn’t tied her to anything, hasn’t needed to, because he made her stand in the middle of the room the way he’s made her stand in front of him her whole life, and she did it. Her wrists are zip-tied in front of her, and her hands are shaking.

One side of her face is already turning red where Damir struck her, tears streaking both cheeks. Our eyes meet.

“River—”

“I’m here, angel.”

Damir laughs as his eyes dart between us. “How sweet. Is that the word?” His gaze lands on me. “I wondered when you’d arrive.”

The bodyguard raises his gun, thinking I’m distracted. Roman disappears from my peripheral vision. A second later, his huge body tackles the bodyguard to the floor. I don’t shift my gaze or weapon off Damir.

I hear loud grunts, and in a split second, Roman has the man pinned with a gun pointed to the back of his head.

“You think you and your goons can take me? Do you know who you’re messing with?” Damir rants, pointing his gun directly at me.

“Your first mistake is thinking we’re some random tattoo artists. Your second was overestimating yourself.” I take a step. “Your last one was putting your hands on my wife,” I growl.

Roman chuckles. “You fucked with the wrong group, asshole.”

Damir grins like a maniac. “I don’t think so.”

Everything happens all at once. He fires. Before I can react, Nadia moves for the first time since I came through the door and drives her bound hands into her father’s shoulder with everything she has. His shot tears into the wall beside me instead of my chest.

I move instantly. Closing the distance in three strides, I bring the butt of my Sig down hard against the side of Damir’s head. He collapses to the floor, unconscious. I don’t spare him another glance.

“Nadia.” I’m beside her before she finishes falling.

She practically crashes into me the moment I cut the tie from her wrists, throwing both arms around my neck with enough force to nearly knock me backward.

“I’ve got you.”

She buries her face against my shoulder and breaks down completely.

“I’ve got you,” I repeat, holding her tighter. “You’re safe.”

She clings to me as though letting go might make me disappear.

“I’m sorry,” she cries.

“You have nothing to be sorry for.”

“I thought—”

“I know. I’ll always protect you, angel.” I press a soft kiss to the side of her neck.

Behind us, Roman efficiently secures both Damir and the unconscious bodyguard with heavy-duty restraints just as footsteps pound down the hallway. Raiden and Royal rush inside, weapons drawn.

“You good?” Raiden asks.

I nod once. “We’re good.”

The hotel phone suddenly rings, and every head turns. Royal sighs. “I’ve got it.”