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“Okay,” I respond, nodding and pasting a fake smile on my face. “That sounds nice. I’ll plan a dinner for us. I just need you to promise that whatever it is you’re doing that you’ll be careful.”
“Are you worried about me, little one?”
“Of course, I am,” I admit. “I care about you,” I confess, being very careful and not mentioning the word love. “And I don’t want you to get hurt or in trouble because you feel like you have to react to defend me or something…”
Ugh. That feels like it’s coming out all wrong. It’s almost sounding like I’m assuming everything he’s doing revolves around me. I don’t know how to make it any better and I immediately regret opening my mouth. I close my eyes in embarrassment. Then, I feel Killian’s hand along the side of my neck, and I open them slowly—almost afraid to breathe.
“I promise I’ll come back to you unharmed, Belle. I’ll be extra careful because I have something special to return home to now.”
His words cause my heart to speed up. For a minute, we do nothing but stare at one another. Then, almost as if in slow motion, his head bends down, and his lips touch mine in the sweetest kiss I’ve ever experienced in my life. I didn’t know it was possible, but I think I fall even deeper in love with Killian.
CHAPTER 36
KILLIAN
For a moment, it almost feels like my life has returned to normal. Seeking retribution has never been my favorite part of my life. It’s more of a necessity and I’ve spent more time than I’d like to admit in this abandoned brewery. It seems the smells of damp wood and fermented whiskey have seeped into my bones over the years—just as much as it has this old, abandoned distillery.
I wipe my hands off on an old rag and gather my thoughts. The bright red blood is sticky and metallic smelling. I took out all the anger I possibly could on Sergei after what he and his brother did to Belle. There’s not even an ounce of me that regrets taking my time killing him. The thump of E-Z’s boots on the stairs alerts me to his presence. He comes to stand next to me as we stare down at Sergei’s body and the knife protruding from his chest.
“Is he still breathing?” E-Z asks flatly.
It's not like he cares one way or another. He feels just as guilty as I do that Belle was pulled into this mess. E-Z was outside when they went in while I forced her hand when I made her my wife. Both of us feel obligated to protect her now. There’s something about Belle that just demands it. She’s special, a rarity in this world—one like E-Z and I never truly see.
Our world is too dark for the likes of Belle.
“Just barely,” I mumble with a shrug. I will go to bed tonight with my wife having zero remorse. The moment Demetri and Sergei walked into her shop they signed their death warrants. I love that I get to carry that out sooner rather than later. I don’t want them breathing the same air as my Belle.
My Belle.
That’s exactly what she’s become. Mine.
“Have you figured out what we’re going to do with the bodies? We need to do it in a way to minimize the blowback from the Bratva. Demetri might be in a deep freeze, but I’m pretty sure we are going to have to figure this out sooner than later.”
Before I can answer E-Z., Ryan comes downstairs and joins us. He casts a look toward me and I nod.
“We’re going to deliver a message to them,” I reply calmly. Ryan and I put our heads together today and I have to say we work well together. I’m pleased with what we’ve decided. This move will tie everything up in a neat little bow. It will also allow me to get revenge for my mother and Belle in the process.
“No fucking way,” E-Z says, looking between Ryan and me. “You’re going to declare war on the Russian mob? What about Orla? She’s going to know something happened to her nephews.”
“Orla will know nothing any longer,” Ryan says. I can see my shock reflected in E-Z’s reaction. When Ryan and I discussed this earlier, we both agreed he would need to contain Orla. I assumed that meant he would somehow make sure she thought they got caught in a crossfire since her nephews help guard him from time to time. The look on Ryan’s face, however, leaves no question to what he means.
I am shocked. Orla cheated and plotted behind Ryan’s back. There’s no way he could trust her. Still, even though he hated her at times, she is his wife. Ryan has always made it a point that women are to be sheltered and protected.
