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I slipped my hand into my jacket carefully, retrieving the knife I’d taken from my lovely bride to be the night of our engagement dinner. Her eyes flashed when she recognized what I held in my hand.
“Go ahead, Russian. Turn around.”
His Spanish accent was to be expected. I eased the knife under the sleeve of my jacket then turned to face him. The man was exactly like his picture. “Diez. I thought our meeting was in your lovely city.”
“I thought I’d mix things up. Imagine my surprise in finding out about the upcoming wedding. I thought to myself, what could be better destroying two families at one time?”
“Unfortunately, you picked the wrong man and the wrong time. I don’t like anyone fucking with my business, but I will never allow anyone to hurt the woman I love.” Another moment of time standing still occurred, the hard beating of my heart the only thing I could hear. With one throw of my arm, the knife caught him directly in the jugular.
Then I popped off several shots, lunging forward, retrieving the knife and racing toward her. “Hold on, baby. Just hold on.” I was thankful my sweet princess had kept the weapon nice and sharp, the blade cutting through the ropes easily. I peeled off the gag, her slight cry a knife in my heart.
As I pulled her onto her feet, the heat in the building became oppressive. There was no time for directions. We had to get the hell out of the building.
She was able to keep up as I pumped my legs, guiding her through the falling beams, cognizant that time was ticking away fast. When we were close to the door, another crackle sounded in the distance.
And I knew exactly what was about to happen. Using every ounce of force and strength I had, I pummeled us through the doors, lunging forward, keeping us running. Then I yanked us behind another brick building for cover, dropping and rolling as the warehouse exploded behind us. I covered her with my body, terrified she’d be killed by shrapnel.
The booms and continuous explosions filled the night sky, the hissing glow of orange everywhere, trees catching on fire.
I kept us where we were until the booms started to lessen, finally able to cup both sides of her face, issuing a prayer of thanks.
The building’s security light had popped on, allowing me to see her tear- and smoke-stained face.
“Oh, God. Oh…” She clung to me, her fingers wrapped around my jacket. “I didn’t think you’d find me.”
“Don’t worry, baby. I will always find you.” I lifted her head, pressing my lips against hers. The war wasn’t over, but a powerful message had been sent.
And I made a promise to the woman in my arms that nothing and no one would ever be able to hurt her again.
CHAPTER19
Giada
One week later
Savior.
I had one for life, well, soon enough anyway. I bit my lip at the thought, hissing as I glared at the dress in the three-way mirror.
“That’s perfect for you,” Isabella said. Of course she would think so. It wasperfectfor her wedding, whenever that might be. She had more men hanging all over her than she had dresses. Her idea of playing the field made my head spin.
“Uh, no.” I made faces then kicked out my leg, showing my tennis shoe on purpose.
My mother shook her head, moving behind me and gripping my shoulders. “You will not wear those at the wedding.”
Bet me.
I thought about my father, my mother insisting that I forgive him. He was my blood, a man who’d given me life. I’d done as she asked but remained uncertain if I could ever feel the same about him again. He’d tried to atone, working side by side with the Kozlovs in an effort to rid the city of the Colombians, but I could tell Sevastian harbored his continued fury. Maybe one day we could be a big happy family.
Only when pigs learned to fly.
“Why don’t we have some champagne?” Isabella suggested.
The entire store had been closed down for us, which highlighted just how ‘important’ we were. I rolled my eyes at the thought, shifting off the podium and heading for the table that had been set up by the owners of the shop. I was certain the copious amounts of food, the most expensive chocolates, and the finest champagne had been at the requirement of my mother. She wanted to make this a very special day, like all the damn parties she’d already planned.
Who knew getting married was such a nightmare?
At least things had started to calm down, if you could call my father’s return home peaceful. He’d barked orders to everyone, myself included from his makeshift hospital bed in his office, trying to rally his soldiers, protecting our merchandise while various law enforcement officers attempted to sort through the mess that had been created by dozens of incidents occurring throughout the city.
