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“I’m half-convinced I dreamt you up. There’s no other explanation for why you want me.”
My woman furrows her brow and flares her nostrils as she glares at me. “Valentino I-Don’t-Know-Your-Middle-Name Rossi,” she starts, her tone like that of a teacher scolding a disruptive child. “I don’t want to hear you talk like that anymore. You’re the most important person in my life, the only one who has ever given a damn about my well-being. You’re selfless and fierce when it comes to protecting the things you love, and I take offense to your statement.”
I can’t help the smirk stretching across my face. She’s so fucking adorable when she’s all worked up like this, and over me, no less.
“I’m serious, mister!”
“I know you are, princess,” I whisper, kissing her forehead and nose. “I’m still getting used to having someone care about me the way you do. It’s humbling. I don’t know what I did to deserve you, and I’m terrified I’m going to fuck it all up.”
“I could say the same to you,” she counters. “But instead of questioning our worth or worrying about the future, I say we just be thankful for what we’ve found. You’re not going to fuck it up, Valentino.”
“How do you know? What if I say something stupid or forget an important date or let the dishes pile up in the sink?”
“My love for you is bigger than all of that,” she replies easily.
I grin, taking her lips in a tender kiss. “And my love is bigger than all of that as well,” I whisper. “Thank you, Katya.”
“For what?”
“For being you. For choosing me. For knowing how to soothe my dark places.”
“Always,” she murmurs, resting her forehead on mine.
“Always,” I echo, cupping the side of her face to keep her close.
I soak up this moment with the love of my life, committing everything to memory. We’ll be going to war soon, and knowing I have her waiting for me at home gives me the strength to do what I need to do. I will protect Katya and eliminate the threat of her family.
And then I’ll come back and make sure Katya is mine forever.
CHAPTERTEN
KATYA
“How many knives do you have?” I ask Valentino as he checks the magazine in his 9 mm handgun. “They’re better for hand-to-hand combat.”
Valentino pauses, looking at me with a raised eyebrow. “Is that so?” he asks with a grin.
“Yes,” I tell him sternly, crossing my arms over my chest. “And stop smirking at me. You’re heading into war, and I’m trying to give you some pointers.”
His face softens slightly, those brown eyes finding mine and somehow imparting comfort and safety. We spent the rest of yesterday and last night in bed, with a few breaks for food and a shower. This morning, Romeo rounded up the troops and handed down orders. Valentino and the other men in the inner circle have been prepping all day, and now he’s home to gather supplies before heading out to the Colombo warehouse.
“I’ve been doing this a long damn time, princess,” he says, projecting confidence even though I see a hint of doubt in his deep brown eyes. No one else would notice, but I feel everything he’s feeling.
“And I tackled your gun from your hands ten seconds after meeting you,” I counter, lifting my chin and narrowing my eyes at the stupidly sexy man standing a few feet away from me.
Valentino smiles, then sets the gun down on the coffee table before holding his hand out to me. “Come here, Katya,” he says soothingly.
I give him one last glare, then rest my hand in his open palm. He pulls me into his arms, pressing kisses to my temple, nose, cheek, and lips. Valentino circles his arms around my waist, drawing me closer as he rests his forehead on mine.
“I know you’re worried,” he starts, his voice washing over me like a cool breeze on a hot day. “But I promise you, I’ll be right back here in your arms soon.”
“But what if–”
“You can’t think like that,” Valentino whispers, smoothing his thumb over my cheek. “All the hypotheticals in the world won’t make you feel better. Just trust that I have far too much to lose to do anything reckless. I have a job to do, and that’s it.”
“I could help,” I plead for the tenth time today. “I can identify the major players in the family, help with attack strategy, or–”
“We’ve gone over this,” he says, cutting me off. “I need you to stay here. Stay safe. I won’t be able to concentrate if you’re at risk.”
