Page 54 of Fighting Salvation

He lifted her ass with his free hand, using the other to hold her wrists above her head. His jaw was hard, his eyes on fire as he fucked into her hard and demanding, losing control and pounding into her, and she loved it. Seeing him like this and knowing she’d made him lose it was a high she’d never get tired of. As her second climax hit she cried out, her nails scoring his skin as she held on, feeling him release inside her.

As he gathered her to him and kissed her slowly and leisurely, she knew she’d die for this man. Yet a tiny part of her still doubted she was enough for him. She had yet to tell him why, but she knew the time was coming when she’d need to admit they’d known each other before.

Chapter 15

Quietly pulling on his clothes Bás slipped out of the bedroom and made his way to the room he was meant to be using. He grabbed a quick shower wanting to get downstairs and see if there were any developments but not wanting to wake Val. It was only just past eight and they’d barely slept. While he could function on little or no sleep, he didn’t want that for her.

Making his way to the coffee machine in the kitchen he spotted Rykov at the balcony’s edge on the deck, looking pensive and lost in thought. He remembered Val’s words about him feeling alone and made his way out to him.

His body seemed to still, like a predator sensing danger before relaxing. Both men stayed silent as they looked out at the beauty of South Africa. In all his years he’d never seen beauty like it until he’d laid eyes on Valentina. But this was different, the home of his heart was deadly and unrelenting and would cut a person down with its brutality.

“You’re going to offer yourself in exchange for Watchdog. No?”

Bás flinched slightly at the question that was more of a statement. “How did you know?”

Rykov straightened but didn’t turn to look at him. “Because it is what I would have done in your shoes.”

Bás never second-guessed his decisions but with Val in the picture, things were different. “You agree it’s the best play and most likely what he wants, anyway.”

Rykov cocked his head not answering immediately and Bás respected that he was giving it real thought, not making a snap decision. It was what had made him such a calm-headed leader when he ran the Bratva.

Rykov nodded slowly. “Yes, I believe you are doing the right thing for the team, but it is not easy when you have someone holding your heart.”

Bás sighed. He knew that all too well. He’d meant what he’d said about having a reason to live. Now more than ever before he wanted the chance at a life with Valentina, but how could he do that when Hansen was alive? He would keep coming for her to get to him and the only way to stop that was that one of them had to die. He’d do everything he could to get back to her, but if all he got was this time, it would still be the best days of his life.

“No, it’s not easy, but I have to keep her safe.”

“He knows you will offer this trade.”

Bás grimaced and sipped his coffee. “I think he planned it that way. He took Watchdog for two reasons. One, because he’s the heart of Shadow, and two, he has the least field experience. All of you have been exposed to interrogation and torture drills and training but some have been through it in real life and we both know you can never truly prepare.”

“This is true.”

Rykov looked pained and he knew he was one of the people who’d experienced it but he’d also implemented it so he understood. “Will you tell her?”

“No. She will try and stop me and I can’t let her. This is the only way unless a miracle happens and we get Watchdog back and catch a break.”

“Then we should work toward that, but when the time comes, I would like to accompany you.”

Bás frowned and turned slightly to look at the Russian mobster. “I don’t understand.”

Rykov turned to face him then. “I wish to be by your side. I will stay in the shadows and follow you.”

“He’ll see that coming.”

“Then we must have a plan. I will not allow you to go to your grave, Bás. You have a reason to fight and live.”

“And what about you?”

Rykov looked away. “What I want does not matter. My path is different.”

He wanted to ask why, but he knew the man would never tell him.

“Fine. Then the two of us know but I don’t want the team in on this. They’ll try and stop me, and ultimately, this is the best play. Allowing us to become family has been both a positive and a negative. When we love, we lose objectivity and I need to remember it again.”

“Then I’m the man for the job because I have nothing and nobody.”

He wanted to argue that the team saw him as family but it wasn’t about that. He had to feel it himself. Perhaps leaving Rykov out in the cold for so long had hardened him to the point he couldn’t feel his worth, and words wouldn’t change that.