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“Fyodor has known about this place for a long time. He always guessed you would come here if things got really bad. We have had it surrounded ever since your little ladies arrived.”
“Little?” a man behind me says, laughing darkly. “I don’t think I understand the word ifsheis little.”
Leo bites down, glaring. “Insult my woman again…”
Despite everything, hearing him call mehiswoman in front of people—even thugs who want me dead—gives my body warm shivers. I’m filled with heat and belonging, yet it could all be taken away because I made the stupidest decision of my life.
“And what?” the man snaps. “There’s nothing you can do. Get on your knees. We’re going to cuff you and take you to the boss. When we arrived here, we didn’t think you’d be stupid enough to come out here toofferyourself. You are not a very smart person, American.”
“If you think I’d ever kneel for the Bratva, you’re living in a goddamn fantasy.”
“Would you rather I kill the pig?”
I shouldn’t care what this monster says about me, but his words are cutting. It takes me back to high school when I stopped being invisible just long enough for the other kids to call me names.
“Let her go,” Leo says, “and you might make it out of this alive. I might let your worthless ass live.”
I can feel the man’s heartbeat pounding through my back. We’rethatclose. It makes me sick to feel his body pushed right up against mine, his arm tightening around my torso. He aims the gun at Leo.
“You are not in a position to offer me anything, American.
“Last chance,” Leo growls.
“Maybe I should count to three,” the Russian snaps.
“Emma, close your eyes.” Leo looks at me like none of this is happening, the forest melting away, the violence and the men. All of it fades and ceases to matter as he holds me steadily in his gaze. “Please do it, Emma.”
I do as he asks, fear gripping me, but I know I must trust my man. I have to believe he wants the best for me and put the silliness of the argument behind us. It’s like the universe is sending me a message. Stay with my man and be safe. Run from him, andthisis what I get.
Suddenly, the man holding me jolts. There’s a loudcrack, and I fall forward, yelling as more gunshots surround me. Men are yelling in Russian. Leo shouts something I can’t make out over the sound of the bullets. Mayhem erupts all around me, a rapid-fire succession of gunshots. I wish I could help somehow, but animal reflexes have taken over. Fight-or-flight puts me into pure survival mode as I cover my ears with my hands and squeeze my eyes shut. I open them when I hear Leo’s voice.
“Insultmywoman?” he roars. “Threatenmywoman?”
Turning, I see Leo shoving the kidnapper against a tree. The other two men are lying on the ground, pools of blood surrounding them. Leo lifts the kidnapper off his feet, the man’s legs kicking like a scared kid with no semblance of control. My man hasallthe power.
“Apologize,” Leo says, sounding unhinged as his muscles push through the fabric of his clothes. “Now.”
“Leo…” Dario stands off to the side, red splattering his face and neck. “We should keep one alive. Fyodor didn’t plan on us catching these pricks. They could be useful.”
Leo gives the man a shake. “That depends on him.”
“S-sorry,” the man moans. “Puh-please…”
Leo punches him in the gut, a vicious strike that sends the man to the ground, coughing and spluttering.
“Call the men,” Leo says, walking toward me. “Clean these bastards up. Get this one somewhere we can question him.”
Leo kneels beside me, softly touching my shoulder. “Are you okay, Emma?”
“Yeah, I’m not hurt.”
He tenderly helps me to my feet, then hugs me. It’s the most love-filled embrace we’ve shared yet. He squeezes me tightly, and I hold him with just as much fierceness, just as much need. We stay like that for a long time.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper into his chest, enveloped in his scent, his protection.
“Don’t,” he replies. “All that matters is you’re safe.”
“But I was an idiot, running like that.”
