Page 103 of Marked By the Devil

“And it just so happened when we weren’t around,” I growled.

Adrik nodded. “Makes me wonder if Rico Johnson or the Konstantins are in on this.”

I agreed. They were the ones we’d expected to see today, and since the politician hadn’t been where he was supposed to be, it seemed like it could’ve been nothing but a diversion. I explained that to Wren and Mila and Lev, but once Alexei arrived after staying to make sure Paul was recovering in surgery and that guards could stand in the hallway to protect him, Wren seemed anxious to get up.

Maybe to pace. Walk off the emotional turmoil. Whatever.

I watched her as she stood, excusing herself to go to the bathroom.

From my spot on the couch, I watched her hesitate slightly and look down at the floor where Smithson had been shot.

“I’ll go…” Mila stood. “I’ll go and keep her company if she wants.”

I nodded, grateful for her. Mila was quieter than the others and slow to come out of her shell, and it was a big step for her to want to help Wren after that scare.

It bothered me how Wren hesitated at the steps.

I’m going to knock them all down. I’ll change it all so you never have to think about it again. Never look there and remember fearing for your life when I should’ve been here to protect you.

“Good thing she knew how to handle a gun,” Alexei said.

I nodded vaguely, almost zoning out now that it seemed like I could.

“I am grateful that she did,” I replied, “but I am not willing to ever let her come near danger like that again.” I rested my elbows on my knees. “I’m increasing guards. More security around the entire property. She needs to be trained even more to protect herself in case something worse could ever happen. I…”

I blew out a deep breath, unafraid to let my brother and cousins see me this emotional.

“I can’t bear the thought of losing her.”

Adrik cleared his throat, and I lifted my head to face him.

“If you want the highest protection possible for her, you need to consider marrying her, Viktor.”

I smirked. “You think I need to consider it?” I reached into my pocket and pulled out the ring box that I’d grabbed that morning from the mansion when I picked him up.

The emerald ring nestled in the velvet lining was a family heirloom, a rare piece of artwork with an emerald to match her eyes, surrounded by smaller diamonds.

And I couldn’t wait to see if she would accept my offer to stay indefinitely, as my wife.

36

WREN

Sitting with Viktor calmed me. His presence grounded me, and as long as he kept his arm around me or his hand on mine, I didn’t have to feel untethered and stuck in the hell of what happened earlier.

The moment of fearing for my life.

The instance of dreading that Paul could die.

The horror of someone like Smithson turning so rotten to want me to die because of his crimes and wrongdoings.

All those replaying images could go dark in my mind so long as I held on to him.

He was here.

They were all here.

Like any expert task force I ever could have dreamed of being in any actual law enforcement agency, they were all here and taking charge.