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My back bowed on a scream, and my vision flashed white as my orgasm tore through me in a shockwave. The long-denied release claimed me with electric intensity, pleasure crackling along my veins and pinging across my sensitized flesh.
Dante shouted out my name, and his heat branded me, marking me as his.
My bliss crested, the high prolonged by the satisfaction that I’d made him come undone. He was mine.
And as they held me, stroking me in the aftermath of our devastating union, I dared to believe they could both belong to me forever: my dangerous, devoted husbands.
Chapter 14
Nora
A shrill ringing sound jerked me awake, and I blinked against the sudden wash of light as Dante turned on the lamp. He answered his phone, and his expression darkened to something thunderous.
“How many?” he asked in clipped tones. “The Russians? We can handle— Fuck! Get Luca’s men to pull back to the house. And I want snipers on the roof. Now.”
He raked a hand through his dark curls and barked another curse as he ended the call.
“What’s going on?” Luca demanded. “Are we under attack?”
Dante gave him a grim nod and got out of bed, rushing to the closet to hastily pull on some clothes.
“Get dressed,” he commanded. “And put these on.” He hefted two Kevlar vests and put them on the bed, waiting for Luca and me.
“The Russians?” Luca pressed, jerking a t-shirt over his head.
My blood froze in my veins. They were here, in our safe haven. They would get to me. They would…
My husband’s arms enfolded me, warming my chilled skin. “I’ll protect you, Nora,” he vowed. “They won’t touch you. You have to get dressed right now.”
I nodded mutely and allowed him to start tugging clothes onto my stiff limbs. I took deep, calming breaths, struggling to remain in the present with them. We were all in danger, and I couldn’t allow myself to go catatonic with terror. I’d become a liability, and I wouldn’t put my men at risk needlessly.
“Giuseppe’s men are with them,” Dante growled. “The old bastard has fully allied himself with the Bratva so that he can kill us and take control of our organization. Or the shreds of it that would be left if he had his way. He’s gone insane.”
“No,” Luca ground out. “He’s always been a proud, greedy son of a bitch. And he’s callous enough to sell his own daughter to those monsters. He won’t give a shit about losses on our side. He’ll be King of the Ashes, and he’ll be satisfied, as long as he’s in power.”
Luca fitted my Kevlar vest before securing his own.
My stomach flipped. “Where’s your vest?” I asked Dante, voice shaking with echoes of my trauma.
He ignored me and passed a gun to Luca. “Protecting her is your responsibility now. Don’t let them anywhere near her. If any of those Russian bastards come for her, you blow their brains out. No hesitation. No mercy.”
“None,” Luca agreed.
“Where’s your vest, Dante?” I straightened my spine and imbued my voice with as much strength as I could muster.
“I only have two up here. Luca needs one so he can protect you.”
“But what about you?” I insisted.
He didn’t meet my eyes. “I have to go out there and kill as many of them as I can. I won’t let them get to you, Nora.”
“But you need a vest.” Why wasn’t he looking at me?
“I’ll get one from the armory.”
My heart twisted. “You promised you’d never lie to me,” I accused. “You always keep your promises, Dante. Look at me!” I shrieked the last, fear for him tearing at my insides.
His emerald eyes pierced my soul, glittering with a fervent, desperate light. He cupped my cheeks in both hands.
“I swore to protect you, Nora. That’s the only promise that matters now. You’re all that matters to me.”
I grabbed his wrists as though I possessed the strength to tether him to me.
“Don’t go,” I begged.
“I would die for you,” he vowed.
“No one is dying!” Tears made my voice break. “I already told you that. I’m not going to allow it.”
He surged toward me, sealing my lips with a fierce, desperate kiss. I wrapped myself around him, as though I could anchor him to me forever.
It lasted only a few seconds. He easily broke free from my hold and turned to Luca.
“Don’t let her follow me.”
“I won’t.”
Luca’s brawny arms closed around me in a protective cage.
“You’ll come back to me,” I demanded. “Promise me you’ll come back.”
He pressed one final kiss to the top of my head and murmured in my ear. “Goodbye, little bird.”
He grabbed an assault rifle from the closet. Then he was striding away from me, storming toward the men who might hurt me with murderous intent.
“Dante!” I twisted against the iron shackles of Luca’s arms. “Let me go!”
