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The guy who had been dancing with me is suddenly pissed. “What the hell is wrong with you, man?”

I glance at him, almost with pitying. Does this idiot have a death wish?

Andrei doesn’t even raise his voice. He just turns that ice-cold glare on the man. I can’t hear what he says over the music, but whatever it is, the message lands.

The guy’s face drains of color. He mutters something and scrambles away so fast he nearly trips over his own feet.

Andrei turns back to me, giving me his full, undivided attention. His eyes burn into mine.

“You’re one hard woman to find.”

Shock ripples through me. He’s been looking for me? Why? Because he found out I’m his nephew’s ex? Is he angry, thinking I used him for some petty revenge? Or worse… does he know about Anya?

No. There’s no way. The only person who knows the truth about Anya’s father is Mabel, and she would never betray me.

I glance quickly toward the dance floor where my friends are still laughing and moving to the beat.

Mabel is completely unaware, lost in the music. She wouldn’t have told him.

Andrei’s voice pulls me back. “How about we go somewhere quieter?”

I want to say no. I want to turn around and run straight out of this club. But the look on his face tells me he’s not taking no for an answer.

I swallow hard and nod.

He steps even closer, and the heat of his body wraps around me. His large hand settles on the small of my back, guiding me through the crowd.

The simple touch sends electricity shooting up my spine, waking up every nerve ending that still remembers exactly what those hands can do.

My heart is racing so fast I can barely breathe.

Four years of running, and in one night of being back, he’s found me.

It feels like he’s afraid that if he lets go for even a second, I’ll vanish into thin air again.

We’ve barely taken a few steps when a loud gunshot cracks through the music.

As I let out a scream, Andrei’s massive body is covers mine in an instant, shielding me completely as chaos explodes around us.

More shots ring out in rapid succession. People scream. Glass shatters. The dance floor turns into pure pandemonium.

I can’t see anything. I’m being shoved forward and then behind the bar, Andrei’s voice low and urgent in my ear. “Stay down.”

He pulls a gun from somewhere under his jacket and rises, firing back. The sound is deafening. It takes me a second to process what’s happening. When I peek over the bar, I see him standing tall, returning fire without hesitation, his face calm and focused like this is just another Tuesday night for him.

This is exactly why I ran four years ago.

My stomach twists. What about my friends? Are they hurt? The club is pure chaos, screaming, running, broken glass everywhere.

Andrei suddenly grabs my arm, pulling me up. “We have to go. Now.”

We’re already moving as he speaks. “My friends—” I start.

“I’ll make sure they get home safely,” he cuts in, voice leaving no room for argument.

I open my mouth to argue but he interrupts, “Not now.”

He doesn’t wait for my reply. We move fast, his hand never leaving me as he steers me away from the front entrance.